RoadVitals

2003 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.
10
Latest Jan 19, 2011
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.
11%
of 90 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.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Kia Spectra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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

Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 19, 2011

2003 KIA SPECTRA. NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. POWER WINDOWS FAIL TO WORK. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CAME OFF THE TRACK, AND THE IN-DOOR ASSEMBLY HAD CRUMBLED WITHIN THE DOOR. TOOK GETTING AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO REPAIR THE WINDOW. TODAY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPEN. MOTOR STILL WORKS. A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD AS IT RUNS, BUT IT IS NOT GRIPPING THE WINDOW TO LOWER IT. (STILL NOT REPAIRED). *TR

NHTSA ID
10377946
Incident
Jan 19, 2011
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 3, 2010

DRIVER'S DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS CAUSING WINDOW TO SLIDE DOWN TRACK INTO THE DOOR. THE POWER REGULATOR RAISES AND LOWERS THE WINDOW WITH A METAL WIRE RUNNING THROUGH PLASTIC GUIDES ON A METAL TRACK. THE ENDS OF THE WIRE ARE CAPPED INSIDE A PLASTIC BRACKET TO WHICH THE WINDOW IS ATTACHED. THESE PLASTIC PARTS WEAR AND CRACK CAUSING THE WIRE TO COME LOOSE THUS PREVENTING THE WINDOW FROM BEING HELD UP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353778
Incident
Aug 15, 2010
Mileage
104,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 30, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT REPORTED WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED TO REMOVE SNOW AND ICE FROM THE WINDSHIELD, BUT THEN BECAME INOPERABLE. AS THE TEMPERATURE CONTINUED TO DROP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REMAINED MOTIONLESS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ICE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6,500.*AK UPDATE 4/25/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10186539
Incident
Feb 15, 2007
Mileage
6,500 mi
BrakesEngineExterior lighting+4 more
Filed Nov 28, 2006

PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY OF 2003, JUNE 30TH OF 2003 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAD TO HAVE THE TPS REPLACED AND 3 MORE TIMES TO PRESENT. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED, HEATING PROBLEM, EXHAUST REPLACED. CAR IS NOW ON 46,000 HAD TRANSMISSION REPLACED (THROUGH AN ATT. FROM LEMON LAW) AT 16,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED. AND, NOW TO DATE TIRES WERE REPLACED FOR THE 5TH TIME, BRAKES WERE DONE 4 TIMES, NOW TO FIND OUT THE REASON TIRES AND BRAKES WERE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO MANY TIMES IS BECAUSE THE SUSPENSION IS WAY OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH SEEING I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG I NOW BELIEVE IT WAS A DEFECT ALL ALONG. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174576
Incident
Jun 30, 2003
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jul 31, 2004
1 injury reported

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 2 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF ME AND OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON IN HIS CAR SEAT IN BACK. HE WAS DRIVING APROX 50 MPH. HE WAS IN A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A WARRANTY UP TO 60000 MILES. WE IMMEDIATELY DROPPED THE CAR OFF. THEY SAID WE DID SOMETHING WRONG IE HIT SOMETHING THREW SOMETHING ECT. THEY CLAIMED THE FOUND A PEBBLE ON THE BACK LID (WE SEARCHED THE CAR) THE PEBBLE HAD THE SAME EPOXY FOUND ON THIER SHOP FLOOR. THEY DID NOT REPLACE NOR TAKE BLAME. WE WERE BLOWN OFF. AND SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PEBBLE TO FLY BACKWARDS INTO A REAR WINDOW AND SHATTER IT. THERE ARE NO OVER PASSES OR ANYTHING IN THAT AREA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10083062
Incident
Jul 28, 2004
Visibility
Filed Jun 16, 2003

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10024076
Incident
Feb 14, 2003
Body & structureEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Mar 20, 2003

THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ID
10012177
Incident
Mar 20, 2003
Body & structureEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Mar 20, 2003

THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A 135 POUND PASSENGER. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ID
10012170
Incident
Mar 20, 2003
Body & structureEngineExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Mar 20, 2003

SNOW ENTERED THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ID
10012169
Incident
Mar 20, 2003
EngineExterior lightingSeat belts+2 more
Filed Mar 20, 2003

THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ID
10012167
Incident
Mar 20, 2003

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 .