2006 Kia SPECTRA5: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
80,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 18 complaints (72.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 22.2% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Air Bags: 13; Seats: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Seat Belts: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1; Structure: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 5; 2014: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10283133 · 2009-09-08 (September 8, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER FAILED TO COME TO A STOP WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS NT BEEN NOTIFIED SINCE THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313621 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. SINCE IT STARTED WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAN THE FUSE BOX WAS CHANGED. EACH TIME SO FAR THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THIS LAST TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IS THE BAG OPERATIONAL? HE SAID NO AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT A REAL CONCERN FOR THE SITUATION. THAT SERVICE DEPT. HAS BEEN ATTENTIVE TO MY SITUATION BUT TO NO AVAIL ITS STILL A PROBLEM. THE ONE CONSEQUENCE AT THIS TIME IS OUR TRUST IN THIS VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313621 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319015 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNDER THE SPEED OF 26 MPH. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS NOT AN UPDATED VERSION WHO ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD WITHOUT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE. THE VEHICLE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10368344 · 2010-11-30 (November 30, 2010)
THE MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR AND IS BEGINNING TO BULGE OUT FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARED OVERNIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10427189 · 2011-09-26 (September 26, 2011)
WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE) WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A DEALER. THE DEALERS CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT RELATED BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS. THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY CAN FIX IT. THEY WILL CHARGE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL SUC…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10427189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500550 · 2013-02-26 (February 26, 2013)
THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK CAME LOSE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE STRAPS, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DUE WITH CORROSION. THIS IS POOR QUALITY CONTROL THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN THE CASE THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10500930 · 2013-03-01 (March 1, 2013)
I BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE 4 MONTHS AGO. I WILL MAKE A COPY/PASTE OF PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS. WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE A TRUST ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS SITUATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10502671 · 2013-03-13 (March 13, 2013)
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND STAYED ON. PASSENGER AIR BAG MESSAGE ON DASH DOES NOT COME ON ANYMORE AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY GAVE CODE AS B1448 INTERNAL FAULT IN PASSENGER SEAT MAT. EST. REPAIR $1450. CALLED KIA CONSUMER NUMBER AND ASKED IF THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS KIA RIO RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE NHTSA DID NOT MAKE THEM RECALL ANY OTHER MODELS AND ONLY IF THEY WERE MADE BY NHTSA WOULD THERE BE A RECALL AND THEY WOULD CONTACT ME IF THERE EVER WAS A RECALL. SO AFTER SEEING OTHER COMPLAINTS I A…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10502671 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.