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2004 Kia Spectra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

55 reports with mileage · 16 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 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. 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.

16 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

26 reports
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1,983,297 miles · Aug 6, 2017
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVE…

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TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI #11013077

130,000 miles · Mar 20, 2015
Air BagsCrash

FRONT END COLLISION GOING AROUND 30MPH AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR IS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700777

140,000 miles · Dec 21, 2012
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE 143,000.

NHTSA ODI #10489492

60 miles · Jan 23, 2012
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSuspension

THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DE…

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THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN AND IT IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING BELT KEEPS LOOSENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BOUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT TIGHTENED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE TIMING BELT, ONCE FIXED, SHOULD REMAIN IN TACT AT LEAST FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (NOT A MONTH!). THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHATEVER, I HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR. AM DISAPPOINTED. I REALIZE THE COST WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR UPON PURCHASE, BUT MY HYUNDAI AT THE SAME COST BREAK (ACTUALLY LOWER) PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CAR. I GAVE THE HYUNDAI TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND IT IS KEEPS ON TICKING. IT IS STILL IN SERVICE AND RUNS BETTER THAN THE KIA AT OVER TRIPLE THE MILEAGE. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION REPLACED AT 65,000 WHICH IS UNUSUAL AS I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR HARD AND I AVOID BUMPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444981

90,000 miles · Aug 12, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury

FRONTAL IMPACT AT ABOUT 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SUFFERED STRAINED NECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10419232

110,000 miles · Apr 14, 2011
Air BagsSeats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOCATED WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE. SHE ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE THE WIRES FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE RUN CLOSE TO THE SEAT TRACK, THE AIR BAGS WERE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUM…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOCATED WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE. SHE ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE THE WIRES FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE RUN CLOSE TO THE SEAT TRACK, THE AIR BAGS WERE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10395851

57,800 miles · Jun 9, 2010
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 05V431000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND STAYED ON. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE INDICATING TH…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 05V431000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND STAYED ON. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT OR IT DEPLOYING AT ANY TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

NHTSA ODI #10335511

55,000 miles · Dec 1, 2008
Air BagsCrash

BLACK ICE ON ROADS I ENDED UP TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN A SIX FOOT DITCH. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. UPSET THAT A CRASH LIKE THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250266

70,000 miles · Jul 3, 2008
Air BagsCrash

FRONT END COLLISION, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. 2004 KIA SPECTRA. IT WAS HIT BY A TRUCK AT APPROX. 55 MPH IN THE LEFT FRONT CORNER PUSHING EVERYTHING INTO THE MOTOR AREA AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233145

50,719 miles · May 25, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

KIA AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING FRONT CRASH IMPACT OF ABOUT 40 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228863

Official recalls

1

11V256000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Apr 25, 2011

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.