2005 Kia Spectra

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES INDICATING THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE WAY THE PASSENGER WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND OFFERED NO REPAIRS. UPDATED 06/30/06. *JB

WE OWN A KIA SPECTRA 05 , WE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT NOT GOING OUT WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. WE BROUGHT IN THE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT AS "REFLASHED". BUT THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IN MARCH WHERE OUR CAR WAS BROADSIDED BY AN SUV AT THE SPEED OF AT LEAST 40 MPH. MY WIFE WAS STUCK IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO EXTRACT HER WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE FIRE CHIEF WAS VERY UPSET THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE CONTACTED KIA NATIONAL CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO LOOK INTO WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE SENT PICTURES OF THE CAR AND A POLICE REPORT. THEIR RESPONSE WAS VERY POOR. IT STATED THAT FROM THE EVIDENCE, WE WERE HIT BEHIND THE FRONT WHEEL WELL AND IN FRONT OF THE DOOR HANDLE.( THE FRONT OF A SUV IS LARGER THAN THE AREA THEY CLAIM WAS DAMAGED.) SO THE B PILLAR SENSORS WERE NOT ACTIVATED. THE GARAGE THAT TOWED OUR VEHICLE CLEARLY STATES THAT THE B PILLAR WAS SMASHED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED OUR CAR. DAMAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF $10,000. MY WIFE'S HIP WAS DISLOCATED AND SHE WAS BRUISED ON THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN DENIED TWICE BY KIA. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THE SENSOR WORKED OR DID NOT WORK. *NM

WE WERE BROADSIDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE CONTACTED KIA AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS NOT ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. MY WIFE HAD TO BE EXTRACTED BY THE JAWS OF LIFE. WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SENSOR LIGHT NO GOING OFF WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. WE HAD IT BROUGHT IN AND THEY DID THE RECALL. BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THEY DID OR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. KIA COVERS THEMSELVES BY STATING THAT NOT ALL ACCIDENTS WILL DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. *NM

2005 SPECTRA FRONT END MAKES A RATTLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END THAT COULD BE HEARD INSIDE THE HOUSE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. *TS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN RECTIFIED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT STRUTS, INSULATORS, PADS AND FLANGE SELF-LOCKING UNIT. THE LEFT FRONT STRUT NUT WAS CROSSED-THREADED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO FIND THE RATTLE. UPDATED 09/13/06. *JB

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2005 KIA SPECTRA WHICH HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION--A FACT NOT DISCLOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. A VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP LAST WEEK REVEALED OTHER KIA SPECTRAS HAVE A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH HARD SHIFTING AND THAT KIA HAS THE MATTER "UNDER INVESTIGATION". I NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *NM

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOUR TIMES IN THE 5 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. THEY HAVE CHECKED CONNECTIONS ETC. AND SAID THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I MET WITH THE KIA REP LAST WEEK AND HE SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM IN A SPECTRA. THEY ARE REPLACING THE SEAT BOTTOM NOW TO SEE IF THIS HELPS. THEY IMPLIED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE THE PASSENGER WAS LARGE AND THEIR WEIGHT WAS RESTING ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE SEAT AND NOT PLACING ENOUGH WEIGHT ON THE GEL PAD IN THE CENTER OF THE SEAT. *NM