2004 KIA SPECTRA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

92

Owner Complaints

20 Crashes 1 Fire 1 Death

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

5

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2004 KIA SPECTRA

The 2004 KIA SPECTRA has received a total of 92 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING. 5 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (13 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (13 complaints), and Vehicle Speed Control (7 complaints).

Recalls for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA

NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA, potentially affecting up to 58,322 vehicles.

Recall 11V256000 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

| 58,322 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE WITH NEW ZINC COATED PARTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

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Owner Complaints for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA

92 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Air Bags
Complaints: 13 5 Crashes 2 Injuries
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
Complaints: 13 1 Crash
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 7 1 Crash 1 Fire
Air Bagsfrontal
Complaints: 6 6 Crashes 5 Injuries 1 Death
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
Complaints: 6
Electrical System
Complaints: 6
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 4
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
Complaints: 3
Fuel System Gasoline
Complaints: 3
Suspension
Complaints: 3
Power Train
Complaints: 2
Seats
Complaints: 2
Structurebody
Complaints: 2
Air Bagssidewindow
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Child Seat
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systemsoftware
Complaints: 1
Equipment
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 2 Injuries
Latcheslockslinkages
Complaints: 1
Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm
Complaints: 1
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagefloor Shift
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Seat Belts
Complaints: 1
Seat Beltsfront
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly
Complaints: 1
Seat Beltsfrontretractor
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Seat Beltsintegrated Child Seat
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Service Brakes Hydraulic
Complaints: 1
Steering
Complaints: 1
Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System
Complaints: 1
Steeringlinkagesknucklespindlearm
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Suspensionrear
Complaints: 1
Tires
Complaints: 1
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
Complaints: 1
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
Complaints: 1
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#11458700 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | 121,000 miles Fire
The contact owns a 2004 Kia Spectra. The contact stated the cruise control feature was not operating properly. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving and approaching a traffic light, when depressing on the brake pedal the vehicle failed to stop and accelerated independently to 80 mph. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to stop the vehicle by using the emergency brakes and parked on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, they noticed the cruise cable was not in place was separate from the box. The contact also stated she saw the area was black/burned. The contact called local dealer and them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.
#11016112 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 193,946 miles
ELECTRICAL - SPEEDOMETER / ODOMETER - FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO POSSIBLE SHORT IN WIRING
#11013077 | AIR BAGS | | 1,983,297 miles Crash
TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
#11013077 | SERVICE BRAKES | | 1,983,297 miles Crash
TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.
#10822975 | STRUCTURE:BODY | | 70,000 miles
METAL AROUND WHEEL WELLS ROTTING OUT.

View all Air Bags complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2004 KIA SPECTRA in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA

Kia America, Inc. has issued 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

055 — AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU) LOGIC REPROGRAMMING. KIA IS CHANGING THE ACU LOGIC TO PERMIT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL TIMES. *TT

013 — POWER TRAIN

MILD DRIVELINE BUMP OR SHOCK WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR MORE THAN ONE HOUR. *TT

028 — AIR BAGS

ADVANCED AIR BAG OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS (OCS). *TT

84 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TECHLINE FAQS. KIA TECHNICIAN TIMES. VOLUME 8, ISSUE 4. *TT

008 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HEADLAMP GROUND WIRE SEALING TO PREVENT MOISTURE FROM ENTERING THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES. *TT

NHTSA Investigations for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the KIA SPECTRA

View all KIA SPECTRA model years →

Other KIA Models

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