IllustrationFRONT AIR BAG LIGHT DOESN'T CONSISTENTLY TURN ON WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT APPROXIMATELY 125 POUNDS. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER ARE BOTH UNDERWEIGHT TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. *TC *JB
2004 Kia Spectra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Spectra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
925–50K
1050–75K
175–100K
7100–150K
2150K+
55 reports with mileage · 16 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
26 reportsON AN IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT END OF THIS NEW CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AND HOUR, THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK
WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OUR SEAT BELTS AND AIRBAGS FAILED TO WORK. WE WERE BOTH THROWN INTO THE WINDSHEILD . SUFFERED INJURIES TO BACK, HEAD AND NECK. TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL BY EMS. OUR VECICLE 2004 KIA SEPTRA 4 DOOR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB
THE DEALER NEVER DISCLOSED THE EXISTENCE OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR SYSTEM. *NM THE AIR BAD POSED A POSSIBLE SAFETY RISK TO CONSUMERS THAT WERE PETITE AND WEIGHED 125 POUNDS OR LESS. *JB
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSORS IN 2004 SPECTRA. *MR THE AIR BAG SENSORS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT ALWAYS DETECT WHEN ADULTS WERE SITTING THERE. *SC *JB
WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AIR BAG SENSOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SENSOR. THEREFORE, MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED.…
Read full complaint
WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED AIR BAG SENSOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SENSOR. THEREFORE, MECHANIC REPLACED THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. ENGINEER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. ALSO, STATED THAT IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY. *AK
Official recalls
111V256000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Apr 25, 2011
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 STRAPS MAY SEPARATE ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TANK.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.