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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

9 reports
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121,000 miles · Mar 28, 2022
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

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 li…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11458700

115,000 miles · Sep 14, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT WHEN ENGAGED IT ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. OR IT TOLALLY DIS-ENGAGES ON ITS OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10283916

28,000 miles · Nov 28, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND ACCELERATES. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURES TO STOP. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE C…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND ACCELERATES. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURES TO STOP. THE FAILURE BEGAN IN JANUARY OF 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. ON NOVEMBER 9, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE BODY SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 12/17/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10250075

33,600 miles · Mar 5, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY BEING TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,600. UPDATED 03-19-08 …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AUTOMATICALLY. THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY BEING TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,600. UPDATED 03-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED PROBLEM HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. UPDATED 03/19/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220138

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control

ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL FAILS TO TURN ON OCCASIONALY.

NHTSA ODI #10170880

7,590 miles · Oct 14, 2005
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING. SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO BE EXAMINED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY. WH…

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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING. SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO BE EXAMINED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CONSUMER HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK THEN BACK TO DRIVE. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A TEMPORARY FIX, THE VEHICLE WAS STILL HARD TO PULL OVER WHEN IN TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA, AND THEY TOOK HER INFORMATION AND HAD THE DEALERSHIP CALL HER BACK. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT THE DEALER, THEY SIMPLY EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, THEN GAVE IT BACK TO THE CONSUMER AND TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN FIND THAT IS WRONG. THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN THEY TREATED HER LIKE SHE MADE UP THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS CONSIDERED APPLYING FOR THE LEMON LAW IN HER STATE. *AK (12/08/05) THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FASTER. KIA REPLACED THE COMPUTER BOARD IN RELATION TO THE TRANSMISSION. *SC UPDATED 1/25/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139671

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

KIA SPECTRA 2004, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10113741

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10111139

900 miles · Sep 17, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EIGHT TIMES. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHICH MADE A BANGING NOISE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10092639

Official recalls

1

11V256000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.