2008 Kia Spectra Complaint Log

2008 KIA SPECTRA, PURCHASED NEW JAN 2008, 20K MILES, PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ONLY GOES OFF (ACTIVE) WHEN A PERSON OF AROUND 200 LBS SITS IN IT. MY GRANDCHILDREN, SOME OF WHICH ARE 120 OR MORE LBS, DO NOT SET IT OFF. I HAVE BEEN MAKING THEM SIT IN THE BACK SEAT, BUT AFTER READING THE CRASH COMPLAINTS, WHERE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF, I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS MY OWN. I DO NOT CARE TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TO SEE IF THEY WILL WORK! NOT ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL CAR. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNG FORWARD AND ACCELERATE, ACCOMPANIED BY AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED VIA EMAIL, BUT THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

I STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH MY SEAT BELT'S AND I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND AN ISSUE I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEM'S TOOK IT BACK SEVERAL TIME'S AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING NOW MY SEAT BELT'S IN THE BACK OF MY CAR DO NOT WORK AT ALL I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN AFTER THAT I STARTED HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND AIR BAG THE LIGHT ON THE DASH NEXT TO THE CLOCK WOULDN'T GO OFF OR IT JUST FLICKERED AND THE AIR BAG ICON WITH THE PERSON ON IT CAME ON AND HASN'T WENT OFF I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM BUT NOW THAT THE LIGHT NEXT TO THE CLOCK HAS GONE OUT AND THE PERSON ICON WITH THE AIR BAG ON MY DASH JUST STAY'S ON I TOOK IT TO THEM AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A PASSENGER SEAT FOR $1,900.00 BECAUSE MY WARRANTY FOR THAT PART WAS UP. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD FIX THESE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND I TRANSPORT SMALL CHILDREN IN MY CAR. *TR

WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG ACTIVATION SYSTEM DOES NOT ACTIVATE APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE SHE WOULD HAVE NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY FOR ME TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM WHEN SHE IS A PASSENGER. *TR

WHEN MY SON, WHO IS 12 YEARS OLD SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WEIGHS 103 POUNDS) THE LIGHT GOES OFF SOMETIMES OR STAYS ON SOMETIMES FOR THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, BUT WHEN MY FIANCEE WHO IS IN EXCESS OF 180 POUNDS SITS IN THE SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, THUS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, NOT CONSTANTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY SENSE THE FRONT PASSENGER, RESULTING IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR BEING IN THE "OFF" MODE EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING THERE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY A KIA DEALER, WHO SAID THE COMPUTER DID NOT NOTE ANYTHING WRONG. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID "WITH SOME KIA'S, THE SENSOR DOES NOT DETECT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT UNLESS THEY ARE SITTING DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT." THIS CONCERNS US GREATLY, AS, IF WE ARE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE SENSOR DOES NOT REGISTER A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. *TR

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT SHOWS "OFF' WITH A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE IS 5 FT. EVEN, AND WEIGHS OVER 135 LBS. BUT THE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF FOR HER. I TRIED IT (I WEIGH AROUND 200) AND IT WENT OFF. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALER SAIID IF WOULD COST A $100 TO TELL YOU WHAT WAS WRONG.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER MOVED A CERTAIN WAY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

INTENTIONALLY T-BONED AND SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. NOW MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. *TR

KIA VEHICLES,FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE, MFG BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR THIS, IT IS DUE TO TANK OVER FILL, WHEN FUEL IS UP INTO FILL NECK IT PUTS TO MUCH FUEL IN TANK AND INTURN FLOODING SOME FUEL CANISTER OF THE SYSTEM AND THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DIE, A SEVERE DESIGN FLAW, I HAVE HAD THREE STALL OUTS, THE THIRD ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT I WAS PULLING INTO HEAVY FLOW OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC WHEN THE CAR UP AND DIED, MFG SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT FROM A MECHANICAL STAND POINT CAUSE IT MEETS GOV-SPECS, CUSTOMER MUST NOT ALLOW THE TANK TO BE OVER FILLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ENGAGING THE INTERIOR HEAT, THE DEFROSTER WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE COMPRESSOR HAD FAILED AN ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

1. THE CHECK LIGHT ON KIA SPECTRA 2008 REMAINED ON STARTUP. 2. TOOK THE CAR TO DON BEYER KIA IN FALLS CHURCH, VA. THEY ORDERED A PART 31435-1EA00 SENSOR - FUEL AND INSTALLED IT. 3. NOW CANNOT PUT FUEL IN GAS TANK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR VENTILATION SYSTEM. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. A LOUD CLICKING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER EXAMINING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND FINDING NO SIGNS OF A FIRE OR SMOKE THE CONTACT RE ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND STEERING WHEEL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.

ON JANUARY 4TH 2010 AT 4:30AM ANOTHER DRIVER PUSHED ME OFF THE ROAD. AND MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA FLEW UP A HILL HIT TWO TREES AT FULL SPEED THEN WITH FULL FORCE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. WHEN MY CAR HIT THE LITTLE HILL ONLY MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOW EVER I WAS STILL GOING ABOUT 49 MPH. DURING THIS TIME OF HITTING TREES SOME HOW MY SEAT BELT CAME OUT OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM. AFTER MY STAY IN THE HOSPITAL I WENT TO SEE THE CAR AND NONE AND I MEAN NONE OF MY SIDE AIR BAG HAD GONE OFF WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE BACK OF MY CAR WENT AROUND A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE REAR AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE AIR BAGS IN MY SEAT DID NOT GO OFF I HAVE PERMANENT SHORT TERM MEMORY LOSS. ALL AND ALL THESE KIA SPECTRA''S AND ALL KIA'S SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD IN 2008 I WAS IN A CAR WRECK AT MY FAULT AT 40 MPH AND MY DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP. *TR

NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH CAR OR BATTERY NOTICED WHATSOEVER UPON ENTERING AND STARTING THE VEHICLE.. THE COMPLAINT INCIDENCE OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING APPROX 2 BLOCKS AND PARKING AND TURNING OFF CAR AND UPON GETTING OUT OF CAR NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE CORNER OF HOOD. SINCE THERE WAS A BABY IN THE CAR FIRST ACTION WAS TO REMOVE CHILD TO SAFE AREA AND CALLED 911. WITHIN APPROX 5 MINUTES MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE POURING FROM HOOD CRACKS. BYSTANDERS ATTEMPTED TO OPEN HOOD AND SPRAY WITH BORROWED FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT COULD NOT OPEN HOOD. WHEN FIRETRUCK ARRIVED THEY COULD NOT GET HOOD OPEN EITHER AND HAD TO PRY IT OPEN AT WHICH POINT FLAMES ERUPTED BUT WERE THEN QUICKLY PUT OUT BY FIRE DEPARTMENT (GOLDSBORO NC CAR FIRE AT TJ MAXX STORE ON SEPT 28, 2009) FIRE DETERMINED TO HAVE STARTED IN BATTERY/FUSE BOX AREA - FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL BUT CAUSE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO EXTREME AMOUNT OF DAMAGE RESULTING FROM FIRE IT APPEARS THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY ADVANCE WARNING OR SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS INCIDENCE. NOTHING WAS POSSIBLE TO BE DONE TO "CORRECT" THE PROBLEM EXCEPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS CHARRED AND THE CAR TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRANGED TO HAVE CAR TOWED FROM PARKING LOT WHERE FIRE OCCURRED TO LOT WHERE FINAL INSPECTION MADE. LUCKILY, CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOWED FOR ALMOST IMMEDIATE AWARENESS OF FIRE OCCURRING AND THAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE IN A SAFE PLACE WITH COMMUNICATION AVAILABLE. IF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT IT NO LONGER HAD POWER AND THAT NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4000.

EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE ARE THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. EITHER WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR DRY, WARM OR COLD. *TR

'08 KIA SPECTRA HIT ACROSS RIGHT FRONT & SLAMMED IN RIGHT QUARTER PANEL. VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS...NON OF WHICH DEPLOYED. WIFE SUFFERED FRACTURES TO ALL HER RIBS & STERNUM AND A BROKEN LEFT ARM. NINE DAYS IN SHOCK TRAUMA IN BALTIMORE, TWO WEEKS IN REHAB HOSPITAL AND NOW GETTING REHAB HELP AT HOME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SYSTEM SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. AFTER EACH FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE SAME SENSOR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MOTOR SHOOK, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME VERY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRANKSHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 232 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. UPDATED 04-05-13 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED.

I PAID CASH FOR A KIA 08/09,THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN IT WAS DROP OFF BY THE DEALERSHIP.I CALL RIGHT BACK I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN. THIS CONTINUE 3 TIMES AFTER, THE CRANK SHAFT WENT OUT,THE FUEL SENSOR WAS THE 4 TIME WITH ME 1 TIME WITH THE OTHER OWNER. SHE PUT 3500MI. ON THE CAR FACT. MY TITLE SAID, 200 MI. THEN, THE GAS PEDDLE WAS SO HOT I COULD NOT KEEP MY FOOT ON IT. I WAS CALL BY KIA, PARK THE CAR OR IT WILL BLOW UP ON YOU. I WAS ON THE ROAD NEXT TO A CANE FIELD NO HOUSES CLOSE TO ME. I'M 65 YRS. OLD, BEEN GOING FOR OVER 38 MO. BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS LOUISIANA NEW CAR COMMISSIONER(1) HE KEEPING ME AT BAY. THIS CAR WAS ON IT WAY BACK TO KIA MANFACTURE. BUT WAS SOLD TO ME BECAUSE I PAID CASH. THEY THEY TRIED TO BUY BACK THE CAR FROM A LOAN CO. WHERE I TOOK A LOAN ON IT. THEY LAUGH AT ME TELL ME I'M ON MY OWN. I STILL HAVE THE WARRANTY ON IT. COULD YOU HELP ME. THIS WAS A NEW CAR I WAS SOLD EVEN THOUGH SOME ONE ELSE HAD IT BEFORE ME FOR MONTHS 3500MI. YET ON MY TITLE IT SAID 200MI. *TR

TRUNK LATCH WILL NOT RELEASE WITHOUT THE KEY (FROM THE INTERIOR BUTTON OR THE REMOTE). EVERY TIME THE WEATHER GETS BELOW FREEZING THE TRUNK RELEASE BRAKES AGAIN. *TR

2008 KIA SPECTRA, THE PARKING LIGHTS COME ON BY THEIR SELF WHEN ITS AROUND 20* OUTSIDE AND WHEN ITS AROUND 80* OUTSIDE THE ALARM WANT SET THE LIGHTS JUST BLANK ON AND OFF. ALSO I HAVE A REALLY BAD RATTLE COMES FROM THE AIR BAGS SO IT SOUND IN THE DASH AND DRIVERS SIDE POST AIR BAG. HAVE TOOK THE CAR IN 3 TIMES AND A WEEK PER TIME, AND SO FAR NOTHING AS BEEN FIXED. *TR

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON 12/29/08. THE CAR WOULD NOT START WHEN MY WIFE TRIED TO BACK IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. THE MECHANICS EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT WE MUST HAVE OVERFILLED THE GAS TANK. TODAY -- 9/4/12 -- IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I FORGOT ABOUT THE PROBLEM WE HAD IN 08 AND MISTAKENLY FILLED UP THE GAS TANK. FOR THE LAST 30 MILES I'VE DRIVEN IT, IT HAS STALLED OUT AT LEAST SIX TIMES AND FREQUENTLY SHUDDERED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WON'T START TOMORROW MORNING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER TESTED THE AIR BAG SENSOR BY PLACING A 200 LBS. MECHANIC IN THE SEAT. THE INDICATOR DIMMED; THEREFORE, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS FINE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT TENSIONER FAILED WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. KIA REPLACED THE AIR BAG COMPUTER, SENSOR, AND SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE LABELED AS DEFECTIVE AND AFTER ALL THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INAPPROPRIATELY. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A DEER AND ANOTHER CRASH OCCURRED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AND IS CURRENTLY AT AN AUTO BODY SHOP WAITING TO BE APPRAISED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 10,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER OFFERED THE CONTACT A NEW VEHICLE INSTEAD OF REPAIRING THE ONE HE OWNS; HOWEVER, THE NEWER MODELS EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,126.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DOES NOT DIM WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE SENDING A RE-CALIPER SWITCH TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR. TWO WEEKS LATER, NO ONE HAS CALLED THE CONTACT REGARDING THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

ALL FOUR(4) SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN AUTO INCIDENT INVOLVING 2008 MODEL KIA SPECTRA. *TR

WHEN THE AUTO SWITCH FOR THE LIGHTS IS ON SOMETIMES THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS REMOVED. WE OFTEN HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE CAR, INSERT/REMOVE THE KEY, THEN OPEN/CLOSE THE DOOR TO GET THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF. ONCE, DURING THE DAY WE FAILED TO NOTICE THE LIGHT ON AND THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED. *TR

ON OUR 2008 KIA SPECTRA THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MEANS THE BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASED IN MAY OF 2008. *TR

MY SON HAS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA AND I HAVE A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. BOTH CARS HAVE DIFFICULTY TURNING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN THE CAR IS/HAS BEEN COLD AND MY WIFE SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SHE WEIGHS APPROX 105 POUNDS AND WHEN THE CARS HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE COLD, THE SENSORS IN THE SEAT DO NOT REGISTER THAT SHE'S THERE. CONSEQUENTLY THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS AUTOMATICALLY TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE KIA DEALER ABOUT IT AND THEY SAY THAT IF FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. BUT IT DOESN'T. IF THE WEATHER'S WARM, NEITHER CAR SEEMS TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AS OFTEN. *TR

PARKING LIGHTS SOMETIMES TURN ON SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER REMOVING KEYS AND EXITING CAR, THIS CAR HAS AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, THE SWITCH CAN BE TURNED OFF IF DESIRED, UNLIKE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON ALL THE TIME. WE HAVE 2 IDENTICAL CARS AND BOTH HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. DEALER CHECKED CAR OUT AND TOLD US THERE ARE NO OTHER REPORTS AND THAT WE ARE OPENING THE CAR DOOR BEFORE TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH I WAS SURE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, WE TOOK THE ADVICE AND DID AS WE WERE INSTRUCTED. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM RETURNED,THIS TIME NOT CAUGHT FOR 15 HOURS, RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION AND TOLD US THAT MOST PEOPLE TURN THE SWITCH OFF ANYWAY, BUT THIS DEFEATS THE PURPOSE OF AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH EACH CAR BEFORE WE LEFT THE SWITCH OFF, NEITHER OF US USE THE LIGHTS DURING THE DAY ANY LONGER BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY EVEN WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/22/14*LJ UPDATED 9/05/2017*CN