2003 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- About as many complaints as other years 7th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 KIA Spectra. That ranks 7th out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (16 complaints, 18%), typically at around 51,000 miles. Complaints mention 15 crashes, 1 fire, 11 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 90owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 15complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 16 | 18% | 51,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 16% | 41,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 16% | 85,075 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 11 | 12% | 25,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 12% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 10 | 11% | 55,250 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 10% | 53,503 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 10% | 5,130 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4% | 93,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 4% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% | 5,130 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 3% | 80,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% | 113,276 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 3% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 2,400 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 KIA Spectra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2003 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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My car is leaking gas on the passenger side underneath the car i also have gas fumes in my car too, i am losing a lot of gas in my car.i have strangers pointing out that my car is leaking gas and the smell of gas when i park my car in a public parking lot when i do shopping, i fear that my car will…
Dirt cheap cars sold me a car that wont pass inspection
I bought a car from a used dealer and i was informed that it had no frame damage but i took it to two garages and both garages informed me that there was frame damage front and back and the one garage i took it to said that they were aware of the frame damage
I noticed brake fluid underneath my car one day and checked my level to find that there was basically no brake fluid in the reservoir. Turns out it's the brake proportioning valve. After looking online it seems like this is a trend and has caused accidents previously. The mechanic was surprised…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia spectra. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,234. The vin was not available.
Other KIA Spectra years
← 2002 Spectra · 2004 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 | 90 | 0 |
| 2002 Spectra | 92 | 0 |
| 2001 Spectra | 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 2003 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 16 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 KIA Spectra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2003 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 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.