KIA Spectra Problems by Year
NHTSA has 906 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file for the KIA Spectra, across 10 model years (2000–2009). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (152). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
KIA Spectra years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Spectra model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 Spectra: 152 complaints, 1 recall
- 2008 Spectra: 121 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2009 Spectra: 114 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2000 Spectra: 23 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2001 Spectra: 40 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 Spectra: 71 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Spectra problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 359 | 10 | 142 |
| Electrical System | 86 | 10 | 2 |
| Power Train | 82 | 10 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 72 | 10 | 11 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 55 | 10 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 54 | 10 | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 50 | 10 | 12 |
| Structure | 49 | 9 | 10 |
| Steering | 38 | 10 | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 37 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 35 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 31 | 5 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 8 | 2 |
| Seats | 30 | 9 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 29 | 9 | 7 |
| Visibility | 29 | 8 | 1 |
| Suspension | 25 | 9 | 6 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 24 | 8 | 0 |
| Tires | 11 | 7 | 1 |
| Wheels | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Equipment | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
KIA Spectra problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All KIA Spectra model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 114 | 0 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2008 Spectra | 121 | 0 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 Spectra | 152 | 1 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 Spectra | 100 | 1 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 Spectra | 103 | 2 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Spectra | 71 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2003 Spectra | 90 | 0 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Spectra | 92 | 0 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Spectra | 40 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Spectra | 23 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Spectra years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2007 (152), 2008 (121), 2009 (114). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Spectra?
Air Bags, with 359 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Spectra have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.