2008 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- More complaints than other years 2nd of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 KIA Spectra. That ranks 2nd out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (61 complaints, 50%), typically at around 63,500 miles. Complaints mention 20 crashes, 3 fires, 21 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 121owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 20complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2008 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 problems | 61 | 50% | 63,500 | “air bag” (57%) | $2,400 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 | 12% | 93,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 14 | 12% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 10 | 8% | 103,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 10 | 8% | 117,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 7% | 84,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 7% | 96,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 4% | 97,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 4% | 116,086 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 3% | 10,613 | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 3% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 3% | 76,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 138,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1% | 232 | — | — |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 85,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 130,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2008 KIA Spectra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2008 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
- Occupant Classification System (PE15031) — opened Sep 1, 2015, closed Feb 11, 2016.
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 2008 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that all three brake lights failed to illuminate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the brake light switch assembly multi-connector wiring harness needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The contact…
After starting car, for first 15-20 mins, all normal. After speedometer go erratic (showing slower than actual speed - or - higher than actual speed) and soon after it just stops working. No check engine light. Dangerous to drive without knowing actual speed. Have to use mobile phone app like Waze…
I have tires sized 195/60r15. I was having problems with shaking at a certain speed. my mechanic checked all the options that could have been mechanical and directed me to a tire shop. I brought the car in for them to check for balance. rims, etc. During the inspection, they discovered that both…
195/60/15 I purchased four new tires From Prospect Tire and Wheels on September 23, 2022, with an alignment. In August of this year, 2023, I returned because of an issue with one of the tires, and the alignment. They told me after replacing the most serious issue that all four tires had "bubbles"…
Duplicate transactions that we're compromising but verified through multiple accounts that were unauthorized and purchased by another provider or driver that was added to orginal policy along with several price gouges in Individual policies that had ties to driving history altered n edited it would…
Other KIA Spectra years
← 2007 Spectra · 2009 Spectra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 114 | 0 |
| 2008 | 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 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 2008 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report air bags, vehicle speed control, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 61 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2008 KIA Spectra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2008 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 2008 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.