RoadVitals

2006 Kia Spectra5

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
18
Latest Feb 20, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Kia Spectra5, most frequently naming the airbags, interior & seats and brakes categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1356.5%
  • Interior & seats28.7%
  • Brakes14.3%
  • Driver assistance14.3%
  • Electrical14.3%
  • Fuel system14.3%
  • Seat belts14.3%
  • Steering14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 18
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2018

LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE KIA SPECTRA AIRBAG SYSTEM PASSENGER SEAT MAT IS BAD

NHTSA ID
11073830
Incident
Feb 19, 2018
Airbags
Filed Jul 19, 2017

WE HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, BUT THE MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SENSOR HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH TO STAY ON. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THIS BY GETTING A B1448 CODE WHEN DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS AND OTHER KIA VEHICLES. THE PART IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AT APPROXIMATELY $1600 FOR PARTS AND LABOR.

NHTSA ID
11006451
Incident
Jul 19, 2017
Mileage
144,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 11, 2017

AIRBAG LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR. EXORBITANT COST TO REPLACE. CAN'T AFFORD.

NHTSA ID
11004241
Incident
Jun 29, 2016
Mileage
154,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 3, 2017

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND IT'S AROUND 2000$ TO FIX. WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIR. STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, OTHER KIA MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHAT CAN ANYONE DO?

NHTSA ID
10992971
Incident
Jun 8, 2014
Steering
Filed Nov 16, 2016

STEERING CONTINUALLY KNOCKED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS I STILL HAD A KNOCK IN MY STEERING WHEEL DURING TURNS AND GOING AND AN AUDIBLE ONE OUTSIDE ALL AXLES AND SUSPENSION WAS DEEMED FINE. I ENDED UP SELLING THE CAR SINCE IT WAS AN ANNOYANCE. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY IT WOULD FLASH A LIGHT ON THE HUD FOR HOURS ONLY WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN IT. THE CAR ALSO HAD VERY LOOSE STEERING AND WAS VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY

NHTSA ID
10926482
Incident
May 15, 2016
Mileage
89,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 2, 2014

JUST AS OTHERS WITH MY SAME VEHICLE HAVE STATED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON AND OFF AND IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10618420
Incident
Aug 1, 2013
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed May 24, 2014

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH BOARD WILL NOT GO OFF MOST TIMES, EVEN WHEN A 125 POUND PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. OCCASIONALLY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WILL NOT CHIME. HAD MECHANIC CHECK WIRING, HE REPLACED ALTERNATOR,BATTERY STILL THE SAME. KENWOOD STEREO WILL NOT TUNE IN FROM TIME TO TIME, EVEN WHEN IN MY SAME PARKING SPACE ALSO AS WE ARE DRIVING WITH SHIFTER LOCKED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CHANGE GEARS ON FLAT ROAD SURFACE AS IF IT IS IN 3RD GEAR THEN GOES INTO DRIVE. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO. ALREADY HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT THESE PROBLEMS. NO CODES ARE SHOWING UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT MAY NOT ALLOW PASSENGER AIR BAG TO DEPLOY OR DRIVER SEAT BELT TO ACTIVATE OR WHAT EVER ELSE IS CONTROLLED BY THE ELECTRICAL. ALSO HAVE A 2006 KIA WITH SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAR STEREO SHOP COULD NOT GET A NEW STEREO INSTALLED TO WORK PROPERLY. OTHER WISE CAR IF VERY AFFORDABLE,NOT SURE HOW SAFE IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593860
Incident
Jan 31, 2013
Mileage
99,788 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Feb 21, 2014

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN ON IT CAME UP AS CODE B1448 OC PASSENGER SENSOR MAT DEFECT, LOOKS LIKE ITS SRSCM 70. WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I CALLED KIA, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT FOR THIS MODEL. HOWEVER AFTER LOOKING UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD ENOUGH THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, BUT KIA SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T REPLACE THE SENSOR BY ITSELF, I WOULD NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT WHICH WOULD BE $1600 DOLLARS!!!! THAT'S RIDICULOUS. A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS ONE SHOULD NOT BE SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. DID KIA PUT THIS SENSOR THERE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 2 GRAND TO FIX A CRAPPY ELECTRICAL JOB? BY THE WAY THIS IS NOT THE ONLY KIA AROUND THIS YEAR WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. RECALL THE SPECTRA5 TOO!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10565371
Incident
Feb 12, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB_BOD055_R1

EXTERIOR LIGHTING; STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.

TSB-015

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

KIA MOTORS: INSTALLING AN ADDITIONAL GROUND CABLE TO THE BATTERY MAY CAUSE SENSOR PROBLEMS. *RM

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kia Spectra5 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008160042.7
2007100040.0
2006Viewing180038.5

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.