MY SON WAS IN A COLLISION, HE REAR ENDED SOMEONE, THE WHOLE DRIVERS SIDE IN TOTALLY CAVED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
2005 Kia Spectra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 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
84 reports with mileage · 19 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 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
6 reportsONE BLINKER LIGHT WOULD FLASH FASTER THEN THE OTHER. THE RADIO WOULD RANDOMLY SCAN STATIONS CONTINUOUSLY. BATTERY WOULD DIE. 9/28/2013 WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN FLASHING/BLINKING AND THE CAR MADE A BUZZING SOUND. WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED THE FLASHING AND BUZZING CONTINUED FOR A MINUTE LONGER. AFTE…
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ONE BLINKER LIGHT WOULD FLASH FASTER THEN THE OTHER. THE RADIO WOULD RANDOMLY SCAN STATIONS CONTINUOUSLY. BATTERY WOULD DIE. 9/28/2013 WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE BEGAN FLASHING/BLINKING AND THE CAR MADE A BUZZING SOUND. WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED THE FLASHING AND BUZZING CONTINUED FOR A MINUTE LONGER. AFTER A JUMP START THE CAR STARTED, BUT THE BLINKER LEVER WOULD NO LONGER GO DOWN TO TURN ON LEFT BLINKER. LATER THAT DAY AAA TESTED THE BATTERY WHICH WAS NO LONGER HOLDING A CHARGE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP: FRONT SPOILER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND REPLACED BY PURCHASING DEALER AT NO CHARGE. ELECTRICAL ON WINDOWS WAS INTERMITTENT, KIA DEALER IN ONTARIO (THAT IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE) REFUSED TO DO REPAIRS, WHICH WERE UNDER WARRANTY, STATING THEY COULD ONLY DO OIL CHANGES ON THE WEEKENDS AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR THE REPAIR TO BE DONE DURING THE WEEK. 5/5/2014: REQUESTED A WARRANTY REPORT FOR VEHICLE FROM KIA CORPORATE AND THEY STATED THEY DO NO HAVE RECORD OF THAT INFORMATION. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS USED BY KIA FOR TESTING PURPOSES ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE DOOR PANEL OFF AND NOTICED THAT THE LINKAGE AND THE LATCH WERE BOTH FRACTURED. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY OPEN THE WINDOW AND THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE DOOR PANEL OFF AND NOTICED THAT THE LINKAGE AND THE LATCH WERE BOTH FRACTURED. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY OPEN THE WINDOW AND THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE LATCH AND LINKAGE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE PART AND MADE THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
THE CHROME LAYER ON THE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS DELAMINATING FROM THE UNDERLYING PLASTIC HANDLES. THE SHARP EDGES POSE A LACERATION HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANT WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE FULLY. THE DOOR ALARM WOULD CHIME SPORADICALLY TO INDICATE THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT FULLY CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE FULLY. THE DOOR ALARM WOULD CHIME SPORADICALLY TO INDICATE THAT THE DOOR WAS NOT FULLY CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
I OWN A SPECTRA 5. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CAR IN MOST EVERY ASPECT, BUT THE FRONT SPOILER IS NOT SECURED TO THE CAR PROPERLY. I TAPPED IT ON A PARKING CURB ONCE, AND NOW IT'S COMPLETELY FALLING OFF. MY KIA DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT AND SAID I NEEDED TO GO TO THE BODY SHOP. I WENT TO A KIA BODY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD …
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I OWN A SPECTRA 5. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE CAR IN MOST EVERY ASPECT, BUT THE FRONT SPOILER IS NOT SECURED TO THE CAR PROPERLY. I TAPPED IT ON A PARKING CURB ONCE, AND NOW IT'S COMPLETELY FALLING OFF. MY KIA DEALER COULDN'T FIX IT AND SAID I NEEDED TO GO TO THE BODY SHOP. I WENT TO A KIA BODY SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE MORE THAN $700 TO FIX AND THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE NEXT TIME IT CAUGHT ON A PARKING CURB OR LOW DIP IN THE ROAD IT WOULDN'T FALL OFF AGAIN. I AM NOT PREPARED TO PAY $700 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO BE THAT LOW TO THE GROUND BUT IS NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE SOME MINOR IMPACT AS IT WAS BOUND TO EXPERIENCE. ALMOST ALL ROADS HAVE SOME DEFECTS THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS SPOILER TO HIT THE GROUND AND MANY CAR PARKS HAVE SPEED BUMPS AND ENTRANCES TO DRIVEWAYS HAVE DIPS THAT THIS WILL MOST CERTAINLY CATCH ON AGAIN. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE FROM THE CAR UNTIL KIA CAN MAKE STURDY ENOUGH TO HANDLE NORMAL USE. *NM
Official recalls
211V256000 · 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.
05V183000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
Apr 28, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ROD CRACKS OR FAILS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE TIE ROD COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON APRIL 8, 2005. AN ADDITIONAL LETTER WAS SENT TO OWNERS WHO HAD NOT TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. THIS LETTER WAS MAILED MAY 20, 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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