RoadVitals

2006 Kia Spectra5 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
10
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2006 Kia Spectra5, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags1356.5%
  • Interior & seats28.7%
  • Brakes14.3%
  • Driver assistance14.3%
  • Electrical14.3%
  • Fuel system14.3%
  • Seat belts14.3%
  • Steering14.3%
  • Visibility14.3%
  • Body & structure14.3%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

13
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 11073830 · filed Feb 20, 2018

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 · filed Jul 19, 2017
All 13 reports naming airbags

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 11004241 · filed Jul 11, 2017

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 · filed Feb 21, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER FRACTURED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LINE HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,763. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10503140 · filed Mar 15, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNDER THE SPEED OF 26 MPH. THERE WERE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE WAS NOT AN UPDATED VERSION WHO ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLD WITHOUT THE UPDATED SOFTWARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURE OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

NHTSA ID 10319015 · filed Mar 11, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 24, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE STRAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK CAME LOSE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED AT FACTORY. THEY HAD A RECALL FOR CORROSION OF THE STRAPS, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DUE WITH CORROSION. THIS IS POOR QUALITY CONTROL THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN THE CASE THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS CONTACT WITH THE ROAD SURFACE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10500550 · filed Feb 26, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 24, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Nov 16, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR AND IS BEGINNING TO BULGE OUT FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARED OVERNIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10368344 · filed Nov 30, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE MOLDING AROUND WINDSHIELD POPPED OUT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR AND IS BEGINNING TO BULGE OUT FROM DRIVER'S SIDE. THIS APPEARED OVERNIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID 10368344 · filed Nov 30, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .