2009 KIA Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Spectra years
- About as many complaints as other years 3rd of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 KIA Spectra. That ranks 3rd out of 10 Spectra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (76 complaints, 67%), typically at around 71,000 miles. Complaints mention 16 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 114owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 16complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2009 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 | 76 | 67% | 71,000 | “air bag” (55%) | $2,550 |
| Seats | 11 | 10% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 10 | 9% | 56,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 9 | 8% | 62,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 5% | 85,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 4% | 83,500 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 4% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 4% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 4% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 3% | 67,380 | — | — |
| Steering | 3 | 3% | 96,600 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 3% | 47,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 3 | 3% | 108,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 2% | 40,190 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2% | 30,360 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 36,934 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2009 KIA Spectra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 2009 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.
I am having a problem with my hazard turning signal lights it won't turn on.
My car seems like someone entered something in my gas tank while i may been in the store
The airbag light is on and we think the ocs sensor mat is bad. Kia has an extended warranty for vehicles between the years of 2006-2009 to have a ocs sensor mat replaced for free for a period of 15 years regardless of mileage.
Airbag warning light is always on even if seat is occupied. In addition the airbag "off" message was displayed next to the clock and is always in the 'off', position. Both lights remain in that condition whether the vehicle is stationary mode (in park) or driving in motion. A safety inspection…
On december 18, 2018, i had a tire separate. These tires were purchased from long tire company in titusville, florida on june 15, 1916 (see attached documentation of the purchase). The tire was fully covered by warranty at that time, and i only paid to have a new one installed (see attached…
Other KIA Spectra years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 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 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 2009 KIA Spectra?
Owners most often report air bags, seats, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 76 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2009 KIA Spectra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 2009 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 2009 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.