2006 Kia SPECTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
100 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 100 complaints (38.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 20.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.0% |
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 | 38 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Air Bags: 38; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 5; Engine: 5; Power Train: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 10; 2007: 17; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 9; 2012: 7; 2013: 8; 2014: 7; 2015: 9; 2016: 8; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10156564 · 2006-05-01 (May 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, LET OFF AND PRESSED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE THEN SURGED FORWARD, AND THIS CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. SEATBELTS WERE IN USE AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS NO POLICE ON SCENE AND A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER; UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158728 · 2006-05-31 (May 31, 2006)
ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 25TH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEAR 2006, MY WIFE AND MYSELF WERE DRIVING DOWN I-5 SB TO MAMC FOR HER HOSPITAL APPT. WE WERE THEN INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT OFF NEXT TO THE OFF RAMP OF EXIT 123. WE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME BEFORE NOTICING THE JUST WRECKED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US AND MY ABS IN MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA SX DID NOT ENGAGE, MY TIRES THEN LOCKED UP AND I SKIDDED AND SLID INTO THE STOPPED VEHICLE. WE HIT THEM DOING APPROX. 35-45 MPH AND SMASHED IN THE FRONT OF OUR CAR. AT THAT TIME MY AIRBAGS (BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENG…
Owner-reported narrative. 223 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159154 · 2006-06-06 (June 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS A FULL FRONT TO REAR INCIDENT. THERE WAS PRE IMPACT BRAKING, THE WHEELS LOCKED UP ON THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO SKID INTO THE REAR OF THE STOPPED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR AND IS AWAITING INSPECTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 224 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159357 · 2006-06-08 (June 8, 2006)
I WAS COMING TO A STOP, DEPRESSING MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, FAILING TO STOP MY CAR. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN, THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND THEN CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED TWICE TODAY, NEITHER TIME CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, BUT CAME CLOSE TO HITTING A HOUSE AND A GAS STATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167722 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
MY KIA WAS BOUGHT 7/8/2006 AND 8 WEEKS LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE GOING UP A HILL I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIP STICK DIDN'T HAVE A DROP OF OIL ON IT. I RUBBED MY HAND ON IT AND THERE WAS NOTHING ON MY HAND. THIS HAPPENED ON 09/04/2006(LABOR DAY). THE CAR LOT WAS CLOSED SO I WENT TO BUY OIL I PUT 1 QUART IN IT STILL SHOWED NO OIL, THE 2ND QUART MADE IT REACH THE DIP STICK. THE OIL LIGHT NEVER STAYED ON, WHICH WAS A PROBLEM ALSO. I TOOK THE CAR IN THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND OUT THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS BROKEN AND OIL WAS LEAKING OUT EXTREM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10167722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170961 · 2006-10-16 (October 16, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT WITH BRAKE PRESSURE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE, AND LURCHED BACKWARDS, CRASHING INTO A TREE STUMP WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, AND THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP TO AWAIT INSPECTION BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172493 · 2006-11-02 (November 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR TO MODERATE SEATBELT INJURIES. ALL THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE. THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT A COPY OF THE INV…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175599 · 2006-12-08 (December 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AS WELL. THIS HAD OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/12/07. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175599 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 ↗