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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

100 reports
105,000 miles · Sep 7, 2012
Air BagsSeat BeltsService BrakesCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 40 E APPROACHING EXIT 153 IN HEAVY RAINFALL. APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE EXIT THE TRUCK ALREADY ON THE EXIT AHEAD OF ME BEGAN APPLYING ITS BRAKES. PRE-BRAKING MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND FLEW FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN BRA…

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I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 40 E APPROACHING EXIT 153 IN HEAVY RAINFALL. APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE EXIT THE TRUCK ALREADY ON THE EXIT AHEAD OF ME BEGAN APPLYING ITS BRAKES. PRE-BRAKING MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND FLEW FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN BRAKING THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT MY SEAT-BELT DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED BRUISING, SEVERE HEADACHES, AND MINOR CUTS AS A RESULT. INSURANCE DECLARED CAR AS TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474247

96,000 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Electrical System

VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. SUDDENLY WENT TO ZERO. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. UNABLE TO DETERMINE SPEED OF VEHICLE AT RANDOM TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468049

100,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10460752

82,000 miles · May 3, 2012
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE IT'S PURCHASE IN 2006 BUT RECENTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND I REPLACED THE BULB AND A WEEK OR SO LATER MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT SO WHEN I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE BULB LIKE I DID WITH THE OTHER, I COUL…

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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE IT'S PURCHASE IN 2006 BUT RECENTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND I REPLACED THE BULB AND A WEEK OR SO LATER MY NEIGHBOR TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT SO WHEN I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE BULB LIKE I DID WITH THE OTHER, I COULDN'T GET IT TO COME OUT, IT APPEARED TO BE FUSED TO THE PLASTIC CASING...WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT OUT AND REPLACED THE BULB I WENT TO TURN THE CAR ON TO CHECK THAT IT LIT UP I NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT AND THE PASSENGERSIDE PARKING LIGHT...I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE BULBS AND ALL THE APPROPRIATE FUSES. I CAN NOT IMAGINE I AM THE FIRST TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457377

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

59,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Air BagsCrash

THIS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS AIR BAGS, BEING T-BONED BY A SEMI TRUCK AT 30 MPH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES OF INTRUSION, AS WELL THE FRAME OF VEHICLE BETWEEN THE DOORS WAS TOUCHING THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT NONE OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS, OR PELVIC AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434025

72,000 miles · Oct 7, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

ABOUT THE END OF MARCH I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED BUT ITS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THING COULD'VE HAPPENED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON KIA SPECTRA FUEL SYSTEMS BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIGURE OU…

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ABOUT THE END OF MARCH I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED BUT ITS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THING COULD'VE HAPPENED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON KIA SPECTRA FUEL SYSTEMS BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT ISN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429142

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

CALLED THE DEALERSHIP OF WHERE I BOUGHT MY KIA AT, COULDNT GET A HOLD OF THEM TO SET AN APPOINTMENT TO GO INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE SERVICE DONE. I RECEIVED A LETTER ON JUNE 6TH, OF 2011, AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION, AND OR TO STILL TO TAKE IT IN? OR... IM NOT SURE ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426708

71,000 miles · Jul 14, 2011
Fuel System, Other

I WAS PUMPING GAS INTO MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA AND HEARD A METAL POP AND THOUGHT SOMEONE RAN OVER SOMETHING. AS I WAS DRIVING I WAS HEARING SOMETHING DRAG UNDER MY CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE GAS TANK STRAP WAS SUPER RUSTED AND HAD BUSTED. THE OTHER IS RUSTED TOO. SO I LOOK ONLINE TO FIND REPLACEMENT STRAPS AND F…

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I WAS PUMPING GAS INTO MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA AND HEARD A METAL POP AND THOUGHT SOMEONE RAN OVER SOMETHING. AS I WAS DRIVING I WAS HEARING SOMETHING DRAG UNDER MY CAR. WHEN I PULLED OVER IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE GAS TANK STRAP WAS SUPER RUSTED AND HAD BUSTED. THE OTHER IS RUSTED TOO. SO I LOOK ONLINE TO FIND REPLACEMENT STRAPS AND FIND A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO : 11V256000) DETAILING THAT THE GAS TANK STRAPS ARE LIABLE TO RUST AND COME OFF IF THEY WERE IN ANY NORTHERN STATES WHICH USE HEAVY AMOUNTS OF ROAD SALT. SO I CALL KIA AND THEY SAY MY MODEL THOUGH IT IS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I ASK FOR CASE TO BE OPENED. AFTER THEM TELLING ME TO GO GET A DIAGNOSTIC FROM DEALERSHIP AND 6 DAYS LATER THEY DECLINE ME FOR ANY MORE CONSIDERATION. SO I HAVE A CAR WITH ONE BROKEN GAS TANK STRAP AND OTHER IS JUST AS RUSTED AND THE GAS TANK COULD FALL OFF AND CATCH ON FIRE CAUSING ME AND/OR OTHER PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO CATCH FIRE. IF THIS ISN'T A SAFETY HAZARD I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. THE GAS TANK STRAPS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN SO RUSTY FOR SUCH A NEW CAR. I'M IN TENNESSEE AND THE CAR HAD AN OWNER IN WISCONSIN WHO PUT THE MOST MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10412283

99,334 miles · Jun 29, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, HE HEARD A POPPING AND DRAGGING NOISE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, HE HEARD A POPPING AND DRAGGING NOISE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,334.

NHTSA ODI #10409361

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.