2004 Kia SPECTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
29,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 71 complaints (18.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 18 | 25.4% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.4% |
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 | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 6 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Air Bags: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 6; Electrical System: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2004: 15; 2005: 16; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 11; 2009: 4; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 18 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10082086 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WILL NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE IS CHANGING GEARS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086219 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
WITHOUT ANY NOTICE AT ALL, AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY USUAL CITY SPEED, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS PROPERLY, CAUSING THE CAR TO STOP GAINING SPEED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN IN STOP-AND-GO TYPE TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY ROUGH, "CHOPPY" AND GEARS SLIP OFTEN. HE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL ALSO LOCK PERMANENTLY, WITH ONLY A REPLACEMENT FIXING THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087213 · 2004-08-04 (August 4, 2004)
WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AIR BAG SENSOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SENSOR. THEREFORE, MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ENGINEER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, STATED THAT IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089065 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY KIA SPECTRA WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO A HIGHER GEAR WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. I HAVE TO PUMP THE GAS OR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND BACK TO DRIVE TO GET IT TO SHIFT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091094 · 2004-09-16 (September 16, 2004)
WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OUR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO WORK. WE WERE BOTH THROWN INTO THE WINDSHEILD . SUFFERED INJURIES TO BACK, HEAD AND NECK. TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY EMS. OUR VECICLE 2004 KIA SEPTRA 4 DOOR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10091094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092577 · 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSORS IN 2004 SPECTRA. *MR THE AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT ALWAYS DETECT WHEN ADULTS WERE SITTING THERE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092639 · 2004-09-17 (September 17, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHICH MADE A BANGING NOISE. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10092639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092718 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
THE DEALER NEVER DISCLOSED THE EXISTENCE OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR SYSTEM. *NM THE AIR BAD POSED A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMERS THAT WERE PETITE AND WEIGHED 125 POUNDS OR LESS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092718 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
11V256000 · Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
Reported: 2011-04-25 (April 25, 2011)
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 SPECTRA LD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THROUGH MARCH 6, 2007, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH HOLD THE TANK MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY SEPARATE ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TANK.
Consequence: THE FUEL TANK CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE THE GROUND WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. LEAKING FUEL CAN CREATE A FIRE HAZARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE WITH NEW ZINC COATED PARTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗