2005 Kia SPECTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE ADVANCED AIRBAGS IN MY CAR AND A LIGHT "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF " LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT LETS ME KNOW WHEN THE AIRBAG IS OFF. ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS THE LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS STAYED ON FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO IT. I'M WORRIED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THAT THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123785 at NHTSA ↗

DT: CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT IT CONTINUED TO GO TO THE LEFT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO THIS THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WENT IN TO A GUARD RAIL ON SOUTHBOUND 14 FREEWAY IN PALMDALE, CA. SHE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. ONLY THE PASSENGER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE REMAINED. . WHEN THE CAR HIT THE GUARD RAIL, IT WAS THROWN TO THE OTHER …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126542 at NHTSA ↗

SLIGHTEST CONTACT WITH MOST DRIVEWAYS LOOSENS FRONT SPOILER TO THE POINT OF DETACHING FROM VEHICLE. FRONT SPOILER IS TOO LOW TO AVOID THIS TYPE OF DAMGE AND THE SPOILER IS HELD ONTO THE VEHICLE WITH DOUBLESIDED TAPE, 8 POP-OUT BRACKETS AND 2 SCREWS. PARTS BECOME LOOSE OVER TIME.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,622 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129588 at NHTSA ↗

CAR HAS SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT TO DISABLE PASSENGER AIR BAG. AIR BAG DISABLE LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN ADULT SITTING IN SEAT. SEAT CUSHION AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALOR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONTACTED KIA DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL ACCIDENT AND TBHE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY. FROM MY RESEARCH I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD B…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10133795 at NHTSA ↗

WE BOUGHT A KIA SPECTRA 5 ON 06/18/2005, A 2005 MODEL. ON 06/19/05 THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT (WE WERE THE FIRST OWNERS, LESS THAN 100 MILES) OUR KIA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CAR AFTER TWO WEEKS OF TRYING TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, ON 07/27/05, MY HUSBAND STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND TURNED RIGHT, THE CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE TURN (HUSBAND SAID NOTHING ON THE CAR WOULD WORK, STEERING FROZE AND BRAKES FAILED) HE THEN RAN UP ON A CURVE CAR SUSTAINED OVER 2800.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO UNDERCARRIAGE, WHEELS, DRIVE SHAFT ETC. HUSBAND SUFFERED BRUI…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,651 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134061 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A SPECTRA 5. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CAR IN MOST EVERY ASPECT, BUT THE FRONT SPOILER IS NOT SECURED TO THE CAR PROPERLY. I TAPPED IT ON A PARKING CURB ONCE, AND NOW IT'S COMPLETELY FALLING OFF. MY KIA DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT AND SAID I NEEDED TO GO TO THE BODY SHOP. I WENT TO A KIA BODY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE MORE THAN $700 TO FIX AND THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE NEXT TIME IT CAUGHT ON A PARKING CURB OR LOW DIP IN THE ROAD IT WOULDN'T FALL OFF AGAIN. I AM NOT PREPARED TO PAY $700 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134756 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 KIA SPECTRA 5 (LESS THAN A MONTH AGO) WITH AIRBAG SENSORS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON WITH AN ADULT SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIRS. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG (AND THAT THE PERSON MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SITTING PROPERLY IN THE FRONT SEAT). THE SECOND TIME, AFTER STATING THAT I WAS NOT LEAVING UNTIL SOMETHING WAS DONE, THE SEAT WAS REMOVED AND SENT OUT FOR REPAIRS. WHEN I G…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140297 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2005 KIA SPECTRA, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAS A FEATURE THAT MEASURES THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGER AND TURNS ON OR OFF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG. TWICE NOW WITH A FULL SIZED ADULT SITTING CORRECTLY IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG WOULD TURN OFF FOR NO REASON. BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR IN CITY TRAFFIC...THE AIR BAG REMAINED OFF FOR AROUND 5-10 MIN WHEN IT JUST WOULD TURN BACK ON. THERE WAS NO CAUSE THAT WE COULD SEE FOR IT TO JUST TURN OFF AND ON. DURING THAT TIME, IF WE WOULD HAVE CRASHED THE AIR BAG …

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141180 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-04-28 (April 28, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.

Consequence: IF THE ROD CRACKS OR FAILS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE TIE ROD COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON APRIL 8, 2005. AN ADDITIONAL LETTER WAS SENT TO OWNERS WHO HAD NOT TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. THIS LETTER WAS MAILED MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

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.