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U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Kia SPECTRA5 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

18 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

80,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 18 complaints (72.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues422.2%
Braking behavior211.1%
Transmission and shifting15.6%
Steering behavior15.6%
Fuel system concerns15.6%

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.

Air Bags
13
Seats
2
Electrical System
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Seat Belts
1
Service Brakes
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags13
Seats2
Electrical System1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Seat Belts1
Service Brakes1
Steering1
Structure1

Air Bags: 13; Seats: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1; Structure: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 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.

2009
1
2010
3
2011
1
2013
5
2014
3
2016
1
2017
3
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20091
20103
20111
20135
20143
20161
20173
20181

2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10427189 · 2011-09-26 (September 26, 2011)

WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE) WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A DEALER. THE DEALERS CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT RELATED BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS. THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY CAN FIX IT. THEY WILL CHARGE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL SUC…

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427189 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10544176 · 2013-09-18 (September 18, 2013)

THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FOR PASSENGER SIDE AS DECIDED TO COME ON AND OFF. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS ON THE DASH BOARD THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND ACTS AS IF THE AIR BAG INDICATOR IS NOT WORKING, AND IT THEN WILL GO OFF AND COME BACK ON. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND I HAVE NOTICED IT HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OTHER KIA SPECTRA5. IT SHOULD BE RAISED AS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE FACT THAT NOW I AM SCARED TO PLACE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR. ALSO THIS CAR RUNS GREAT ENGINE WISE, HOWEVER, ALL OF MY DOOR HANDELS HAVE BROKEN OFF, MY CK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544176 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10319015 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNDER THE SPEED OF 26 MPH. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS NOT AN UPDATED VERSION WHO ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD WITHOUT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE. THE VEHICLE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319015 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10503140 · 2013-03-15 (March 15, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINE HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTU…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503140 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10926482 · 2016-11-16 (November 16, 2016)

STEERING CONTINUALLY KNOCKED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS I STILL HAD A KNOCK IN MY STEERING WHEEL DURING TURNS AND GOING AND AN AUDIBLE ONE OUTSIDE ALL AXLES AND SUSPENSION WAS DEEMED FINE. I ENDED UP SELLING THE CAR SINCE IT WAS AN ANNOYANCE. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY IT WOULD FLASH A LIGHT ON THE HUD FOR HOURS ONLY WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN IT. THE CAR ALSO HAD VERY LOOSE STEERING AND WAS VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10926482 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10500550 · 2013-02-26 (February 26, 2013)

THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK CAME LOSE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE STRAPS, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DUE WITH CORROSION. THIS IS POOR QUALITY CONTROL THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN THE CASE THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500550 at NHTSA ↗