2000 Kia Spectra Owner Complaints

TRANSMISSION HOUSING EXPLODED,COMPANY REFUSES TO BACK WARRANTY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138590

Incident

Jul 20, 2005

Mileage

52,670 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 KIA SPECTRA WHEN THE CLAM SHELL (STEERING COLUMN COVER) CAME APART WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THE TOP PIECE PULL A WIRE LOOSE CAUSING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO COME ON, AND IT ALSO PREVENTED HER FROM COMPLETING THE TURN THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WE HAD JUST PICKED UP THE CAR THAT SAME DAY FROM HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SERVICED AND THE RADIO REPLACED (2ND TIME FOR THE RADIO), AND THEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TECH CAME OUT TO OUR HOUSE AFTER MY WIFE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE IN THE DAY SO THEY CAME OVER AND DROVE IT BACK THEMSELVES. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRENTEE WHICH WAS STILL IN FORCE AT THE TIME. I ALSO RENTED A CAR FOR THE 3 DAYS THAT THEY HAD OUR CAR, AND THAT TOO WAS NOT TO BE COVERED. HE SAID THAT I COULD TAPE IT UP AND IT SHOULD BE FINE IF I DID NOT WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID THAT MOST AUTOMOBILES HAD THIS PART ATTACHED WITH SCREWS HOLDING THE 2 PIECES TOGETHER, BUT THIS ONE HAD ONLY PUSH TABS AND THE SAME PROBLEM COULD EVENTUALLY HAPPEN WITH THE REPLACED PART. THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND TO ME IS POOR WORKMANSHIP, AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAPE UP MY CAR AND OR PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS THE MANUFACTURERS FAULT. ALSO, IF THIS HAPPENED TO MY CAR, IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE OTHERS AS WELL, AT LEAST THE OTHER 2000 KIA SPECTRAS. RIGHT NOW, I DO HAVE TAPE HOLDING IT TOGETHER, AND I INTEND ON GETTING IT REPLACED, BUT ACTUALLY I DON'T WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME THING IS IT COULD OCCUR AGAIN. (I'VE HAD THE CAR EXACTLY 5 YEARS WITH 50,000 MILE ON IT.)

NHTSA ID

10127262

Incident

Jun 23, 2005

BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LOW, CAR TOOK TIME TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE AT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH .STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOISE AT THE MOMENT. ON AUGUST 2000 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE WEATHERSTRIP JUST FEW INSIDE THE CAR AND IT LOOKS JUST LI A SNAKE AND I ALMOST CRASH. THE CAR HAD 1729 MILEAGE.FOLOWING WEEK THE REAR DOOR WINDSHIELD TRIM CAME OFF.THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF A CUT WIRE.EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR IS FALLING APART.I DIDN'T EXPECT A NEW CAR TO BE LIKE THAT.I FEEL SO UNSAFE IN THIS CAR SPECIALLY THE SMOKE THAT COMING FROM UNDER MY STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES.PLEAS HELP ME BEFOE I GET KILLED IN THIS UNSAFE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088429

Incident

Aug 14, 2000

Mileage

1,729 mi

PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST AND MUFFLER. LOTS OF NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR.THEY REPLACED THE SILENCER THE FIRST TIME, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SILENNER,,GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, NUTS

NHTSA ID

10088426

Incident

Jun 13, 2001

Mileage

12,126 mi

ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088423

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

Mileage

29,284 mi

ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088421

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT'S THE CLOCK SPRING,SECOND TIME IT WAS THE AIR BAG MODULE ,THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CLOCKY SPRING MODULE AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088414

Incident

Aug 16, 2000

Mileage

1,819 mi

SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILENCER PIPE HAD SPLIT DUE TO POOR PRODUCTION. THIS I BELIEVE IN TURN ALSO HAS AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE OF MY CAR AND CAUSED THE PURGE VALVE THAT I MUST ALSO REPLACE TO HAVE FAILED LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN REGISTERATION COMES DUE MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG. I HAVE HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES BUT I HAD TO BREAKDOWN AND GO TO PAY 82.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR AT LEAST 420.00 WORTH OF SERVICE THAT I MUST PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED 315.00 TO REPLACE SILENCER PIPE THAT WAS ALREADY DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER AND 90.00 FOR THE PURGE VALVE THESE CHARGES ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP INCLUDE LABOR. ALREADY LOSING THE 82.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. MY CAR HAS ONLY 57493 MILES WITHIN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE HAD IT. I HAVE HAD TO ALSO HAD THE AIR BAG MODULE CONTROL REPLACED THAT HAD BEEN DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER ON 6/21/01 AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THUS I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANOTHER DEFECTIVE ISSUE FROM KIA, WHICH WAS OF NO CHARGE THE FIRST TIME BUT USED MY WARRANTY?*AK

NHTSA ID

10063642

Incident

Mar 10, 2004

THE OIL PAN PLUG FELL OFF OF THE OIL PAN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 20 MILES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TO THE KIA DEALER, EVENTHOUGH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.(5 YRS OR 50,000 MILES) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT STILL LEAKING OIL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DID BUY THE VEHICLE USED THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10071094

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

39,044 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ID

10032430

Incident

Aug 7, 2003

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I WAS INJURED AND WILL HAVE EFFECTS OF THIS FOR LIFE. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WERE CONTACTED AND RESPONDED TO THE COMPLAINT. THEY DID A INVESTIGATION ON WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY NOW THEY WILL NOT RETURN CALLS OR GIVE ANY INFORMATION ON FINDINGS. I'M A 23YR. OLD SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS DISABLED WITH KNEE AND BACK INJURIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME. DT

NHTSA ID

768750

Incident

Apr 11, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HATCH BACK DOOR WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN, NOW THE HATCH DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THER IS A RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACT DEALER. NLMCONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAL WAS NOT SEALED TIGHTLY FROM THE FACTORY. *JG

NHTSA ID

8020053

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STAY IN PLACE AND NOT MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID

8020051

Incident

Sep 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES. BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. NLM *JB

NHTSA ID

8020050

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

8015759

Incident

Aug 2, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

765254

Incident

Jul 24, 2002

BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL WAITING ON PARTS/APPOINTMENT FROM DEALER, STILL DRIVING THE CAR WITH THESE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ONE OF THEIR RENTAL CARS) ELECTRICAL SHORTS STARTING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE SPARK PLUGS(DUE TO FAULTY DEALER INSTALLATION OF AUTO START, I HAVE SEEN BLUE ARCS OF ELECTRICITY ACROSS THE FUSE BOX, I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE CAR ON NUMEROUS OCASIONS.) CLUNKING COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, REAR HATCH LOCK WOULD NOT RELASE. REAR HATCH WOULDNOT HOLD DOOR CLOSED AFTER DEALER REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID

756194

Incident

Oct 25, 2000

THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE AT ALL TIMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER JUST RECEIVED THIS VEHICLE 6 WEEKS AGO WHEN HE RETURNED HIS 1999, KIA, SEPHIA FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BAD WHEEL BEARINGS CAUSED EARLY BRAKE WEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000811

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH WHEN VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE, AND NONE OF FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

889488

Incident

May 20, 2001

BOTH THE SEATBELT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

745806

Incident

Apr 12, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. SHE HIT OTHER VEHICLE ON THE SIDE, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

888799

Incident

Apr 12, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED AND WOULD REMAIN ON. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

887204

Incident

Jan 2, 2001

VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH, IDLES VERY HIGH, AND HAS ODORS COMING FROM ENGINE INTO PASSENGER AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID

881585

Incident

Nov 9, 2000