I HAD A NEAR-FRONTAL CRASH IN MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA IN WHICH THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. SPEED AT TIME OF CRASH IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 40-50 MPH. THE FRONT-LEFT PART OF MY HOOD WAS STRUCK BY A TURNING VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG IN THE OTHER VEHICLE DID DEPLOY. *TR
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 →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
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.
What owners actually said
100 reportsTHE ALTERNATOR ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA EX WENT OUT WITH WARNING AND THE CALL STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY COUSIN AND I WERE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 3.5 HOURS BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. BOTH OF US WERE SUNBURNED AND I AM A HEART PATIENT, WHO SUFFERED FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION AND DEHYDRATION ON THIS DAY. KIA DID NOT HONOR THE 10 YEAR O…
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THE ALTERNATOR ON MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA EX WENT OUT WITH WARNING AND THE CALL STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY COUSIN AND I WERE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY FOR 3.5 HOURS BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. BOTH OF US WERE SUNBURNED AND I AM A HEART PATIENT, WHO SUFFERED FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION AND DEHYDRATION ON THIS DAY. KIA DID NOT HONOR THE 10 YEAR OR 100,000 WARRANTY. MY CAR ONLY HAVE 76,000 MILES. PAID NEARLY $400 FOR A REBUILT ALTERNATOR. CAUSED GREAT HARDSHIP AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OVER THIS ISSUE. *TR
THEIR IS STANDING WATER INSIDE THE DASH I BELIEVE. YOU CAN SMELL STAGNATE WATER . ON WARM DAYS CAR WILL STEAM UP ON INSIDE OF WINDOWS. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR IT MOVING AROUND. SEEMS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF WATER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED ON FOUR TO FIVE OCCASIONS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO STATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN INVOICE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED ON FOUR TO FIVE OCCASIONS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO STATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN INVOICE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES TO WEAR AT 10,000 MILES. THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FIVE THIRTY SECONDS OF TREAD REMAINING ON THE TIRES. THE NORMAL MILEAGE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE BEFORE 40,000 MILES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE ROTATED AT 7,500 MILES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FUEL TYPE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,550.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN HIS 125 POUND SPOUSE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KIA ISSUE AND IS BEING CORRECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN HIS 125 POUND SPOUSE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY IN A CRASH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A KIA ISSUE AND IS BEING CORRECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 03/14/08. *LJ
MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA HATCHBACK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE E-BRAKE ON, BOTH FRONT DOORS WERE OPEN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING, I SAT IN THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE SEAT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF, HITTING ME. I CONTACTED KIA IMMEDIATELY TO FILE A COMPLAINT, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA WHERE THEY EXAM…
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MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA HATCHBACK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE E-BRAKE ON, BOTH FRONT DOORS WERE OPEN AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING, I SAT IN THE CAR AND CLOSED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE SEAT AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS WENT OFF, HITTING ME. I CONTACTED KIA IMMEDIATELY TO FILE A COMPLAINT, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA WHERE THEY EXAMINED IT. I TOLD KIA I WANTED THE CAR REPLACED, WE JUST BOUGHT IT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR IS TORN UP INSIDE FROM THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING AND I'M AFRAID THE SYSTEM WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN. ON 11/12/07 THEY CALLED AND SAID THAT THE COMPUTER REGISTERED THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION AND THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND DOES NOT HAVE A DENT ON IT PLUS I HAVE A WITNESS THAT WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE OPENED PASSENGER DOOR WHEN IT HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN THIS CAR FOR FEAR THAT THE OTHER AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND INJURE OR KILL THEM. THIS HAS AFFECTED MY HEARING AND MY NECK HAS BEEN HURTING, KIA HASN'T EVEN CALLED TO SEE IF I WAS OK. I'M CALLING A LAWYER TOMORROW MORNING BUT SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE AND RUN SOME TESTS WHILE CLOSING THE DOORS. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONDUCT BUSINESS IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HAZARDOUS DEFECTS! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE RAPIDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. SHE HAD TO CONTINUALLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY STOP. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, IT WOULD DRIFT WHILE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S WOULD INCREASE RAPIDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. SHE HAD TO CONTINUALLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY STOP. OCCASIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, IT WOULD DRIFT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ECU. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 14,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE CURB WAS HIGHER THAN THE FRONT BUMPER, THE FRONT BUMPER COULD POSSIBLY FALL OFF IF IT HIT THE CURB. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
2006 KIA SPECTRA WITH STALLING PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR STALLING**CC THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 7, 2007 THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MAINTENANCE. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE MAINTENANCE THE CONSUMER STATED A VEHICLE …
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2006 KIA SPECTRA WITH STALLING PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CAR STALLING**CC THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 7, 2007 THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MAINTENANCE. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE MAINTENANCE THE CONSUMER STATED A VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LANE CHANGE THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEEL FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CONSUMER COLLIDED WITH THE FREEWAY DIVIDER AND SUFFERED INJURIES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WOULD LIKE THIS EVENT INVESTIGATED. THE CONSUMER THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, THERE WERE SEVERAL LIGHTS THAT APPEARED ON THE DASH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE RAINY AND MUDDY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES ALONG WITH CUTS AND SCRA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND FLIPPED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE RAINY AND MUDDY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES ALONG WITH CUTS AND SCRATCHES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN THE FRONT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR
Official recalls
111V256000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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