IllustrationWE HAVE NOW HAD A SECOND FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT. IT NOW LACKS A RETRACT, AS WELL AS A LOCKING MECHANISM AND IS COMPLETELY USELESS. NOW ALSO, TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
2002 Kia Spectra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Spectra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
160–25K
1425–50K
750–75K
775–100K
5100–150K
3150K+
52 reports with mileage · 40 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
92 reportsHAD KIA SINCE 11-2002, HAD TO TAKE BACK TO THE DEALER OVER 10 TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH. HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STICK SHIFT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR EASILY. DASH BOARD HAS STARTED WARPING BECAUSE IT IS NOT GLUED TOGETHER. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO COMES APART. DEALER SAYS IT IS SUPPOSE TO DO THAT. HAD…
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HAD KIA SINCE 11-2002, HAD TO TAKE BACK TO THE DEALER OVER 10 TIMES WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH. HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STICK SHIFT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR EASILY. DASH BOARD HAS STARTED WARPING BECAUSE IT IS NOT GLUED TOGETHER. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO COMES APART. DEALER SAYS IT IS SUPPOSE TO DO THAT. HAD TAKEN IT TO MECHANIC WHO INFORMS ME THAT EVENTUALLY MY DASHBOARD WILL WARP ALL THE TO THE AIRBAGS. NOW I AM AFRAID THAT AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BACK BRAKES BECAUSE THEY WERE LEAKING, AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED AND HAD TO PAY TO HAVE MY BRAKES FIXED MYSELF. I HAVE TALKED TO THE HOME OFFICE OF KIA AND EVERYBODY REFUSES TO HELP ME. PLEASE GIVE ME ANY FEED BACK TO HELP ME. *NM
ELECTRICAL-MY KIA DOESN'T LIKE TO CRANK UP ON THE FIRST TIME, STALLS IN TRAFFIC OR WITH A/C ON I TOOK TO A AUTO SHOP AFTER BREAKING DOWN AT A LIGHT IN JACKSONVILLE FL THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRES AND CHARGED ME $468.00 STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP IN GA AND THEY SPENT 8 HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT ST…
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ELECTRICAL-MY KIA DOESN'T LIKE TO CRANK UP ON THE FIRST TIME, STALLS IN TRAFFIC OR WITH A/C ON I TOOK TO A AUTO SHOP AFTER BREAKING DOWN AT A LIGHT IN JACKSONVILLE FL THEY SAID IT WAS THE WIRES AND CHARGED ME $468.00 STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP IN GA AND THEY SPENT 8 HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT STALLS AT AN IDLE. NO ONE CAN FIX IT. I THINK THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE CITY AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR LONG DISTANCE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE DEALERS 4 TIMES; WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. ON THE F…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE DEALERS 4 TIMES; WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. ON THE FIRST VISIT, PART OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE DEALER FOR THE SECOND VISIT WHERE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ON THE THIRD AND FOURTH VISITS, THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 KIA SPECTRA VIN [XXX] IN THE LAST MONTH I HAD 3 INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN SEVERE ACCELERATION ASSOCIATED WITH APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME, ON DEC 8TH, AS I WAS STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE RPM COUNTER WENT TO 7500, THE CAR TRIED TO LURCH FORWARD, AND I HELD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT. AFTER A…
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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 KIA SPECTRA VIN [XXX] IN THE LAST MONTH I HAD 3 INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN SEVERE ACCELERATION ASSOCIATED WITH APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE FIRST TIME, ON DEC 8TH, AS I WAS STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE RPM COUNTER WENT TO 7500, THE CAR TRIED TO LURCH FORWARD, AND I HELD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP IT. AFTER A FEW SECONDS IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. MY KIA DEALER ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP - THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME ON DEC 31 IN A MALL PARKING AREA AS I BRAKED TO TURN INTO A PARKING SLOT - I JUST MANAGED TO AVOID HITTING ONE OF THE PARKED CARS. THE LAST TIME, ON JAN 5TH IN THE TOLL LANE OF THE NYS THRUWAY AS I WAS STOPPING TO PICK UP THE TICKET. THIS TIME AGAIN, A SUDDEN VERY HIGH ACCELERATOR WITH THE CAR TRYING TO JUMP FORWARD AND APPLYING THE BRAKE TO HOLD IT. AFTER I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, AND I STARTED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN EACH TIME I RESTARTED. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND ADVISE ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME IN THE QUEUE OF MY PROBLEM. AFTER A FEW TRIES, I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN WITHOUT REVVING UP AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER VERY CAREFULLY. FOUR DAYS LATER, HEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT I AM NOT WILLING TO RISK MY LIFE OR THE LIVES OF OTHERS. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE - THEY WERE POLITE BUT UNHELPFUL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, OTHER THAN OBTAIN LEGAL COUNCEL AS WELL AS REPORT THIS TO THE NYS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE WELCOME THANKS! *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
CONSUMER 2002 KIA SPECTRA AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON FRONTAL COLLISION. *TS *JB
CAR IN FRONT STOPPED SHORT SO ALSO IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES FORCEFULLY IN VEHICLE. WHEELS LOCKED CAUSING CAR TO VEREEN ACROSS HIGHWAY ADN BOUNCE OFF JERSEY BARRIER OUT OF CONTROL AND BACK ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE HITTING LEFT SIDE BARRIER AND STOPPING. CAR IS A TOTAL WRECK. KIA BODY PERSON SAYS ACCIDENT CAUSED WHEE…
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CAR IN FRONT STOPPED SHORT SO ALSO IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKES FORCEFULLY IN VEHICLE. WHEELS LOCKED CAUSING CAR TO VEREEN ACROSS HIGHWAY ADN BOUNCE OFF JERSEY BARRIER OUT OF CONTROL AND BACK ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC BEFORE HITTING LEFT SIDE BARRIER AND STOPPING. CAR IS A TOTAL WRECK. KIA BODY PERSON SAYS ACCIDENT CAUSED WHEEL TO LOCK NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR CAUSING ACCIDENT AND THEY DIDN'T LET ME DOWN ON THAT SCORE. INSURANCE COMPANY SETTLED CLAIM WITH DEDUCTIBLE APPLIED AND MA AUTOMATICALLY PLACES BLAME TO DRIVER ON ONE CAR ACCIDENTS. THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT BUT I CAN'T PROVE IT.
TRANSMISSON / DRIVETRAIN
I WAS MOVING MY CAR FROM THE SIDE DOOR OF MY HOUSE TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE DOOR WHEN I COULD NOT STOP. I WAS DOING APROXX. 3 MPH AND SLID IN THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS ABOUT A HALF FOOT FROPM HITTING MY SONS TRUCK WHICH IRONICALLY HE JUST HAD DONE A BRAKE JOB ON THE DAY BEFORE (WORKING GREAT). THE CAR WAS MADE ON 6/20/2001 SO IF…
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I WAS MOVING MY CAR FROM THE SIDE DOOR OF MY HOUSE TO THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE DOOR WHEN I COULD NOT STOP. I WAS DOING APROXX. 3 MPH AND SLID IN THE GARAGE WHERE IT WAS ABOUT A HALF FOOT FROPM HITTING MY SONS TRUCK WHICH IRONICALLY HE JUST HAD DONE A BRAKE JOB ON THE DAY BEFORE (WORKING GREAT). THE CAR WAS MADE ON 6/20/2001 SO IF ANYONE AS A PROBLEM IT NEED TO BE REPORTED.
THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR AT 65 MPH, CAUSING IT TO STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS BROKE, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE04065 · Rear Drum Brake Wheel Cylinder Leakage
Opened Sep 21, 2004 · Closed Feb 8, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:wheel Cylinders
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY KIA?S EARLY WARNING REPORT TO THE AGENCY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004, WHICH CONTAINED A SINGLE FIELD REPORT THAT IDENTIFIED 13 INCIDENTS OF WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH 4-DOOR SEDAN AND 5-DOOR HATCHBACK BODY STYLES.THE SAME PARTS SUPPLIER PROVIDES WHEEL CYLINDERS FOR BOTH VEHICLE TYPES, ALTHOUGH THEIR PART NUMBERS DIFFER.THESE PARTS ARE USED ON ALL MY2002-2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? VEHICLES MANUFACTURED THROUGH 12/30/2003.ADDITIONALLY, MY2001-2005 KIA RIO VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/17/2004 USE THE SAME WHEEL CYLINDERS AS THE SUBJECT SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? 4-DOOR SEDAN.MY2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-II? VEHICLES, WHICH STARTED PRODUCTION ON 12/8/2003, DO NOT USE THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS AS THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR DISC BRAKES.THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED ODI OF ONE COMPLAINANT WHOM ALLEGED A CRASH CAUSED BY, ?INADEQUATE BRAKE SYSTEM RESPONSE,? RESULTING IN ONE PERSON INJURED.HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT MULTIPLE CAUSAL FACTORS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH INCIDENT AND NO SINGLE FACTOR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMARY CAUSE.IN TOTAL, ODI IS AWARE OF 5 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, 1 FIELD REPORT, AND 813 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED DEGRADED STOPPING PERFORMANCE OR LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY CAUSED BY WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE.TO DATE, THE COMPLAINT RATE IS 7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND THE WARRANTY RATE IS 1.13%.KIA?S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY RETURN PARTS INDICATES A SLOW RATE OF FLUID LOSS; TESTS SHOWED A MAXIMUM FLUID LOSS RATE OF 1 CC PER 4000 BRAKE APPLICATIONS (THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR HAS A 134CC FLUID CAPACITY BETWEEN THE ?FULL? AND THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED).KIA TESTING OF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDER SHOWED THAT AFTER 100 STOPS FROM 100 KM/H THE PEDAL STROKE INCREASED 5%, PEDAL FORCE INCREASED 13%, AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED 7% (51.7M VS. 48.1M) WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME VEHICLE WITH A NON-LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDER.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:wheel Cylinders
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY KIA?S EARLY WARNING REPORT TO THE AGENCY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004, WHICH CONTAINED A SINGLE FIELD REPORT THAT IDENTIFIED 13 INCIDENTS OF WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH 4-DOOR SEDAN AND 5-DOOR HATCHBACK BODY STYLES.THE SAME PARTS SUPPLIER PROVIDES WHEEL CYLINDERS FOR BOTH VEHICLE TYPES, ALTHOUGH THEIR PART NUMBERS DIFFER.THESE PARTS ARE USED ON ALL MY2002-2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? VEHICLES MANUFACTURED THROUGH 12/30/2003.ADDITIONALLY, MY2001-2005 KIA RIO VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/17/2004 USE THE SAME WHEEL CYLINDERS AS THE SUBJECT SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? 4-DOOR SEDAN.MY2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-II? VEHICLES, WHICH STARTED PRODUCTION ON 12/8/2003, DO NOT USE THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS AS THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR DISC BRAKES.THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED ODI OF ONE COMPLAINANT WHOM ALLEGED A CRASH CAUSED BY, ?INADEQUATE BRAKE SYSTEM RESPONSE,? RESULTING IN ONE PERSON INJURED.HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT MULTIPLE CAUSAL FACTORS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH INCIDENT AND NO SINGLE FACTOR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMARY CAUSE.IN TOTAL, ODI IS AWARE OF 5 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, 1 FIELD REPORT, AND 813 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED DEGRADED STOPPING PERFORMANCE OR LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY CAUSED BY WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE.TO DATE, THE COMPLAINT RATE IS 7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND THE WARRANTY RATE IS 1.13%.KIA?S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY RETURN PARTS INDICATES A SLOW RATE OF FLUID LOSS; TESTS SHOWED A MAXIMUM FLUID LOSS RATE OF 1 CC PER 4000 BRAKE APPLICATIONS (THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR HAS A 134CC FLUID CAPACITY BETWEEN THE ?FULL? AND THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED).KIA TESTING OF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDER SHOWED THAT AFTER 100 STOPS FROM 100 KM/H THE PEDAL STROKE INCREASED 5%, PEDAL FORCE INCREASED 13%, AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED 7% (51.7M VS. 48.1M) WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME VEHICLE WITH A NON-LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDER.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY KIA?S EARLY WARNING REPORT TO THE AGENCY FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2004, WHICH CONTAINED A SINGLE FIELD REPORT THAT IDENTIFIED 13 INCIDENTS OF WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH 4-DOOR SEDAN AND 5-DOOR HATCHBACK BODY STYLES.THE SAME PARTS SUPPLIER PROVIDES WHEEL CYLINDERS FOR BOTH VEHICLE TYPES, ALTHOUGH THEIR PART NUMBERS DIFFER.THESE PARTS ARE USED ON ALL MY2002-2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? VEHICLES MANUFACTURED THROUGH 12/30/2003.ADDITIONALLY, MY2001-2005 KIA RIO VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 11/17/2004 USE THE SAME WHEEL CYLINDERS AS THE SUBJECT SPECTRA ?TYPE-I? 4-DOOR SEDAN.MY2004 SPECTRA ?TYPE-II? VEHICLES, WHICH STARTED PRODUCTION ON 12/8/2003, DO NOT USE THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS AS THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH REAR DISC BRAKES.THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED ODI OF ONE COMPLAINANT WHOM ALLEGED A CRASH CAUSED BY, ?INADEQUATE BRAKE SYSTEM RESPONSE,? RESULTING IN ONE PERSON INJURED.HOWEVER, IT APPEARS THAT MULTIPLE CAUSAL FACTORS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH INCIDENT AND NO SINGLE FACTOR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMARY CAUSE.IN TOTAL, ODI IS AWARE OF 5 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, 1 FIELD REPORT, AND 813 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN 2002 KIA SPECTRA VEHICLES.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED DEGRADED STOPPING PERFORMANCE OR LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY CAUSED BY WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE.TO DATE, THE COMPLAINT RATE IS 7.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES AND THE WARRANTY RATE IS 1.13%.KIA?S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY RETURN PARTS INDICATES A SLOW RATE OF FLUID LOSS; TESTS SHOWED A MAXIMUM FLUID LOSS RATE OF 1 CC PER 4000 BRAKE APPLICATIONS (THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR HAS A 134CC FLUID CAPACITY BETWEEN THE ?FULL? AND THE LEVEL AT WHICH THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED).KIA TESTING OF A VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH A LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDER SHOWED THAT AFTER 100 STOPS FROM 100 KM/H THE PEDAL STROKE INCREASED 5%, PEDAL FORCE INCREASED 13%, AND THE BRAKING DISTANCE INCREASED 7% (51.7M VS. 48.1M) WHEN COMPARED TO THE SAME VEHICLE WITH A NON-LEAKING WHEEL CYLINDER.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.