There are 2 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2009 Kia Spectrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY 2009 KIA SPECTRA HAD APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT FROM A KIA DEALER IN OCTOBER 2017. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY KIA, I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THAT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS IDLING TO HIGH AFTER USING THE AIR CONDITIONER OR AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING AND DID NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO LAUNCH FORWARD AFTER I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN REMOVING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR INCREASES IN SPEED INSTEAD OF DECREASING WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WHICH COST $105.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND $256.30 FOR PARTS AND LABOR.
ENGINE KEPT DYING ON ME AFTER I FILLED UP THE TANK. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE OR 3 YEARS NOW AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I DON'T TOP OFF THE TANK SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. I FIND IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS STALLING OUT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING NOT EVEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH 3 KIDS IN THE CAR AND GAS COMING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR ONTO THE GROUND. I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALER AND WAS TOLD I OVERFILLED THE TANK AND THAT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER DAMAGE OF CHARCOAL FILTER AND ALL AIR AND CABIN FILTERS FILLING UP WITH GAS SO NOW I AM STUCK PAYING $400 THAT I DON'T HAVE. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO KIA BUT THEY WILL NOT SET AS RECALL OR HELP ACCOMMODATE US WITH DAMAGES AND I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 3 KID AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS. I DID NOT DO ANYTHING WRONG TO CAUSE THIS AND YET WE HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
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