2008 Kia SPECTRA5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 16 complaints (68.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Air Bags: 11; Electrical System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Seats: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 11054208 · 2017-12-12 (December 12, 2017)
PURCHASED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5 IN 2009. FOR 3 YEARS IT WAS A GOOD COMMUTER CAR. THEN WEIRD THINGS STARTED HAPPENING OUT OF THE BLUE. FIRST, THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW US ACCESS BY USE OF THE KEY FOB. IT WOULD UNLOCK THEN LOCK. THE VEHICLE FLIP THE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER BACK AND FORTH LIKE A GHOST WAS MOVING. SECOND, THE CAR WOULD BLOW A FRONT HEAD LAMP ALMOST EVERY 6 MONTHS LIKE CLOCK WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. THIRD, THE FRONT CONSOLE CONTROLLING THE FAN, HEAT ETC. WOULD JUST STOP WORKING ONLY TO START WORKING A FEW HOURS …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11132447 · 2018-10-01 (October 1, 2018)
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA): CRUISE CONTROL (CC) SET TO ~85 MPH, SUDDEN LURCHING RED-LINE ACCELERATION OCCURRED, CC WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAD TO FIGHT MY VEHICLE (PULL E-BRAKE) TO GET SAFELY TO FREEWAY SHOULDER THEN TURN IGNITION OFF. CAR CONTINUED TO TRY TO RED LINE AFTER IGNITION KILLED, SHIFTING THRU ALL GEARS, BATTERY TERMINALS DISCONNECTED OR CC MODULE DISCONNECTED. VERIFIED BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED FINE AFTER PULLING OVER. 1ST INCIDENT - BEHIND AN 18-WHEELER, ALMOST REAR ENDED SAID 18-WHEELER! AFTER ~2HRS THE CAR "RESOLVED" ITSELF…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11162649 · 2018-12-20 (December 20, 2018)
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ANTI SLIP RESISTANCE ON THE PEDALS AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OF TIMES, WHERE MY MOTHER OR MY FOOT WOULD SLIP OFF THE BRAKE ONTO THE GAS CAUSING US TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE OBJECT IN FRONT OF US. IT FINALLY GOT ME AND I HIT THE SIDE OF MY HIGHSCHOOL WHICH DAMAGED MY HOOD AND BUMPER. I WOULD REALLY HAVE HATED IF ONE OF MY FRIENDS OR ANYONE AT ALL WERE IN FRONT OF MY CAR OR IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I GOT LUCKY THIS TIME BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11162649 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522872 · 2013-07-02 (July 2, 2013)
ABOUT 2YRS AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE DRIVE WAY, AS WE PULLED OUT IT STARTED TO STALL AND DIED. WELL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AFTER FUELING UP THE TANK, WE WERE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, UPON ACCELERATING TO GO THE CAR STALLED AND DIED(ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED). WELL IT STALLED AND DIED 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE MAKING IT HOME. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO KIA DEALERSHIP THE VERY NEXT DAY, TOLD WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE $110 TO MAKE SURE. WELL, THEY LOOKED OVER THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10664927 · 2014-12-17 (December 17, 2014)
THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 24,000 MILES, BUT DEALER JUST SAID TO ADD POWER BOOSTER OR SOMETHING...BY THE TIME OF THIS FIRST DOCUMENTED DEALER CHECK OUT, IT HAD GOTTEN MUCH WORSE... IT HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL, AND OTHER THAN SPENDING MONEY ON VARIOUS SOLUTIONS (THAT DID NOT WORK) IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. FINALLY I WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO NOT OVERFILL OR TOP OFF THE TANK WHEN FILLING WITH FUEL. SOMETHING THAT I DO NOT DO!!! THE VEHICLE HAS NOW REACHED THE POINT AFTER FILLING WITH FUEL, I HAVE TO USE AB…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,185 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664927 at NHTSA ↗