RoadVitals

2004 Kia Ld Spectra

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Jan 12, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 21, 2005
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Kia Ld Spectra, most frequently naming the airbags, exterior lighting and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags228.6%
  • Exterior lighting228.6%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
05V431000

AIR BAGS

Sep 21, 2005
73,641 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG FEATURE, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.
The risk: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number SC-053View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2014

I NOTICED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE ENGINE WOULD "REV" BUT NO MOVEMENT UNTIL 3-5 SECONDS LATER THEN THE CAR WOULD "LUNGE" INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I WOULD NOTICE THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IN 2ND-3RD GEAR AND THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION JUST "REVS" FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT WOULD JUMP BACK INTO GEAR AND GO. THIS INTERMITTENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I CHANGED THE RADIATOR THAT HAD A FAULTY TRANS-AXLE COUPLER ON IT, NOT SURE IF THAT COULD OF BEEN AN ISSUE WITH WHY THE AT IS ACTING LIKE IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559532
Incident
Jun 4, 2013
Mileage
170,000 mi
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Aug 1, 2006

IN THE PAST 16 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS A TOTAL OF 22 TIMES - I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE THIS YEAR AND BOTH TIMES HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM - THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH ONLY MY BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF AS I REFUSE TO REPLACE ANY MORE HEADLIGHTS - THEY CEASE WORKING IN 1 TO 12 DAYS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164141
Incident
Jun 15, 2006
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed May 23, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TURNED OFF. WHEN RESTARTED BOTH EXTERIOR AND DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10158101
Incident
May 15, 2006
Mileage
11,757 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 16, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY FLASHED. THE DEALER COMPLETED RECALL 05V431000 REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED EVEN AFTER RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. SHE MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SUGGESTED SHE RETURN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10142853
Incident
Oct 21, 2004
Airbags
Filed Nov 1, 2005

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS RECALL O5V431000, IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. SINCE THE REPAIRS THE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON IT ALERTED THE PASSENGER THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT SITTING IN THE SEATS PROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10141471
Incident
Oct 30, 2005

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_BOD055_R1

EXTERIOR LIGHTING; STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.

KT-2008082201

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS; PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT

KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kia Ld Spectra by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005210—
2004Viewing510—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.