RoadVitals

2002 Kia Spectra Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Mar 9, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
9%
of 92 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Kia Spectra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesSuspensionVisibility
Filed Mar 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. AFTER OPENING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS, THEY FAILED TO CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,896.

NHTSA ID
10693083
Incident
May 15, 2014
Mileage
72,896 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 11, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW FELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS POOR QUALITY AND THEY REPLACED THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND RE-ATTACHED THE WINDOW CABLE. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOWS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WEATHER CAUSED A PLASTIC PART ON THE WINDOW REGULATOR TO FAIL. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL THREE WINDOW REGULATORS. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,140.

NHTSA ID
10211447
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
3,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 23, 2004

I BOUGHT A CAR 8 MONTHS AGO, A KIA SPECTRA, RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT THE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL DOWN WITH A PIECE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WENT TO THE KIA DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT. THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. BUT LAST WEEK EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN THEY RESCHEDULED MY APPOINTMENT 3 TIMES, AND FINALLY TODAY AFTER 7 HOURS OF WAITING I GOT MY CAR BACK. BUT THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T REPLACE IT, THEY ONLY GLUED IT, WHICH BY THE WAY I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO WORK. BUT THEY SAID THAT KIA DOESN'T WANT TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T HAVE A KIA WINDSHIELD ANYMORE. BUT WHEN THEY REPLACED IT THE FIRST TIME THEY DECIDED TO USED A NON-KIA PART, NOT ME PROBABLY BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE IS OVER $200. ANYWAY, I'M REALLY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS. I GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SHOW ME HOW GOOD KIA IS. YOU CAN ORDER A KIA WINDSHIELD FOR $350 OR YOU CAN REPLACE IT WITH A LOCAL COMPANY FOR ABOUT $100. SO YOU DO THE MATH, AND TELL ME IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10104434
Incident
Dec 15, 2004
Mileage
38,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 26, 2003

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW LOCKED UP WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. USED ON THE WAY TO WORK, 4 HOURS LATER WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. NO NOISE, OR SOUNDS JUST QUIT WORKING. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047645
Incident
Nov 26, 2003
Visibility
Filed May 28, 2003

THE WINDSHIELD GLASS CRACKED VERY EASILY WHEN IMPACTED BY THE LIGHTEST OBJECT PER CONSUMER. *TT

NHTSA ID
10021738
Mileage
17,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 21, 2002

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HER WINDOWS. TS

NHTSA ID
8021255
Visibility
Filed Sep 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING IN THE SUN WINDSHIELD HAS LITTLE SPECS THAT CAUSE SLIGHT VISIBLITY.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018360
Incident
May 10, 2002
Visibility
Filed May 7, 2002

WINDSHIELD CRACKED EASILY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. NOTICED OTHER COMMENTS OF WINDSHEILD CRACKING ON EDMUNDS.COM WEB SITE. APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR FLAW IN THE WINDSHIELD, AND MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE CAR ACCIDENTS. MANUFACTURER SHOULD CONTACT KIA OWNERS AND RECALL WINDSHEILDS DUE TO FAULTY GLASS.*AK

NHTSA ID
761614
Incident
Apr 26, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .