2008 Kia SPECTRA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
121 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
74,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 93 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 54 of 121 complaints (44.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.8% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 54 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
Air Bags: 54; Electrical System: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Engine: 10; Unknown Or Other: 10; Seat Belts: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Service Brakes: 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 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 8 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 8; 2010: 11; 2011: 8; 2012: 7; 2013: 11; 2014: 16; 2015: 23; 2016: 11; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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 10305803 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE ARE THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. EITHER WHEN THE ROAD IS WET OR DRY, WARM OR COLD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311593 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336796 · 2010-06-17 (June 17, 2010)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345241 · 2010-07-26 (July 26, 2010)
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 B…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10258778 · 2009-02-16 (February 16, 2009)
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 PR…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10258778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277306 · 2009-07-18 (July 18, 2009)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10277306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319893 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422873 · 2011-09-01 (September 1, 2011)
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 MAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11002080 · 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)
MY CAR HAS APPROX 145000 MILES. DRIVES GREAT EXCEPT FOR IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS IT HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR YOU CAN BE DRIVING 5 MPH OR 60 MPH THE CAR WILL JERK HARD...FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE HAD THE CAR INSPECTED AND FIXED NUMEROUS TIMES. MECHANIC'S SAY THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY HAVE FIXED NUMEROUS ITEMS ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH THE TRANSMISSION; FLUSHED, WELDED, ETC . MECHANIC SAID…
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11022403 · 2017-09-08 (September 8, 2017)
I TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND IT DROVE FINE. AFTER I SIGNED PAPERS TO BUY THE VEHICLE, I DROVE IT HOME. ON THE WAY HOME I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 65MPH BUT I ALWAYS STAY A LITTLE UNDER THAT SPEED LIMIT. I GOT TO ABOUT 65 AND BOOM IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION HAD COME THROUGH THE FLOOR AND IT FELT AS IF I WAS GOING TO BE EJECTED FROM THE CAR! THAT SCARED ME TO DEATH!!! AFTER THAT IT STARTED DRAGGING SO I HAD TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE THE CITY STREETS WITH MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON BECAUSE I COULD DO NO MORE THAN 35-40 MPH. I GOT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328293 · 2010-04-30 (April 30, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 17,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473835 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 4,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473835 at NHTSA ↗