There are 4 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2009 Kia Spectrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My car seems like someone entered something in my gas tank while i may been in the store
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2011. SINCE THEN ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN I STOP MY CAR AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE CAR MOVES FORWARD EVEN AFTER I STEP ON THE BRAKE. I THEN HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE BRAKE ON AND TURN THE CAR OFF OR ELSE I'M A HIT SOMEONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE TO BRING IT THERE WHEN IT'S HAPPENING. THIS IS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE 2011. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN WHEN MY CAR SHOULD BE MOTIONLESS HOWEVER IT WOULD KEEP GOING EVEN THOUGH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE NOT KEPT TRACK OF WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. BELOW I HAD TO PUT A DATE THAT IT HAPPENED. I DO NOT KNOW THE DATES THAT THIS IS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2011. I DID NOT KEEP TRACK OF THE DATES
2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ON SNOW COVERED STREET, APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL, PEDAL WAS FIRM AND CAR SLOWING, THEN THE PEDAL WENT SOFT AND DROPPED APPROXIMATELY 1-2 INCHES AND THEN FIRMED UP AGAIN. THIS CAUSED THE ABS TO BE APPLIED, CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AS OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC DID NOT HAVE STOP SIGN. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY THE 20TH TIME THAT WHEN STOPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS GONE FROM FIRM TO SOFT, WHILE SOFT BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES 1-2 INCHES, AND THEN FIRMS. THIS CAUSES A DELAY IN THE CAR SLOWING AND SOMETIMES THE ABS IS ACTIVATED. I TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP ON 3/5/2010, DEALER DROVE CAR 5 MILES AND COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES, ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE SHOES WERE BADLY WORN AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROTORS WERE SCORCHED AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE EXHIBITED BUBBLES. IN ADDITION, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE ROTOR WAS SEVERELY WARPED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR REPAIRS TO THE BRAKE HOSE BUT WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH ANY FURTHER REPAIRS, STATING THE FAILURES WERE WEAR AND TEAR RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026