2007 Kia SPECTRA: complaints, problems and recalls

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND WAS DESTROYED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 600. UPDATED 06/22/07 *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190652 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE DRIVER SUFFERED HEARING LOSS IN THE LEFT EAR, WHIPLASH IN THE NECK, AND A CUT ON THE ARM. THE REAR PASSENGER WAS A NINE YEAR OLD CHILD WHO SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 29,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197338 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE THAT HER VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE UNTIL AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE OWNER'S MANUAL MENTIONED THAT HER VEHICLE HAS CRUISE CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,692.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200566 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. MY DAUGHTER WAS GOING TO WASHINGTON TO HELP HER HUSBAND FIX UP AN APARTMENT FOR THEM TO MOVE IN. I SUGGESTED TO MY DAUGHTER THAT SHE COULD TAKE MY CAR SINCE IT WAS NEW AND MORE RELIABLE. I RECEIVED A CALL ABOUT 12:30 AM. SHE TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE STOPPED QUICKLY IN FRONT OF HER AND SHE VEERED TO KEEP FROM HITTING HER. SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE DID SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH THE CAR AND SHE LOST CONTROL. SHE ENDED GETTING HIT FROM BEHIND AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. SANDWICHING THE CAR IN THE MIDDLE. I MIGHT WOULD HAVE THO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204435 at NHTSA ↗

2007 KIA SPECTRA WITH DEFECTIVE AUTO-OFF HEADLAMPS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE AND HIM TO NEED A JUMPSTART. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE LIGHTS WILL COME ON PERIODICALLY AND WILL SOMETIMES STAY ON. *KB THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH FAILED, AS WELL AS THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10229588 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE DOOR WITH THE KEYS STILL IN THE IGNITION. AFTER A FEW SECONDS, ALL OF THE DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY WITH HER 11 MONTH OLD CHILD STILL IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S FATHER USED A SLIM JIM TO OPEN THE DOOR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,769. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. UPDATED 09/16/08.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,769 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231497 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE FILLING UP WITH GAS, I HEARD A DISTINCT CLICK AND UPON LOOKING SAW THAT ALL OF THE CAR DOORS HAD LOCKED. MY KEYS WERE STILL IN THE IGNITION. I CALLED THE ROAD SERVICE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAR AND THEY HAD IT OPEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY FOR ME. THE DOORS HAVE LOCKED INDEPENDENTLY A FEW MORE TIMES SINCE THEN WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE: 17,000. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238694 at NHTSA ↗

MY DAUGHTER WAS CRITICALLY INJURED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WITH MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE "SAFETY" RATINGS AND FELT SHE WOULD BE WELL PROTECTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AS WELL AS DASH AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT. IN READING THE INFORMATION PACKET THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE I UNDERSTAND THE FRONT AIRBAGS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DEPLOY IN A ROLLOVER, HOWEVER I BELIEVE THE SIDE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED. OTHERS I HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246179 at NHTSA ↗

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.