2009 Kia Spectra Owner Complaints

I am having a problem with my hazard turning signal lights it won't turn on.

NHTSA ID

11556124

Incident

Nov 10, 2023

My car seems like someone entered something in my gas tank while i may been in the store

NHTSA ID

11445718

Incident

Dec 31, 2021

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WE THINK THE OCS SENSOR MAT IS BAD. KIA HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR VEHICLES BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2006-2009 TO HAVE A OCS SENSOR MAT REPLACED FOR FREE FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID

11311310

Incident

Feb 18, 2020

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON EVEN IF SEAT IS OCCUPIED. IN ADDITION THE AIRBAG "OFF" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED NEXT TO THE CLOCK AND IS ALWAYS IN THE 'OFF', POSITION. BOTH LIGHTS REMAIN IN THAT CONDITION WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY MODE (IN PARK) OR DRIVING IN MOTION. A SAFETY INSPECTION SHOWED A B1448 CODE.

NHTSA ID

11254247

Incident

Aug 8, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

ON DECEMBER 18, 2018, I HAD A TIRE SEPARATE. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM LONG TIRE COMPANY IN TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA ON JUNE 15, 1916 (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION OF THE PURCHASE). THE TIRE WAS FULLY COVERED BY WARRANTY AT THAT TIME, AND I ONLY PAID TO HAVE A NEW ONE INSTALLED (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION OF MY PAYING LONG TIRE COMPANY FOR THE THE INSTALLATION ON DECEMBER 12, 2018). THIS PAST WEEK, AUGUST 15-22, 2019, TWO MORE TIRES SEPARATED (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION). THIS WAS OBSERVED BY SCHLENKER AUTO (SEE ATTACHED). THE TIRES ARE HERCULES TOUR 4.0 PLUS 195/60 R15 (ALSO CONTAINS NUMBERS 88H MTS) AND THE BATCH NUMBER ON THE TIRES (BOTH ARE THE SAME) IS DOT KAAD B20H 2815. THE BATCH NUMBER ON THE TIRE THAT SEPARATED LAST DECEMBER WAS LIKELY THE SAME. THE TIRE THAT SEPARATED LAST DECEMBER WAS REPLACED BY A TIRE WITH DOT KAAD B20H 2915, WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE A LATER BATCH NUMBER. I HAVE HAD THREE OF THESE TIRES SEPARATE IN LESS THAN A YEAR, IN NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS IN FLORIDA. SOMETHING IS BADLY WRONG WITH THESE TIRES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND ATTENTION TO THIS.

NHTSA ID

11245647

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

139,000 mi

DRIVER'S SEATBELT OFTEN FAILS TO LOCK IN AND POPS OPEN MID-DRIVE. IT IS OFTEN NOT APPARENT THAT THE BELT HASN'T LOCKED UNTIL IT POPS OPEN. THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11217045

Incident

May 31, 2019

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2011. SINCE THEN ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN I STOP MY CAR AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE CAR MOVES FORWARD EVEN AFTER I STEP ON THE BRAKE. I THEN HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE BRAKE ON AND TURN THE CAR OFF OR ELSE I'M A HIT SOMEONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE TO BRING IT THERE WHEN IT'S HAPPENING. THIS IS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE 2011. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN WHEN MY CAR SHOULD BE MOTIONLESS HOWEVER IT WOULD KEEP GOING EVEN THOUGH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE NOT KEPT TRACK OF WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. BELOW I HAD TO PUT A DATE THAT IT HAPPENED. I DO NOT KNOW THE DATES THAT THIS IS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2011. I DID NOT KEEP TRACK OF THE DATES

NHTSA ID

11208363

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

88,000 mi

WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR SPED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME WHICH WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT; I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT IT, HE SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND REPLACED THE CALIPERS, AND ROTORS, AND THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR..HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC 3 TIMES AND HE SAYS HE CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11184559

Incident

Jan 14, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

LETTER FROM SENATOR ROBERTS RE: INQUIRY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUTE IN REGARDS TO HER MOTHER'S 2009 KIA SPECTRA AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TOO MUCH FORCE AND INJURED HER MOTHER. *AS SEE ALSO ODI 11109673. *DSY THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER DIED AS A RESULT OF INJURIES FROM THE AIRBAG DURING THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11155008

Incident

Mar 13, 2018

MY 2009 KIA SPECTRA HAD APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT FROM A KIA DEALER IN OCTOBER 2017. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY KIA, I RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THAT I NOTICED THE CAR WAS IDLING TO HIGH AFTER USING THE AIR CONDITIONER OR AFTER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING AND DID NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO LAUNCH FORWARD AFTER I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN REMOVING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR INCREASES IN SPEED INSTEAD OF DECREASING WHILE IN MOTION. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WHICH COST $105.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND $256.30 FOR PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA ID

11141083

Incident

Oct 9, 2018

Mileage

23,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL, HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AND NOW I HAVE A LIGHT ON ON MY DASH ALL THE TIME, I GUESS THE TIRE PLACE THREW AWAY OR KEPT SPECIAL VALVE STEMS, HOW DO I TURN OFF LIGHT. THE FRONT SEAT, SEAT CUSHION CAME LOOSE FROM THE SEAT FRAME WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CANYON ROAD ,NOW I CAN LIFT THE SEAT CUSHION AND SEE THE FRAME AND FLOOR BELOW AND DINT KNOW IF CUSHION WILL COME COMPLEATLY OFF NEXT TIME I DRIVE DOWN THE CANYON ROAD

NHTSA ID

11140540

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

95,600 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO TWO FENCES, FOUR TOMBSTONES, AND A STONE PILLAR IN A CEMETERY. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD SEND A FIELD INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11111654

Incident

Jun 24, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY MOTHER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR ON 3-6-18. MY MOM, [XXX], DIED 3-13-18 FROM INJURIES INFLICTED BY AN AIRBAG DEPLOYING. IT BROKE ALL HER FACIAL BONES INCLUDING HER JAW. IT TORE AN ARTERY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HER BRAIN AND BRUISED THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BRAIN. BRAIN SURGERY WAS DONE BUT SHE COULD NOT RECOVER FROM HER INJURIES. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. I HAVE READ ARTICLES THAT KIA BAGS WILL DEPLOY WITH GREATER FORCE IN SOME ACCIDENTS. THE WRECK WAS HER FAULT. THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT OK FOR HER TO BE KILLED BY THE AIRBAG. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THIS IS WRONG AND SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR *TT *TR SEE ALSO ODI 11155008. *DSY

NHTSA ID

11109673

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

86,000 mi

AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES, THE "AIRBAG IS OFF" LIGHT STAYED ON UNTIL THE CAR WAS RESTARTED. THIS IS CITY DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER OF 150 LBS. TOOK THE KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE LIGHT ON AND THEY VERIFIED THE OCS SENSOR MAT MALFUNCTION. THE OCS SENSOR MAT WAS REPLACED MARCH 16, 2017. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND WITH SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, DID ITS CHECK, BUT THEN CAME ON AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED VARIOUS TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE KIA FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, CUSTOMER SERVICE THEN TOLD US TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THAT NEXT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL WORK WHETHER THE LIGHT IS ON OR OFF. NOBODY FROM KIA HAS CONFIRMED THAT STATEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11100794

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE 64 WEST. I PRESSED MY BRAKES TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND IT DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED AGAIN, AND I STILL COULDN'T GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO STOP. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND I FINALLY STOPPED.

NHTSA ID

11035569

Incident

Oct 19, 2017

Mileage

112,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I OWN A 2009 KIA SPECTRA I'VE HAD IT SINCE 2014. I MOVED & ABOUT A YEAR AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR WAS STATIONARY I WENT TO GET CAME BACK IN MY CAR & NOTICED IT WAS ON. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE WHERE I LIVED YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO VEHICLE INSPECTIONS. NOT TOO LONG AFTER MY SEATBELT KEPT LOCKING & IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IT COMPLETELY LOCKED ON ME. I'M IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING & I TOOK MY CAR TO GET A VEHICLE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE STATE I WILL BE LIVING IN YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD I WOULDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON & MY SEATBELT BEING LOCKED. I CALLED SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS & THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE ME PAY ALL THESE DIFFERENT PRICES TO FIX IT THE LEAST I'VE BEEN TOLD IS ABOUT $700 JUST TO INSTALL A NEW SEATBELT. I'M A SINGLE MOM & I CAN'T AFFORD THIS..THIS IS UNSAFE !! I WAS LOOKING UP HOW TO FIX MY SEATBELT & CAME ACROSS A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE & I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY CHILD AS WELL AS MYSELF.

NHTSA ID

11025169

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT SWERVED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER TRYING TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM LACERATIONS TO THE TOP OF THE HEAD THAT REQUIRED SIX STAPLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10992266

Incident

May 9, 2017

Mileage

74,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT ON MY KIA SPECTRA 2009 LOCKS UP ONCE IN A WHILE SO I CANNOT PUT MY SEATBELT ON. IT WILL LOCK NO MATTER IF I'M PULLING SLOWLY OR FAST. I AM NOT STEPPING ON THE BREAK WHEN IT LOCKS. THE CAR CAN BE MOVING OR STATIONARY WHEN IT LOCKS. THIS HAPPENS 5 TIMES OUT OF 10 WHEN I AM IN THE CAR. IT IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD!

NHTSA ID

10966367

Incident

Mar 16, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

STEERING IS LOCKED AND CANNOT BE ROTATED IN THE MORNING WHEN STARTED. IT HAPPENED TWICE FROM LAST DAYS WHILE I'M REMOVING CAR OUT OF GARAGE IN REVERSE MODE. I APPLIED BRAKES AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND CHECKED THE STEERING AGAIN THEN IT WORKED WELL. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM WON'T COME WHEN I WAS ON FREEWAY. ODO METER IS AROUND 140000.

NHTSA ID

10960134

Incident

Mar 10, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY IN MY VEHICLE RECENTLY,AFTER REMOVING THE OLD BATTERY I TRIED TO GET THE NEW BATTERY OUT OF THE CAR, WHICH WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THE DOORS HAPPENED TO BE LOCKED BUT THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW WAS DOWN. WITH THE BATTERY OUT NONE OF THE DOORS WOULD OPEN, I REACHED IN THROUGH THE WINDOW TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN EITHER. A PERSON COULD EASILY BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CAR IF IT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE BATTERY'S ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WERE DAMAGED, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT THIS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10938408

Incident

Dec 26, 2016

Mileage

124,500 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT IS MALFUNCTIONING,GOT LETTER FROM KIA SAYING IT IS UNDER WARRENTY AND DEALER WILL NOT FIX

NHTSA ID

10937685

Incident

Dec 27, 2016

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL LUGS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL LUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ UPDATED 6/28/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10919273

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED WHEN PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT.

NHTSA ID

10916790

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

Mileage

112 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON NOW ON MY DASH NEAR MY SPEEDOMETER. IT ALSO ILLUMINATES ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS 'ON' AND 'OFF' WHILE MY HUSBAND IS SITTING THERE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW FOR THE DRIVER'S DASH LIGHT, AND 2 MONTHS FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR. I'VE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 2 YEARS, NO ACCIDENTS, AND NOW A LEGALLY REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURE APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. THAT IS A HORRIBLE INVESTMENT, AND SHOULD NOT BE LEGALLY OK.

NHTSA ID

10915748

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

106,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ID

10882521

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

54,000 mi