Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
280–25K
1425–50K
850–75K
1575–100K
14100–150K
5150K+
84 reports with mileage · 19 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports1 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
103 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE: 2005 KIA SPECTRA 5 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN COMING TO A STOP (WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS PEDAL BUT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL), ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I NOTICED THIS HAPPENED. I QUICKLY PUSHED DOWN STRONGLY ON THE BRAKE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE ENGINE DECELERATED ON IT'S OWN WIT…
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VEHICLE: 2005 KIA SPECTRA 5 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN COMING TO A STOP (WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS PEDAL BUT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL), ENGINE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I NOTICED THIS HAPPENED. I QUICKLY PUSHED DOWN STRONGLY ON THE BRAKE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE ENGINE DECELERATED ON IT'S OWN WITHIN ABOUT 5-10 SECS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10181168
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2007
Exterior Lighting
MY WIFE'S KIA AND MANY OF THE OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE PLASTIC BECOMES MILKY AND THE LIGHT EMITTED IS NOT ENOUGH TO SEE. I THINK THE MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS FOR SAFETY REASONS. IF THEY WOULD HAVE MADE THEM OUT OF GL…
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MY WIFE'S KIA AND MANY OF THE OTHER CARS AND TRUCKS I SEE ON THE ROAD HAVE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME THE PLASTIC BECOMES MILKY AND THE LIGHT EMITTED IS NOT ENOUGH TO SEE. I THINK THE MANUFACTURES SHOULD BE FORCED TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS FOR SAFETY REASONS. IF THEY WOULD HAVE MADE THEM OUT OF GLASS LIKE THE ONES ON MY JEEP THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10179312
25,300 miles · Dec 11, 2006
Air BagsCrash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL FOUR TIMES SMASHING ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE. ALL SIX AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO ANY OCCUPANTS.
NHTSA ODI #10175792
6,000 miles · Nov 26, 2006
Power Train
THE POWER TRAIN IN MY CAR SHIFTS VERY HARD AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FALL OUT OF THE CAR. HAVE HAD THE CAR IN TO BE FIXED BY THE DEALER TWICE AND TOMORROW WILL BE THE THIRD TIME. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10174356
314 miles · Nov 21, 2006
Air BagsSteeringSuspension
VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 70 MILES BEFORE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED, 1400 MILES BEFORE I DETERMINED THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR, AND ABOUT 90 DAYS BEFORE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FINDING A SHAKE IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SELLING DEALER 20 TIMES WITH THE AIRBAG PROBLEM AND STEERING SH…
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VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN 70 MILES BEFORE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED, 1400 MILES BEFORE I DETERMINED THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS NOT OPERATOR ERROR, AND ABOUT 90 DAYS BEFORE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND FINDING A SHAKE IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SELLING DEALER 20 TIMES WITH THE AIRBAG PROBLEM AND STEERING SHAKE UN-REPAIRED. SC0055 ON THE AIRBAG ISSUE, REPROGRAMMING THE SENSOR(S) AND REPLACING THE SEAT BOTTOM HAS NOT ELIMINATED THE PROBLEM OR FAILURES. 7 NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND BALANCED, TO INCLUDE ROAD-FORCE BALANCING 3 TIMES WITHOUT CORRECTING THE SHAKE IN THE STEERING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TEST DRIVEN HUNDREDS OF MILES AT THE DEALERS REQUEST. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10173950
21,000 miles · Nov 17, 2006
Air Bags
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10173771
28,165 miles · Nov 17, 2006
Air Bags
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. UPDATED 1/10/2007 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10173751
4,145 miles · Oct 26, 2006
Parking BrakeCrash
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL, AND HIT A TREE. THE HATCH WAS CRUSHED AND THE FRONT END WAS TORN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT USED THE BRAKE AS A BACK UP BRAKE WHILE DRIVING, BUT…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL, AND HIT A TREE. THE HATCH WAS CRUSHED AND THE FRONT END WAS TORN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT USED THE BRAKE AS A BACK UP BRAKE WHILE DRIVING, BUT IT DOES NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10171937
10,500 miles · Oct 23, 2006
Air Bags
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE THE PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, ALERTING THE DRIVER THE AIRBAG WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SEAT AND THE WIRING HARNESS. THE PASSENGER WEIGHED 177 LBS.
NHTSA ODI #10171586
11,000 miles · Jul 7, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE ODOMETER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. AND IN SOME CASES, THE SPEEDOMETER INCREASED TO 110 MPH WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ROD CRACKS OR FAILS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE TIE ROD COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON APRIL 8, 2005. AN ADDITIONAL LETTER WAS SENT TO OWNERS WHO HAD NOT TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. THIS LETTER WAS MAILED MAY 20, 2005. 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.
2005 Kia Spectra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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