2003 KIA Spectra

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/27/2002· SEATS

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEATER WENT OFF, DEALER INSPECTED AND FIXED THE PROBLEM ON 12/ 27/02 AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEATHER SYSTEM WENT OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *DT

• 12/20/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS LOW ? ADDED FLUID. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AFTER DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. MECHANIC STATED BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE WAS LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA; POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR

• 12/15/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HAVE REPLACED BOTH HIGH & LOW HEADLIGHTS 3 TIMES EACH. HEATER IS NOT WORKING. JUNCTION BOX NEEDS REPLACED 12/15/05. CAR IS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA WITH 97,500 MILES ON IT. IT WAS BOUGHT NEW. *NM

• 12/09/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR WHILE BRAKING OR PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE REVVED AND LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - THE TRANSMISSION LINE HAD COME OFF AND CAUSE COOLANT TO LEAK. THE LINE WAS REPAIR AND TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED BUT TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED THREE TIMES AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR THREE TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE GENE PULSE ASSEMBLY. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLE SPEED ACTUATOR. *NM

• 11/29/2016· SERVICE BRAKES

  I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID UNDERNEATH MY CAR ONE DAY AND CHECKED MY LEVEL TO FIND THAT THERE WAS BASICALLY NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. TURNS OUT IT'S THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A TREND AND HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS PREVIOUSLY. THE MECHANIC WAS SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS INDEED THE PROBLEM AFTER CALLING AND THEN GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. THE LEAK CAME ON SUDDENLY AND WAS FAIRLY SEVER REQUIRING THAT I ADD BRAKE FLUID AFTER EVERY SHORT DRIVE. IF I HADN'T NOTICED THIS PROBLEM I LIKELY WOULD HAVE ENDED UP REAR-ENDING SOMEONE OR WORSE. IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT AMONGST THE 2000-2005 MODELS.

• 11/29/2006· POWER TRAIN

  I BOUGHT MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA BRAND NEW,KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE,MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 71,OOO MILES. I HAD THE SO CALLED 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. THEY DID NOT COVER ANY OF IT THEY SAID BECAUSE I LIVE IN GA IT GETS HOT,SO THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT. ALSO,I WAS RECENTLY IN A FENDER BENDER AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,AND WE HAVE ALSO HAD SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE KIA PLACE BECAUSE OF MINOR STUFF SUCH AS THE AIR NOT WORKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYING ON. THE 2003 KIA SPECTRA'S ARE A JOKE AND IF YOU LIVE WERE IT GETS HOT OR TOO COLD YOUR WARRANTY IS OF NON EFFECT.

• 11/28/2006· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY,TIRES

  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

• 11/22/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION AT 15 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

• 11/21/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

• 11/19/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MY DAUGHTER OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA [XXX] WITH A BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE THAT STARTED LEAKING ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED. ARE THESE VALVES DEFECTIVE BECAUSE MY OTHER DAUGHTER WITH A 2002 KIA RIO [XXX] HAD THE SAME VALVE REPLACED LAST YEAR ON HER RIO. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

• 11/15/2013· FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  WENT TO TURN ON MY HEATER TODAY AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED MY CAR, 4-DOOR SEDAN. THE CAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MANY OF THE OTHER OWNERS MENTIONED BEFORE E.G. A BRAKE FLUID LEAK, SQUEALING BRAKES AND THE TRANSMISSION IS ALWAYS SLOW TO KICK IN WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. NEVER EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR I OWNED. *TR

• 11/12/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING , THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE COILS BURNED OUT. *AK ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH O-RING LEAKING GAS INTO THE AIR VENTS. *LA *JB

• 11/08/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I BROUGHT THIS CAR ON THE 29TH OF OCTOBER. TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS NO GOOD. THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED BUT THE THE CAR WOULDN'T START AGAIN...TWO DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED. THE BATTERY CORD HAD TO BE JIGGLED IN ORDER FOR IT TO START UP. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN WHERE THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED, THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR EXCEPT THAT THE BATTERY CORD HAD TO BE TIGHTENED. ANOTHER TWO DAYS LATER THE CAR DOESN'T START AGAIN AND WON'T START UNLESS THE BRAKE AND GEARS ARE MANIPULATED. *AK

• 11/05/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES MADE A DEEP DRUM LIKE NOISE THAT LASTED FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE BRAKES STARTED TO REACT NORMALLY. *TC *JB

• 11/04/2009· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT SEATBELTS ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA UNLATCH. *TR

• 10/18/2012· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE CAR ALL OF THE SUDDEN STARTED LOOSING BRAKE FLUID RAPIDLY. MY PERFECTLY GOOD BRAKES WERE GOING OUT AND I ALMOST WRECKED MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN DICKINSON, TX IS CHARGING ME 300 DOLLARS + TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I SEE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURE PART. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST PROPORTIONING VALVE HE HAS SEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED LIKE THIS IN 10+ YEARS. THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. I HAVE WROTE ALL NEWS STATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I AM PURSUING THIS AGGRESSIVELY. YOU ALL RECALLED THE 2004-2007 PROPORTIONING VALVES THEN IT SHOULD BE FOR THE EARLIER MODELS AS WELL. *TR

• 10/17/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LEAKAGE. I TOOK MY CAR TO KIA DEALER FOR ENGINE AN LIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE GAS CAP AND THE ORVR VALVE IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE OTHER NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME I SMELLED GAS WENT TO ACCELERATE AND CAR STARTED TO STALL I GAVE IT MORE GAS AND STARTED TO SPUTTER THE CAR BEHIND ME STARTED BEEPING AND FLASHING THE LIGHT. THEY PULLED NEXT TO ME AND SAID GET OUT OF THE CAR GAS WAS POURING OUT. I PULLED OVER SHUT ENGINE OFF THE GAS STOPPED POURING OUT THE NEXT MORNING MY HUSBAND GOT UNDER THE CAR AND THE FUEL LINE TO THE BACK OF THE FILTER HAD JUST CAME OFF. *JB

• 10/13/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE LEAKING ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE BACKING UP AND RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD THIS HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. HOW LONG UNTIL SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

• 10/11/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH KIA USA HONORING MY WARRANTY FOR DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR IN WHICH I AM NOT AT FAULT. THEY HAVE MADE ALLEGATIONS AS TO THE PROBLEMS WHICH ARE UNTRUE FROM MY STAND POINT AND I AM 23 YEAR OLD SINGLE MOTHER WITH NO VEHICLE NOW. I HAVE MADE MANY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 WEEKS AND STILL HAD NO RESOLUTION. *NM

• 10/10/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I BOUGHT A KIA SPECTRA 2003 ON 9/27/03 WITH MANUFACTURER'S DATE OF 11/4/02. IT WAS A USED CAR WITH 20,000 MILES ON IT. ON 10/09/03, THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING AN EMISSION SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND REPLACED THE GAS CAP THAT THEY DISCOVERED WAS LEAKING. HOWEVER, ON 10/10/03, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE CHECK LIGHT BLINKED ON MOMENTARILY WHILE THE CAR LOST SPEED, AND WHEN THE LIGHT BLINKED OFF IT RESUMED ITS SPEED. IN REVIEWING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, IT APPEARS THAT KIA SPECTRAS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 5/4/01 AND 7/12/02 WERE TO BE HAVE THE ORVR VALVE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY CAR MAY HAVE THE SAME DEFECT BUT IS NOT COVERED BY THE TSB. I WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING FURTHER UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION FOR MY CAR IN CASE THE TSB IS EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE MANUFACTURE DATE OF MY CAR. *LA

• 10/06/2005· AIR BAGSCrash

  DT: 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BY THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS HIT SO HARD THAT THE BUMPER CAME OFF AND PUSHED THE ENGINE AND HOOD UP. THE FIREMAN SAID THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND TWICE. THIS BROKE THE REAR AXLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE ENDED UP SIX FEET FROM WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S BACK WAS SORE FOR A FEW WEEKS. A POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *NM

• 09/23/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,234. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

• 09/19/2014· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

• 09/12/2017· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  DIRT CHEAP CARS SOLD ME A CAR THAT WONT PASS INSPECTION

• 09/12/2011· POWER TRAIN

  IN APRIL OF 2009 MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING RIGHT IN THE CENTER LANE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOME, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP JUST TO FIND OUT THAT KIA WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND THE COSTS ($1550) CAME OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. THE REPAIRMAN TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS QUITE OFTEN WITH THE 2003 KIA SPECTRA BUT THERE WAS NO SAFETY RECALL. NOW IT IS SEPTEMBER OF 2011 AND THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AGAIN! WITH THIS VEHICLE AT LESS THAN 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT TWICE ALREADY! *TR

• 09/12/2003· SEAT BELTSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE SEAT BELT BROKE AS A RESULT OF DRIVER NOT BEING RESTRAINED PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

• 09/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NEITHER DUPLICATE NOR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *LA NM

• 09/07/2017· STRUCTURE

  I BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT IT HAD NO FRAME DAMAGE BUT I TOOK IT TO TWO GARAGES AND BOTH GARAGES INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS FRAME DAMAGE FRONT AND BACK AND THE ONE GARAGE I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FRAME DAMAGE

• 09/03/2010· VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

  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

• 09/03/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  AFTER REAR ENDING A LARGE TRUCK AT 45 MPH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

• 08/31/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  2003 KIA SPECTRA; BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE STARTED LEAKING AROUND 90K MILES. CONTACTED THREE LOCAL DEALERS, ALL THREE STATED THAT THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL. *TR

• 08/26/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,AIR BAGSCrash

  DT: 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DURING THE FIRST ACCIDENTCONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY SOMEONE IN FRONT. IN TURN A SUV HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. DURING THE SECOND ACCIDENT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED A CAR IN FRON. THIS WAS A FRONT TO REAR COLLISION AT 25 T-30 MILES MPH. THERE WAS INJURIES IN THE SECOND ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. ALSO, THERE THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OIL CIRCULATION. ITHE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE OIL SENDING UNIT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK

• 08/26/2003· EQUIPMENT

  CONSUMER STATES THAT AIR CONDITIONER ON NEW KIA DOES NOT WORK. WHENEVER SHE TURNS DEFROSTER ON THE AIR BLOWS OUT OF THE VENT. AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE MECHANIC ,SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO BE REPAIRING THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN SHE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK , THE AIR WAS BLOWING ON THE FEET ONLY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE, AND EACH TIME IT STAYED IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS. LAST TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP IS STAYED IN THERE 2.5 WEEKS WAITING FOR A NEW PARTS, NEW FAN AND BLOWER. SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF THE LEMON LAW WOULD HELP HER GET ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

• 08/20/2004· POWER TRAIN

  AT 13,500 MILES TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

• 08/16/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA, APPROX. 2 YEARS AGO I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WHILE I CAME TO A STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO KIA AND THEY DID A TUNE UP AND REPLACED A PART THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE PROBLEM FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF OR TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IT TAKES ALL YOU CAN DO TO KEEP THE CAR FROM LUNGING FORWARD. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IT CAUSES THE CAR TO ACCELERATE WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CAR COULD RUN GREAT FOR DAYS, BUT THEN IT STARTS TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE BEEN IN SOME SCARY SITUATIONS ON VERY BUSY HIGHWAYS, WHERE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING , FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD MY CAR TO STS 3 TIMES TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND ON THOSE OCCASIONS THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SIMULATE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS APPROX 8 TIMES. I'VE HAD BOTH LOW BEAMS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. *JB

• 08/10/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I AM WRITING IN REGARDS TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 KIA SPECTRA. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME I HAVE DROPPED OFF MY VEHICLE TO THE TALLAHASSEE KIA REPAIR SHOP. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST REPAIR, 5-19-05 I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE FUEL FILTER REPLACED, I HAVE DONE SO BUT THIS HAS NOT RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM. AS OF LATE, PERHAPS DUE TO THE HEAT, THE PROBLEM IS WORSE. THE VEHICLE IS STILL SURGING FORWARD WHILE I HAVE MY FOOT PRESSED ON THE BRAKE. THE PROBLEM OCCURS AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AROUND TOWN OR ON ROAD TRIP AND WILL SOMETIMES WHEN I FIRST START IT UP. IT OCCURS MORE OFTEN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING IS RUNNING. MY FATHER BELIEVES THAT THE COMPUTER IS BAD OR THAT THE SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO THE BULLETINS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS NOT ONLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION BUT IT IS CAUSING ADDITIONAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. AT THIS JUNCTURE, THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT MY LOCAL TALLAHASSEE DEALERSHIP AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD DROP THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEY WOULD TRY TO SIMULATE THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR A NUMBER OR DAYS AND HAD TO RELY ON FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND SCHOOL. I AM SCHEDULED TO BRING IN MY VEHICLE 8 -10-06 AND THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO PROVIDE A VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION. WITH NO OTHER CHOICE I AM FORCED TO BRING IT IN FOR SAFETY REASONS. *JB

• 07/31/2005· POWER TRAIN

  EVERY TIME I TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN ECT. MY TRANSMISSION KICKS WHEN SHIFTING FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. IN AN AUTOMATIC,IT IS RARE. IT IS ONLY A 2003 TOO. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT TRANSMISSIONS ARE DESIGNED LIKE THAT. BULL!!! *NM

• 07/31/2004· VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  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

• 07/23/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I HAVE A 2003 KIA SPECTRA THAT HAS BEEN RUNNING OUT OF BRAKE FLUID ON A WEEKLY BASIS. HAD TO BUY NEW PROPORTIONING VALVE FROM THE DEALER. I'VE READ SEVERAL STORIES ABOUT THESE VALVES LEAKING. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL. *TR

• 07/17/2003· STEERING

  CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL IN EITHER DIRECTION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

• 07/04/2003· WHEELS

  I HAVE A KIA SPECTRA LS VIN [XXX] WITH OPTIONAL ALLOY WHEELS PACKAGE. THE PROBLEM IS I HAVE LOST 2 CENTER HUB CAPS ON THESE WHEELS. I AM PRETTY CONVINCED THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING STOLEN AND I DO NOT RECALL ROUGH DRIVING ON EITHER OCCASION.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 07/02/2011· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  2003 KIA SPECTRA 99,000 MILES. I AM HAVING TO FILL UP WITH BRAKE FLUID ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. BRAKE PROPORTION VALVE IS LEAKING. SEVERAL SITES AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. WHY NO RECALL WHEN THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD ORDINARILY NEED TO BE REPLACED? *TR

• 06/26/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY AUTO HAS STOPPED ON ME FOR NO REASON AT ALL. THE FIRST TIME IT JUST WOULDN'T START, THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT JUST SHUT OFF AND THE THIRD TIME WHICH WAS THIS MORNING IT STARTED THEN SHUT DOWN AND I HADN'T LEFT MY HOME YET. AFTER THAT IT WOULDN'T START. THE CARE MAKE AND MODEL IS A 2003 KIA SPECTRA. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND THE FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT THE CONNECTION WAS LOOSE THE SECOND TIME IT STATED THAT THE MASTER PULLING TOO MUCH VACUUM CAUSING HER CAR TO SHUT DOWN. I WAS AWAITING A PART. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 8 AM TO CALL FOR PARTS TO SEE IF IT CAME IN BUT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. *JB

• 06/20/2014· SERVICE BRAKES

  AT MY COST I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE WHICH WAS CAUSING A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE CREATE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE'S BRAKES COMPLETELY FAIL IN TRAFFIC. *TR

• 06/17/2014· STEERING

  THE COVERING AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN HAS CRUMBLED AND IS COMING APART. I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL AFFECT THE AIR BAG IF NEEDED. VERY POOR QUALITY OF MATERIAL WAS USED FOR THIS. *TR

• 06/17/2014· STRUCTURE

  THE DASH, WHERE IT MEETS THE WINDSHIELD, HAS CURLED UP AND DETACHED FROM THE DEFROSTER VENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE PLASTIC DEFROSTER VENT IS ALSO CRUMBLING FROM BEING EXPOSED TO THE SUN. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW CHEAP OF MATERIALS WAS USED FOR THIS. *TR

• 06/16/2003· VISIBILITY

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

• 06/15/2003· STRUCTURE

  TETHER ANCHORS: CHILD SEAT REAR TETHER CAN NOT BE INSTALLED/USED PROPERLY ON HATCH BACK MODEL. THE HATCH COVER, ANCHOR LOCATION, AND CARGO PREVENT THE TETHER REMAINING SNUG. THE HATCH COVER PUSHES ON THE TETHER, LOOSENING THE STRAP. THE ANCHORS POSITION MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOAD, TRANSPORT OR UNLOAD CARGO WITHOUT COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE TETHER AND CAUSING IT TO LOOSEN. THE OWNER'S MANUAL CAUTIONS AGAINST USING A TETHER IN THE MIDDLE SEATING POSITION (RECOMMENDED POSITION FOR CHILD SAFETY SEATS) BECAUSE THE TETHER COULD SLIP BETWEEN THE SPLIT SEATS, AGAIN CAUSING SLACK AND PREVENTING THE TETHER FROM HELPING HOLD THE CHILD SEAT SECURE. *NLM

• 06/12/2003· SUSPENSION

  ONCE VEHICLE REACHES 70 MPH THERE IS VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 06/11/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT 15MPH ENGINE LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED WITH WATER INSIDE THE ENGINE. DEALERWON'T COVER THE GUARANTEE. *AK