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2003 Kia Spectra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

60 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

9 reports
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71,227 miles · Nov 4, 2009
Seat Belts

FRONT SEATBELTS ON 2003 KIA SPECTRA UNLATCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290930

5,130 miles · Mar 18, 2005
EquipmentPower TrainSeat Belts

THE FRONT PANEL IN THE CONSUMER'S 2003 KIA SPECTRA MADE NOISE. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN, DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE, FAULTY SPEAKER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THERE WOULD BE A CLICKING SOUND IF IT WAS FORCED, THE VEH…

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THE FRONT PANEL IN THE CONSUMER'S 2003 KIA SPECTRA MADE NOISE. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT WAS BROKEN, DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE INOPERATIVE, FAULTY SPEAKER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE, THERE WOULD BE A CLICKING SOUND IF IT WAS FORCED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 30 MPH FOR 10 MINUTES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10115669

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Power TrainSeat BeltsService Brakes, Hydraulic

ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE RUBBER WEATHER STRIP CAME OFF AND CONTINUES TO COME OFF AFTER A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I NEEDED TO PUT OIL IN THE CAR 2 MONTHS AFTER I GO IT, IT WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED A FEW MONTHS LATER AT KIA OF COLUMBUS GA, AND ASKED WO…

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ABOUT A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE RUBBER WEATHER STRIP CAME OFF AND CONTINUES TO COME OFF AFTER A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I NEEDED TO PUT OIL IN THE CAR 2 MONTHS AFTER I GO IT, IT WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED A FEW MONTHS LATER AT KIA OF COLUMBUS GA, AND ASKED WOULD THEY TOP OFF ALL FLUIDS AND THEY REPLIED YES. LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER I HAD TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AGAIN AND I NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID. I HAVE HAD A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES SQUEAKING SINCE ABOUT AFTER THE FIRST WEEK. THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME AT KIA OF COLUMBUS GA THAT MY BRAKES WERE FINE. MY BRAKES CONTINUE TO SQUEAK. THE LIGHT INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN, COMES ON BY ITSELF WHEN ALL THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THE LIGHT ON THE CEILING OF THE CAR HAS TO STAY IN A PERMANENT OFF POSITION, OR THE LIGHT WILL COME ON BY ITSELF. MY CAR HAS BEEN KICKING BACK WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE WHILE MAKING THIS GROANING NOISE WHEN IN REVERSE. MY SEAT BELT ALSO SEEMS TO PULL IN A LOCKED POSITION SOMETIMES WHEN I AM AT A RED LIGHT, I AM SITTING STILL, NOT MAKING ANY SHARP TURNS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS KIA SINCE I BOUGHT IT

NHTSA ODI #10069743

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10039850

2,000 miles · May 6, 2003
Seat Belts

THE REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO FASTENED. 8JB

NHTSA ODI #10018292

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NO…

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THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD MOTOR YET THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10012177

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A 135 POUND PASSENGER. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULL…

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THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A 135 POUND PASSENGER. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10012170

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

SNOW ENTERED THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10012169

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train

THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE …

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THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED, PULLING NOISE IN THE ENGINE PER MECHANIC, AND PULLING WHEN SHIFTED. SCC

NHTSA ODI #10012167

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.