2008 Kia Spectra Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY GOING 45 MPH ON A RURAL STREET USING MY CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I WAS COMING UP TO THE STOP, I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE RAN FASTER. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (THE ENGINE RPMS RED-LINED), AND TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP, AND TESTED THE PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT DISENGAGING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I GOT HOME, I CHECKED THE BRAKE LIGHTS, AND THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I BOUGHT A REPLACEMENT SWITCH AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK WITH THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. IF I HAD NOT APPLIED THE BRAKES FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE, I AM CERTAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BUSY INTERSECTION AND CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

AIRBAG MAT SENSOR FAILED.SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON UNFORTUNATELY. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS OF YET. *TR

AIRBAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG NOT ON LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, KIA DOES NOT SELL JUST THE SENSOR AND THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. KIA HAS NO RECALL FOR THE DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT/SENSOR COMBINATION FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL ALTHOUGH IT DOES FOR OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR AND PROBLEM. KIA SHOULD HAVE AN AIRBAG SEAT/SENSOR RECALL. *TR ...UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL DOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN UPDATED 9/28/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR LATCH FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SIDE HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY. AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN OCCUPANT IN SEAT. NOW NO LIGHT WORKING AT ALL. JUST RECENTLY THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE CAME ON. I TOOK TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID MY AIR BAGS HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES OFF BECAUSE THE OCCUPANT SENSOR PAD IS BAD IN PASSENGER SIDE. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE OVER $2000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT SEAT PAD. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM DRIVING A CAR WITH NO AIRBAGS AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET NEW SEAT REPLACED. I LOOKED AT THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN RECALLED? *TR

I OWN A 2008 KIA SPECTRA AND HAVE HAD AIR BAG SYSTEM ISSUES WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE OCS MAT. ABOUT A YEAR AGO,I HAD THE SEAT REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU CAN NOT CHANGE OUT THE MAT ITSELF. THIS CLEARED UP THE ISSUE AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WORKED FINE. FOR A WHILE. NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN WITH AN ADULT MALE SITTING IN THE SEAT IT SAYS THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. IF YOU PUSH ON THE SEAT TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE SEAT BOTTOM WHILE SITTING IN THE SEAT, THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE. WHEN YOU STOP PUSHING ON THE SEAM THE SYSTEM DEACTIVATES. I SPOKE WITH KIA DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE BUT THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE ITEM. YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW SEAT BOTTOM FROM THEM AT A COST OF $1397.45 PARTS ONLY. THE PARTS ARE ONLY COVERED UNDER A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE( ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP ) WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND ALL OTHERS THAT HAVE THE DEFECTIVE OCS MAT? THEY SEEM TO BE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY FOR A PART THAT THEY KNOW AND HAVE CONFIRMED AS BEING DEFECTIVE AT THE COST AND SAFETY OF THE CONSUMER? *TR

I DRIVE A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR ROUGHLY 4 YRS. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH MY CAR CONTINUES TO STALL. THIS OCCURS GENERALLY WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP AND TURNING. THE DASH LIGHTS WILL ALL COME ON AND MY WHEEL LOCKS UP IN THE DIRECTION I WAS TURNING. WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON, THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF, BUT MY RPM'S REV UP TO A MINIMUM OF 3. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO AUTO MECHANICS. THEY HAVE CHANGED A FUEL TEMP. SENSOR AND SWITCHED OUT ALL MY SPARK PLUGS. BOTH MECHANICS HAVE PLUGGED THE VEHICLE UP TO THE MACHINE AND IT READS CLEAR. THEY CANNOT FIND AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE THE VEHICLE ACTS UP RANDOMLY, THEY ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WHEN IT'S IN THEIR POSSESSION. *TR

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE LIGHT BEGAN TURNING ON AND OFF EVEN IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY. NOW THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. THIS IS A 1 OWNER VEHICLE AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION.

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WITH NOBODY IN IT. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF THAT THE LIGHT QUIT DOING THAT. THEN I NOTICED THAT THE RED WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I WENT TO SELL THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE NEW BUYER THAT IT IS THE OCS PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CODE B1448. COULD YOU INFORM ME WHAT BAGS WILL NOT GO OFF WITH THIS LIGHT ON. I SEE THERE IS A BYPASS SWITCH YOU CAN BUY TO AVOID THIS SO THERE MUST BE A FEW OF THESE OUT THERE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, NOW WE ARE BEING CHARGED OVER $1000 TO GET IT FIXED. IS THIS A RECALL ITEM? PLEASE REPLY. *TR

I WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT THROUGH A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN A PASSENGER TRUCK TURNED ILLEGALLY IN FRONT OF ME FROM THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AS WOULD THINK IT SHOULD AT THAT SPEED. FORTUNATELY, MY SEAT BELT PREVENTED ME FROM GETTING A MORE SERIOUS INJURY. I DID RECEIVE A SEVERE BRUISE THAT TOOK MONTHS TO DISAPPEAR AND AGGRAVATED AN EXISTING BACK CONDITION. PERHAPS IT IS JUST AS WELL OR BETTER THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY SINCE THE AIRBAG MAY HAVE GIVEN ME A MORE SERIOUS INJURY. FORTUNATELY, I HAD NO PASSENGER AND THE OTHER PERSON IN THE TRUCK DID NOT GET HURT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT I AM ALIVE TODAY....UPDATED 12/10/15 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH CLUSTER AND THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WILL SOME TIMES FLASH ON AND OFF LIKE THE EXORCIST. EVEN WITH A 200 POUND ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CONTUSIONS TO THE CHEST, RIGHT ARM AND LEFT ARM. THERE WAS ALSO INTERNAL BLEEDING FROM THE LUNGS AND AN INJURY TO THE RIGHT LEG. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A FENDER BENDER OR TWO (ALWAYS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND) BUT NEVER ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. MY LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY CAR DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG SYSTEM COSTING SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF $2000 TO $3000. I HAVE PUT MY CAR IN THE SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING TO BE MAKING THIS LIGHT STAY ON. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT KIA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS CONCERNING AIRBAGS BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ, THERE REALLY SHOULD BEFORE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE FROM KIA AGAIN. THEY ARE VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH AND DO NOT KEEP THEIR PROMISES OR MAKE GOOD ON THEIR VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND INSTEAD THE VEHICLE SUDDENDLY ACCELERATED CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR WAS IT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 95,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT BELT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2007 AND 2006 MODELS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. UPDATED 06/11/2014 *JS

I HAVE A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. AT 140,000 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON SINCE, I AM NOW AT 158,000. I HAVE READ WHERE THE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, HOWEVER I DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO DO SO. . .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF UPDATED 9/23/2015 *JS

THE SENSOR LIGHT TURNED ON AND DISABLED AIRBAGS. WE TOOK IT TO THE ALL STAR KIA IN BATON ROUGE OFF OF SIEGEN LANE. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE 1549. TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED CORPORATE OFFICE SPOKE TO [XXX] , HE TOLD ME HE WOULD SEND THE CASE TO REGIONAL OFFICE SINCE I WANTED THEM TO PAY FOR IT. THREE DAYS LATER [XXX] CALLED ME AND SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR HALF OF THE COST, WE DECLINED HE SAID HE WOULD THEN SEND IT TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE. I REMINDED HIM HE HAD SAID THAT THREE DAYS AGO. FINALLY I REACH A [XXX] IN REGIONAL WHO WAS NOT VERY PLEASANT AND SHE SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, SO THEY COULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I TOLD HER I WOULD NOT LET THIS GO. TODAY 4-13-15 SHE CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE ON MY PHONE SAYING THAT THE DEALER WOULD PAY HALF OF THE COST AND THAT I HAD 30 DAYS TO ACCEPT. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY CONSUMERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM SAME MODEL CAR. THEY RECALLED 146,000 THOUSAND OTHER CARS DIFFERENT MODELS AND YEARS FOR THE SAME THING. JUST WANT THEM TO BE HONEST AND DO THE RIGHT THING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH CLUSTER AND THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS WILL SOME TIMES COME ON AND AT OTHER TIMES WILL NOT, WITH A 200 POUND ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I CALLED KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $100 TO CHECK THE CODE. THE CODE INDICATES B1448 OCS FAILURE - MAT SENSOR. DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS ONLY A FIVE YEAR 60,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS. PROBLEM IS YOU CAN NOT REPLACE JUST THE PART, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE COMPLETE SEAT BOTTOM AT A COST OF $800 - $2,000 DEPENDING ON THE DEALERSHIP THAT YOU SPEAK WITH. THIS IS A LARGE COST TO REPLACE EVERY 3 - 6 YEARS (DEPENDING ON AGE AND MILEAGE). KIA AND HYUNDAI HAVE HAD RECALLS BEFORE FOR THE SAME AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN OTHER VEHICLES BUT REFUSE TO RECALL THE PART IN THE SPECTRA. *TR

MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR WHICH WAS MAYBE A YEAR AGO, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANT UNTIL I STARTED DOING RESEARCH. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE KNOWING MY AIR BAGS MAY NOT WORK! THE CAR LOT FAILED TO TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY UPSET AND THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY KIA OR THE CAR DEALERSHIP. *TR

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $1,600. I AM GETTING IT REPAIRED, SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE AIR BAG WARRANTY IN THE WARRANTY MANUAL. AS A SAFETY ISSUE, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. *TR.. .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF THE AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS THE ISSUE. IT DID NOT MATTER IF SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT, THE TYPICAL WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER WAS 150 POUNDS. THE DEALER FIXED THE ISSUE BY REPLACING HE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAG SENSOR. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $1,700. KIA PAID 1/2 OF THE COST. UPDATED 07/28/15

TAKATA RECALL I AM CHECKING ON MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA AND THE AIR BAGS. MY CAR HAS BEEN WRECKED 3 TIMES. ONE OF THOSE ACCIDENTS MY DAUGHTER SLID OFF THE ROAD IN A SNOW STORM AND HIT A TREE. WITH ALL THREE ACCIDENTS THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF. WAS JUST CONCERNED. I SEE NO RECALLS ON THE AIR BAGS. I'VE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY DEPENDING ON THE POSITION THE PASSENGER WAS SITTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

2008 KIA SPECTRA EX W/ 38,125 MILES ON IT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND AFTER READING ALL THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY COMPLAINTS, 1. I WILL SUE THE CRAP OUT OF YOU RIP OFFS IF MY BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY 2. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AS LONG AS I LIVE. *TR

THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 24,000 MILES, BUT DEALER JUST SAID TO ADD POWER BOOSTER OR SOMETHING...BY THE TIME OF THIS FIRST DOCUMENTED DEALER CHECK OUT, IT HAD GOTTEN MUCH WORSE... IT HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL, AND OTHER THAN SPENDING MONEY ON VARIOUS SOLUTIONS (THAT DID NOT WORK) IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. FINALLY I WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO NOT OVERFILL OR TOP OFF THE TANK WHEN FILLING WITH FUEL. SOMETHING THAT I DO NOT DO!!! THE VEHICLE HAS NOW REACHED THE POINT AFTER FILLING WITH FUEL, I HAVE TO USE ABOUT 1/4 OF A TANK BEFORE IT WILL RUN SOMEWHAT NORMALLY (UP TO 100 MILES). IT DIES AT STOPS, WILL SUDDENLY CUT OUT GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND WHEN GOING SLOWLY AROUND CURVES, WILL DIE. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS, AS THE POWER STEERING QUITS AT THE SAME MOMENT, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I HAVE JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH KIA USA, AND THE YOUNG LADY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A NEW ONE TO HER. THAT MAY BE, BUT THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH INCIDENTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM, AS IS YOUR SITE. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE JUST THE 2008 MODELS EITHER. I BELIEVE THAT NHTSA SHOULD TAKE A LITTLE LOOK INTO THIS, BEFORE IT RESULTS IN SOME FATALITIES, IF IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR

MY VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG "OFF" ILLUMINATING WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A HALF DOZEN OCCASIONS THAT I HAVE NOTICED AND GOES OFF WHEN THE PASSENGER ADJUSTS THEIR SITTING POSITION. THE VEHICLE SURGES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STOPPED. ADDITIONALLY BRAKE PEDAL HAS STUCK ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COOL. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO CUT OUT ON OCCASION WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO RESTART, AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THESE ALL HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO APPARENT RHYME OR REASON TO THEM. *TR

ABOUT 2YRS AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE DRIVE WAY, AS WE PULLED OUT IT STARTED TO STALL AND DIED. WELL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AFTER FUELING UP THE TANK, WE WERE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, UPON ACCELERATING TO GO THE CAR STALLED AND DIED(ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED). WELL IT STALLED AND DIED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE MAKING IT HOME. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO KIA DEALERSHIP THE VERY NEXT DAY, TOLD WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE $110 TO MAKE SURE. WELL, THEY LOOKED OVER THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM(FUEL TANK INCLUDED), NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, TOTAL PRICE $950.00.!! I'D JUST PAID THE $110 AND LEFT. WENT HOME AND FILE A COMPLAINT WITH KIA MOTOR. DID SOME MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR KIA BUT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ?? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

THE PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD SOMETIMES WORK ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING, OR WHILE THEY SHIFTED IN THE SEAT. THE LIGHT THAT SAYS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF WOULD STAY ON (MEANING THE SENSOR WOULD NOT DETECT SOMEONE IN THE SEAT) AND THE RED ERROR LIGHT ON THE DASH WOULD STAY ON. NOW THE SENSOR DOES NOT WORK AT ALL (AND HAS NOT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS). THIS WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND ASKING MY MECHANIC SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT TO AN UPHOLSTERER TO GET IT FIXED. THE ISSUE STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO THE ESTIMATED COST.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND ENGAGE THE HANDLE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO EXIT. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE HANDLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. *TR

THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS LEADING UP TO A FAILURE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IN MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA EX SUDDENLY CAME ON. AFTER TAKING IT IN TO A DEALER, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE ENTIRE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR COULD NOT TELL IF THERE WAS A PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS DEACTIVATED THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE HERE: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2008/KIA/SPECTRA/AIR_BAGS/PROBLEM.ASPX. THIS DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AN ISOLATED ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY KIA. *TR

THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE DURING A STATE INSPECTION. I HAD TO REPLACE THE SEAT, WHICH COST ME $2,231.93. I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTOSHOP, AND BY 2 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALOT IN KIAS. I THINK THAT KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT. I SEE THAT THEY HAVE RECALLED OTHER MODELS FOR AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONS. THIS MODEL SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON ANYMORE WHILE THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON IN THE DASH BOARD. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN NAPLES, FL WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND ASKED HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD $120 TO HOOK IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AND IF ANYTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THEY WOULD INCLUDE IT IN THE PRICE. I ALSO ASKED IF THEY HAD ANY COMPLAINTS AND THEY SAID NO AND THAT SINCE IT WAS A "SECONDARY SAFETY SYSTEM" IT DID NOT REALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE AND FOUND ALMOST 100 COMPLAINTS. SOME STATING THAT DEALERSHIPS WERE TELLING THEM IT WOULD BE $1200-$1700 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE SEAT REPLACED. ALSO READ THAT ONE WAS TOLD THAT "EITHER THE AIR BAG WILL NOT GO OFF IN AN ACCIDENT, OR IT WOULD RANDOMLY GO OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD". WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING, I AM SURPRISED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. I REFUSE TO PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIX.

EVER SINCE BUYING THE CAR IN 2010, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK-UP FOR NO REASON. NOW, NEITHER REAR OUTBOARD RETRACTOR WILL UNWIND. THE CENTER SEATBELT STILL WORKS FINE. *TR

VEHICLE HIT FROM REAR AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE TO DRIVERS SIDE AND VEHICLE IN FRONT. FIRE DEPT AT SCENE SAID THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS AND SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF. NO AIRBAGS WENT OFF. DRIVER WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. CHILDREN IN BACK SEAT VERY MINOR INJURIES.

I ACTUALLY OWN 2 KIAS SAME YEAR AND MODEL. AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF WHEN SOMEONE WOULD SIT IN PASSENGER SEAT. THEN IT STARTED STAYING ON ALL THE TIME ON SO IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR. NOW MY HUSBANDS KIA IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING AND IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME, SO I HAVE TO RIDE WITH HIM AT MY OWN RISK BECAUSE I HAVE NO AIR BAG PROTECTION ON MY SIDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE MASS AIR SENSOR FLOW FILTER AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED SURGING IN THE VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. AFTER THE SURGING, THE RPM'S WOULD RACE TO HIGH NUMBERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,700.

RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55 - 70) THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT VIOLENTLY WITH A SUDDEN JERK, IT WILL REMAIN IN THAT GEAR UNTIL YOU PULLOVER, TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART IT IN ORDER TO RESUME NORMAL DRIVING. *TR

THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF.

THE DOOR LOCKS BEGAN RANDOMLY NOT WORKING WHEN USING THE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE, AS WELL AS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN USING THE KEY FOB. I MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER WHO BRUSHED IT OFF. NOW, 2 YEARS LATER, IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I CAN RARELY UNLOCK THE DOORS USING THE BUTTONS. I WOULD THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF I WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR FIRE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD AND HAS JUST UNDER 73,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE FRONT DRIVER FRONTAL AND SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES FROM THE IMPACT AND WAS KILLED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 04/23/12 UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ SPOKE WITH CONSUMER, THERE WAS ONE DEATH AND NO INJURIES. UPDATED 05/151/2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED TWO FRACTURED COLLAR BONES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,207. UPDATED 03/05/12*LJ UPDATED 03/08/12

DRIVING ALONE ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AFTER DARK. HIT A COW CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $7,000 DAMAGE TO KIA SPECTRA5 VEHICLE FRONT END BODY, BUMPER, ETC. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AFTER REPAIRS COMPLETED AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND COULD NOT BE RESET BY KIA SHOP. PER KIA DEALERSHIP THAT INSPECTED/ESTIMATED, PROBLEM WAS WITH SENSOR IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND WOULD COST MORE THAN $2,000 TO FIX (DID NOT REALIZE IT MADE THEM ALL INOPERATIVE.) RECENTLY HAD CAR IN SHOP FOR ANOTHER FRONT END INVOLVED ACCIDENT (SOMEONE ELSE RAN A RED LIGHT) CAUSING $4,000 DAMAGE AND AGAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (WAS NOT AWARE R SIDE WOULD CAUSE ALL AIRBAGS TO BE INOPERATIVE.) SHOP RECOMMENDED CHECKING FOR RECALL. APPEARS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS OF SAME SORT IN SPECTRA VEHICLES AND THAT THESE ARE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM EXPERIENCED IN THE RIO WHICH WAS RECALLED! KIA NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! *TR

VEHICLE SURGES WHILE DRIVING AND/OR WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

THE REAR SEAT BELTS LOCK UP WHEN YOU START TO PULL THEN AROUND YOU AND THEY WILL NOT TURN LOOSE SO YOU CAN GET THEN ON. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES TO HIS CHEST AND LATER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL OWN HIS OWN FOR TREATMENT. THE POLICE WERE NOT NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,800.