2005 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- About as many complaints as other years 4th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 KIA Spectra. That ranks 4th out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (43 complaints, 42%), typically at around 26,733 miles. Complaints mention 23 crashes, 1 fire, 17 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 103owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 23complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 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 | 43 | 42% | 26,733 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 12% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 11% | 77,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 10 | 10% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 7 | 7% | 43,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 6 | 6% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 5% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 4% | 93,367 | — | — |
| Seats | 4 | 4% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 4% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 4 | 4% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 3% | 149,909 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 3% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 2% | 29,811 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 28,760 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1% | 93,367 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1% | 29,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 160,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 KIA Spectra recalls (2)
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.
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the steering tie rods may have a manufacturing flaw that affects the metallurgy.
Risk: If the rod cracks or fails, loss of vehicle steering control may occur which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering rack assembly, which includes the tie rod components free of charge. Owners were notified by telephone on april 8, 2005. An additional letter was sent to owners who had not taken their vehicles in for repair. This letter was mailed may 20, 2005. 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.
Airbag warning light is activated. Car has not sustained damage. Seat or sensor malfunction may cause airbag not to deploy in crash.
Vehicle speedometer randomly quits. Also dash lights on binacle. Then will come back on after a day or so, have replace with genuine kia oem parts but still happens. Also looked on forums online and seems to be a common occurrence.
Bad shaking in steering wheel and sounds coming from front end. Only when driving on highway
Upon purchase, brand new off the lot in 2005, the seat belt light on my dashboard was always coming on and off when driving even if a person was sitting in the passenger seat or not. I never really understood exactly why or had money to have it looked at specifically for that problem. When i would…
Speedometer and odometer not working well it works the first time in the morning when i drive after i turn car off and go to drive again it will not work the entire day. Recently i have meet someone with exact make and model with the exact same issue literally as i described the other person who i…
Other KIA Spectra years
← 2004 Spectra · 2006 Spectra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 114 | 0 |
| 2008 Spectra | 121 | 0 |
| 2007 Spectra | 152 | 1 |
| 2006 Spectra | 100 | 1 |
| 2005 | 103 | 2 |
| 2004 Spectra | 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
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report air bags, vehicle speed control, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 43 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 KIA Spectra?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 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 2005 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.