2004 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- Fewer complaints than other years 8th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 KIA Spectra. That ranks 8th out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (26 complaints, 37%), typically at around 33,000 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 1 fire, 9 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 71owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 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 | 26 | 37% | 33,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 16 | 23% | 8,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 13% | 30,800 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 10% | 14,700 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 10% | 18,325 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 7% | 46,052 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 6% | 1,651 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 4% | 55,600 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 4% | 4,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 3% | 110,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | 63,075 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 17,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 116,862 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 900 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 42,612 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 19,150 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 KIA Spectra recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:mounting
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
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.
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Spectra. The contact stated the cruise control feature was not operating properly. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving and approaching a traffic light, when depressing on the brake pedal the vehicle failed to stop and accelerated independently to 80 mph…
Electrical - speedometer / odometer - functions intermittently due to possible short in wiring
Tamara recall; there was an accident about ten cars in front of me. I seen everyone start hitting there brakes so i started applying mine. Then i realized everyone had come to a stop so i applied on my brakes even harder and they locked up and i slid about 15 ft. And hit a truck in the rear end…
Metal around wheel wells rotting out.
Front end collision going around 30mph and no airbag deployment. Car is totaled. *tr
Other KIA Spectra years
← 2003 Spectra · 2005 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 | 71 | 1 |
| 2003 Spectra | 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
Embed this 2004 KIA Spectra badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report air bags, power train, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 26 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 KIA Spectra?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 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 2004 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.