Kia SpectraYears to avoid, problems & recalls
Based on 906 NHTSA owner complaints across 10 model years, no Kia Spectra year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2009. The Spectra has 2 safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Kia Spectra years to avoid
Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Spectra median. Tap a year for its full report.
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
Most common Kia Spectra problems
All model years combined: 906 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 359 | 144 |
| Electrical system | 86 | 9 |
| Power train | 82 | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 72 | 12 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 55 | 8 |
| Seat belts | 54 | 19 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 50 | 13 |
| Structure | 49 | 10 |
| Steering | 38 | 11 |
| 19 other systems | 319 | 46 |
Kia Spectra recalls
Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations of the Spectra
- Occupant Classification SystemNo recall
- REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGENo recall
- SEAT BELT BUCKLE FALSE LATCH/MALFUNCTIONNo recall
- REFUELING SPIT BACKNo recall
- NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESNo recall