10% of complaints about the 2005 KIA Spectra came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2005 vehicle — around the middle of the 245 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (43 complaints), typically at 3.4 yr or about 28,165 miles.
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 SPECTRA LD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THROUGH MARCH 6, 2007, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH HOLD THE TANK MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH
THE FUEL TANK CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE THE GROUND WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. LEAKING FUEL CAN CREATE A FIRE HAZARD.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.
IF THE ROD CRACKS OR FAILS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
I HAVE ADVANCED AIRBAGS IN MY CAR AND A LIGHT "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF " LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT LETS ME KNOW WHEN THE AIRBAG IS OFF. ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS THE LIGHT HAS COME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT HAS ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS STAYED ON FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT SEVERAL TIMES AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT OUT BUT IT STILL CONTINUES TO DO IT. I'M WORRIED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED.
CAR HAS SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT TO DISABLE PASSENGER AIR BAG. AIR BAG DISABLE LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN ADULT SITTING IN SEAT. SEAT CUSHION AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALOR BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. CONTACTED KIA DIRECTLY AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL ACCIDENT AND TBHE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT DEPLOY. FROM MY RESEARCH I FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND NOT UNIQUE TO MY VEHICLE. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS A SEAT SENSOR AND IT SHOULD TURN THE AIR BAG ON WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE PASSENGER IS AN ADULT MALE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CORRECTIONS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE FAILURE OCCURS EACH TIME THE MALE PASSENGER SAT IN THE SEAT. *NM