Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 40 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Kia Spectra. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 40 · page 1 of 2
CAR SMELLS HORRIBLY LIKE GAS FUMES WHEN TURNED ON, MORE SO IN THE COLDER TEMPERATURES. SO MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I'M SURPRISED KIA HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL. BREATHING GAS FUMES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME CAN POSSIBLY CAUSE CANCER OR OTHER PROBLEMS...WOULD BE HORRIBLE IF KIA HAD A LAWSUIT ON THEIR HANDS FOR FAULTY EQUIPMENT CAUSING HEALTH PROBLEMS IN THEIR CAR OWNERS... *TR
2001 KIA SPECTRA 1.9 LT ENGINE [YES, SOME MODELS WERE MADE WITH THIS SIZE ENGINE.] CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVE WAY JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. NEIGHBORS CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AT 2:30 AM. CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. FIRE CHIEF FOUND NO EXTERNAL SOURCE OF IGNITION. FIRE CHIEF SAYS ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, FIRE TRAVELED DOWN FUEL LINES TO GAS TANK. ENTIRE CAR BURNED. CAR IS TOTALED. FIRE CHIEF CANNOT SAY IF THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL, WIRING OR WHAT TYPE OF PROBLEM IN ENGINE. BOUGHT CAR NEW IN OCT 2001, ONE OWNER CAR. PLEASE ADVISE IF ANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THIS OR ANY OTHER KIA MODELS. *TR
MY DAUGHTER STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND WITH HER CAR. THE UPON IMPACT THE CAR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING VERY HARD. SHE ENDED UP WITH CHEST, NECK AND SHOULDER SEVERE PAIN. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE. RADIATOR FLUID WAS EVERYWHERE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISING AND SEVERE PAIN FROM THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINING HER NECK AND CHEST AREA. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 9/17/13*CN
TRANS ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SLIPPING WITH NO PRIOR ISSUES. WAS READING A TCM CODE THEN CODES FOR EACH GEAR REPLACED TRANS NEW TRANS DROVE 30 MILES AND IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING HAVE TO DRIVE LIKE A STICK 1ST 2ND AND THEN CAN PUT IN DRIVE AROUND 35MPH. ALSO BREAKS COME AND GO AS THEY PLEASE. *TR
THE ENGINE HAD A CASTING DEFECT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER WHICH CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO REPLACE IT I'M HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE SENSORS O2 AND THE SENSORS IN THE SHIFTER THE CAR IS BREAKING DOWN EVERY MONTH SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR
THE HEATER CORE IN THE CAR WENT OUT 4 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS FOR NO REASON, RESULTING IN THE WINDOW FOGGING WITH NO WAY OF SEEING. *JB
I HAVE HAD THE HEATING SYSTEM IN MY CAR REPAIRED 4 TIMES SINCE THE DAY THAT I BOUGHT IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. I LIVE IN VERMONT WHERE THE WEATHER GETS EXTREMELY COLD IN THE WINTER, MEANING THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP WINDOWS CLEARED AT ALL TIMES, IF NOT, IT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH SHOULD THERE BE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER SHIP FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE, THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF IT HAPPENING NOW. THIS WILL BE THE 5TH TIME THAT IT HAS GONE IN FOR REPAIRED ON THE SAME ISSUE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE A/C BLOWER AND HEATER ARE WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. THE BLOWER DOES NOT WORK AND THERE IS NO HEAT IN THE VEHICLE.*AK
2001 KIA SPECTRA TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. FUEL PUMP AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, REAR WINDOW FELL OUT OF VEHICLE INTO TRAFFIC. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THE TECHNICIAN THAT REPLACED THE REAR WINDOW STATED THE GLUE THAT WAS USED TO INSTALL THE WINDOW WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
BRAKE FAILURE - MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, MECHANIC SAID HE HAD A HARD TIME BLEEDING THE BRAKES???? ABOUT A WEEK AFTER REPAIRED BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE DAUGHTER COULD NOT STOP. HAVE TO PRESS THE PEDAL ALMOST THROUGH THE FLOOR TO STOP AND SEEMS TO HAVE NO BRAKES. RETURNED TO SHOP, AND BRAKES WERE BLEED AGAIN, MECHANIC DROVE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND VEHICLE WAS RETURNED, DAUGHTER AGAIN TRIED TO DRIVE A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND AGAIN NO BRAKES!!!!!! CHECKING IF VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL BRING TO DEALER. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, IDLES ROUGH ETC., THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE CAR WAS PURCHASED!*AK
SIX MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT EXPERIENCED IGNITION PROBLEMS. VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION. DASHBOARD COMPONENT LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURN OVER. THE MAIN COMPUTER CHIP WAS REPLACED. SINCE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPUTER CHIP THE FAILURE OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN WHICH THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED A LOOSE IGNITION WIRE, REPLACED THE BATTERY, AND SERVICED A BAD CONNECTION IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.*AK
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION CAUSING MY CAR TO BE SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE. I HAVE RECEIVED A LOWER BACK INJURY, SHOULDER AND ARM INJURY, AND HEAD INJURY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, SO THERE ARE NO REPAIRS TO BE DONE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THROUGH SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, (SEAT BACK FAILURE) AND I DO KNOW THERE IS A SUIT PENDING IN THE STATE OF FL. I AM SURE THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE, ( SINCE THERE IS A SUIT PENDING) YET THEY HAVE NOT MADE STRIDES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. *LA
WHILE COMING AROUND A BEND INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE'S REAR END COMMENCED TO JERK/PULL, AND REAR END HIT A SIGN. THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. NEITHER DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED ENGINE MADE A TAPPING NOISE BECAUSE OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE ENGINE MOTOR SEAL. A FUEL DISTRIBUTOR ASSEMBLY RECALL 04V179000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS MODEL VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
WARPED ROTORS AND CHEAP BRAKE PADS
ON A FRONT SLIGHTLY LEFT INPACT TO MY VEHICLE, MY AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT.I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A RATHER LARGE BUMP AND BRUISE. I HAVE PAIN TURNING MY NECK AND IN MY SHOULDERS AND WILL SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THIS.
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHEARED OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND PULLED OVER. DRIVER NOTIFIED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
I GOT IN A ACCIDENT WHEN MY BRAKES WENT OUT THAT NIGHT AND I COULDN'T STOP. WHEN MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THEY TOLD MY THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND I NEED THE HAVE THE BRAKE LINE CHECKED OUT. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE KIND OF BRAKES THEY ARE THE WOULD SQUEAK. THEY NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT THE BRAKES BECAUSE THAT SAME DAY I HAD MY BRAKES REPLACED. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS AND A LOT MORE.
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR. THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL UPON GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER. *AK *SCC *JB
REAR RIGHT TIRE DEVELOPED BUBBLES AND MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING. NAME OF TIRE: KUMHO, ECSTA-HP4, TIRE SIZE: P185/65R14 DOT: NUMBER UNKNOWN. *AK
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THEY WERE LATER RELEASED. *AK
TRANSMISSION MODULE ON ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION DAMAGE, LOCAL DEALERSHIP REPLACED. SECOND TRANSMISSION BLEW A FRONT PUMP SEAL WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES WHILE ON OUR VACATION/HONEYMOON. THIRD TRANSMISSION REPLACED WHILE ON VACATION OUT OF STATE. CURRENT (THIRD) TRANSMISSION IS STILL SLIPPING. HAVE NOT SOUGHT OUT SERVICE FOR THIS FAILURE YET AS WE DO NOT TRUST THE DEALERSHIPS IN OUR AREA. WE HAVE WRITTEN KIA CERTIFIED MAIL OVER A MONTH AGO TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXCESS EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO THESE MECHANICAL FAILURES AND TRAVEL INTERUPTION MONIES UNDER THEIR WARRANTY, BUT TO DATE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *AK
I OWN A 2001 KIA SPECTRA HATCHBACK. I HAVE 24,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS STARTED STALLING WHILE DRIVING AND I ALSO HAVE TROUBLE STARTING IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ON A "CALL" LIST. I WAS GIVEN NO FURTHER INFORMATION. I WAS JUST TOLD TO GIVE THEM A FEW DAYS TO "TRY" TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NLM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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