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2006 Kia Spectra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

83 reports with mileage · 17 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports3 fire reports23 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

3 reports
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67,000 miles · Oct 26, 2022
Latches/locks/linkages

The contact owns a 2006 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that three of her interior door handles had become defective and the doors could not be opened from inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side door and the front driver’s and passenger’s side door handles were defective. The contact called the loc…

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The contact owns a 2006 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that three of her interior door handles had become defective and the doors could not be opened from inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side door and the front driver’s and passenger’s side door handles were defective. The contact called the local dealer and scheduled an appointment to have the door handles repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #11491036

193,000 miles · Nov 6, 2020
EngineLatches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. *LN*JB

NHTSA ODI #11373460

47,000 miles · Dec 21, 2011
Latches/locks/linkages

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT STATED HIS CHILD APPLIED THE SAFETY LOCK TO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE SAFETY LOCK WAS APPLIED THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN ELECTRONICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT STATED HIS CHILD APPLIED THE SAFETY LOCK TO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE SAFETY LOCK WAS APPLIED THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN ELECTRONICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10440848

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.