2003 Kia SPECTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
90 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
54,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 90 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 24.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 14.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 6.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Structure | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Electrical System: 7; Structure: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Seat Belts: 6; Air Bags: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 17; 2004: 15; 2005: 14; 2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10069743 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE RUBBER WEATHER STRIP CAME OFF AND CONTINUES TO COME OFF AFTER A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I NEEDED TO PUT OIL IN THE CAR 2 MONTHS AFTER I GO IT, IT WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED A FEW MONTHS LATER AT KIA OF COLUMBUS GA, AND ASKED WOULD THEY TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS AND THEY REPLIED YES. LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER I HAD TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AGAIN AND I NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE HAD A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES SQUEAKING SINCE ABOUT AFTER THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098474 · 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)
I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON THE 29TH OF OCTOBER. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS NO GOOD. THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED BUT THE THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN...TWO DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED. THE BATTERY CORD HAD TO BE JIGGLED IN ORDER FOR IT TO START UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WHERE THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED, THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR EXCEPT THAT THE BATTERY CORD HAD TO BE TIGHTENED. ANOTHER TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR DOESN'T START AGAIN AND W…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067396 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
AT 13,500 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012316 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022916 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
ONCE VEHICLE REACHES 70 MPH THERE IS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022916 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083260 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NEITHER DUPLICATE NOR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *LA NM
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117613 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAUSES HESITATION, LOST OF POWER, AND STALLING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER ON TEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED VARIOUS PART, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073571 · 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS SET IT SUDDENLY DISENGAGES BY ITSELF. WHEN THIS OCCURS VEHICLE DECELERATES TO A LOW SPEED. THEN, WITHOUT WARNING CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGES AT THE SPEED IT WAS PREVIOUSLY SET. DEALERSHIP REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL MODULE, AND REPAIRED THE WIRING AT THE HARNESS TO THE PIN CONNECTOR BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE. HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073571 at NHTSA ↗