2001 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 9th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 KIA Spectra. That ranks 9th out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (9 complaints, 23%), typically at around 66,000 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 40owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2001 KIA Spectra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 | 23% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 20% | 13,750 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 15% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 15% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 10% | 47,300 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 8% | 87,400 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 5% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 3% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | 15,598 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2001 KIA Spectra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2001 KIA Spectra.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Refueling spit back (EA04004) — opened Feb 3, 2004, closed Jul 29, 2004.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Car smells horribly like gas fumes when turned on, more so in the colder temperatures. So many complaints online, i'm surprised kia hasn't issued a recall. Breathing gas fumes for long periods of time can possibly cause cancer or other problems...would be horrible if kia had a lawsuit on their…
2001 kia spectra 1.9 lt engine [yes, some models were made with this size engine.] car was parked in drive way just after midnight. Neighbors called fire department at 2:30 am. Car was not running. Fire chief found no external source of ignition. Fire chief says engine caught on fire, fire traveled…
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 kia spectra. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, he crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained bruising and severe pain from the seat belt restraining her neck and chest area. A police report was filed of the…
My daughter struck another vehicle from behind with her car. The upon impact the car air bags did not deploy. Her chest hit the steering very hard. She ended up with chest, neck and shoulder severe pain. The front end was severely damage. Radiator fluid was everywhere. *tr
Trans all of a sudden started slipping with no prior issues. Was reading a tcm code then codes for each gear replaced trans new trans drove 30 miles and is doing the exact same thing have to drive like a stick 1st 2nd and then can put in drive around 35mph. Also breaks come and go as they please…
Other KIA Spectra years
← 2000 Spectra · 2002 Spectra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 114 | 0 |
| 2008 Spectra | 121 | 0 |
| 2007 Spectra | 152 | 1 |
| 2006 Spectra | 100 | 1 |
| 2005 Spectra | 103 | 2 |
| 2004 Spectra | 71 | 1 |
| 2003 Spectra | 90 | 0 |
| 2002 Spectra | 92 | 0 |
| 2001 | 40 | 0 |
| 2000 Spectra | 23 | 0 |
See all KIA Spectra problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2001 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 9 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2001 KIA Spectra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2001 KIA Spectra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Spectra model years, the 2001 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.