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2004 Kia Ld Spectra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
20042
2005
Compare all Ld Spectra years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Air Bags
2Exterior Lighting
2Electrical System
1Power Train
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

1 reports
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170,000 miles · Jan 12, 2014
Power Train

I NOTICED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE ENGINE WOULD "REV" BUT NO MOVEMENT UNTIL 3-5 SECONDS LATER THEN THE CAR WOULD "LUNGE" INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I WOULD NOTICE THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IN 2ND-3RD GEAR AND THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION JUST "REVS" FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT WOULD JUMP BACK INTO GEAR AND …

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I NOTICED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE ENGINE WOULD "REV" BUT NO MOVEMENT UNTIL 3-5 SECONDS LATER THEN THE CAR WOULD "LUNGE" INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I WOULD NOTICE THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IN 2ND-3RD GEAR AND THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION JUST "REVS" FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT WOULD JUMP BACK INTO GEAR AND GO. THIS INTERMITTENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I CHANGED THE RADIATOR THAT HAD A FAULTY TRANS-AXLE COUPLER ON IT, NOT SURE IF THAT COULD OF BEEN AN ISSUE WITH WHY THE AT IS ACTING LIKE IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10559532

Official recalls

1

05V431000 · Air Bags

Sep 21, 2005

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG FEATURE, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.