← New search

2006 Kia Spectra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Spectra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 96.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

83 reports with mileage · 17 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 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports3 fire reports23 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

46 reports
Clear category filter
100,000 miles · Jul 16, 2013
Air BagsSeats

AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON, AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (ERROR CODE B1448 - OCS MAT DEFECTIVE), AND SAID THAT THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF $1,600). THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT FOR WHICH 06-08 KIA RIO'S …

Read full complaint

AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON, AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (ERROR CODE B1448 - OCS MAT DEFECTIVE), AND SAID THAT THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AT A COST OF $1,600). THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT FOR WHICH 06-08 KIA RIO'S WERE RECALLED (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000). THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE SIMILAR MODEL YEAR KIA SPECTRAS - THERE ARE A SIMILAR NUMBER OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS REGARDING AIRBAGS FOR THE 06 KIA SPECTRA AS 06 KIA RIO. PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY REPLACING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH ONE FROM AN 04 KIA SPECTRA FROM AN AUTO SALVAGE YARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525221

30,000 miles · Jul 7, 2013
Air Bags

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. SHOP SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH SENSOR UNDER SEAT WHICH IS PART OF THE RECALL IN THE RIO. COST ALMOST $2000 TO REPAIR AN KIA WON'T OVER IT. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY. THE SPECTRA SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523528

68,000 miles · May 21, 2013
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT GOING NORTH TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION. THE OTHER PARTY FAILED TO YIELD GOING SOUTHEAST AT THE SAME INTERSECTION. I DID HIT THEIR VEHICLE, DODGE HEMI RAM 1500, HEAD ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN IN FACT ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, IT SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. NOT TO MENT…

Read full complaint

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT GOING NORTH TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION. THE OTHER PARTY FAILED TO YIELD GOING SOUTHEAST AT THE SAME INTERSECTION. I DID HIT THEIR VEHICLE, DODGE HEMI RAM 1500, HEAD ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN IN FACT ACCORDING TO EXPERTS, IT SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. NOT TO MENTION THIS IS THE SECOND COLLISION THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND THE AIRBAG HAS NEVER DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE AIRBAG NOT WORKING PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS. DUE DO THIS, I OBTAINED A HEAD AND NECK INJURY AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10513013

91,000 miles · Dec 12, 2012
Air Bags

DEALER STATES ISSUE WITH AIRBAG SENSOR MAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAME ISSUE AS RECALLED ON THE 2006 RIO. A SIMILAR SPEC SENSOR MAT IS INSTALLED ON THE SPECTRAS AS WELL AND THEREFORE A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON THOSE MODELS AS WELL. FAILURE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BASED ON THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENG…

Read full complaint

DEALER STATES ISSUE WITH AIRBAG SENSOR MAT ON PASSENGER SIDE. SAME ISSUE AS RECALLED ON THE 2006 RIO. A SIMILAR SPEC SENSOR MAT IS INSTALLED ON THE SPECTRAS AS WELL AND THEREFORE A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON THOSE MODELS AS WELL. FAILURE TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES BASED ON THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS OF VEHICLE IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE AIRBAGS WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10488607

50,000 miles · Sep 17, 2012
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER VERY COLD WEATHER IN JANUARY 2011. WHEN WEATHER WARMED UP IN THE SPRING, THE LIGHT WENT OUT. JANUARY 2012 WHEN IT BECAME COLD AGAIN, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON 99% OF THE TIME. IT RARELY EVER GOES OUT. ... THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT IS COVER…

Read full complaint

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER VERY COLD WEATHER IN JANUARY 2011. WHEN WEATHER WARMED UP IN THE SPRING, THE LIGHT WENT OUT. JANUARY 2012 WHEN IT BECAME COLD AGAIN, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON 99% OF THE TIME. IT RARELY EVER GOES OUT. ... THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT IS COVERED BY THE KIA OPTIMA 2006-2008 RECALL 12V014000. *TR ...UPDATED 09/28/15 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10475604

50,000 miles · Sep 12, 2012
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL REG…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN EMAIL REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) HOWEVER, THE RECALL ONLY PERTAINED TO THE RIO MODEL AND NOT THE SPECTRA MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10475227

105,000 miles · Sep 7, 2012
Air BagsSeat BeltsService BrakesCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 40 E APPROACHING EXIT 153 IN HEAVY RAINFALL. APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE EXIT THE TRUCK ALREADY ON THE EXIT AHEAD OF ME BEGAN APPLYING ITS BRAKES. PRE-BRAKING MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND FLEW FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN BRA…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY 40 E APPROACHING EXIT 153 IN HEAVY RAINFALL. APPROXIMATELY 0.25 MILES FROM THE EXIT THE TRUCK ALREADY ON THE EXIT AHEAD OF ME BEGAN APPLYING ITS BRAKES. PRE-BRAKING MEASURES WERE TAKEN. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND I COLLIDED WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND FLEW FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD BEEN BRAKING THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT MY SEAT-BELT DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I SUFFERED BRUISING, SEVERE HEADACHES, AND MINOR CUTS AS A RESULT. INSURANCE DECLARED CAR AS TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474247

100,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10460752

59,000 miles · Nov 2, 2011
Air BagsCrash

THIS VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS AIR BAGS, BEING T-BONED BY A SEMI TRUCK AT 30 MPH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 INCHES OF INTRUSION, AS WELL THE FRAME OF VEHICLE BETWEEN THE DOORS WAS TOUCHING THE DRIVER SEAT, BUT NONE OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS, OR PELVIC AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434025

128,000 miles · Jun 3, 2011
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

MY BROTHER WAS IN A AUTOMOTIVE ACCIDENT. HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE MEDIAN, HIS BRAKES STOP WORKING AND HIS AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THIS IS ALL STATED IN HIS POLICE REPORT. HE WAS AIR LIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE DOCTORS INFORM THE FAMILY HE BROKE BOTH HIS LEGS AND ARMS. HE HAD TO HAVE AN OPERATION IN HIS SKUL…

Read full complaint

MY BROTHER WAS IN A AUTOMOTIVE ACCIDENT. HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE MEDIAN, HIS BRAKES STOP WORKING AND HIS AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THIS IS ALL STATED IN HIS POLICE REPORT. HE WAS AIR LIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE DOCTORS INFORM THE FAMILY HE BROKE BOTH HIS LEGS AND ARMS. HE HAD TO HAVE AN OPERATION IN HIS SKULL TO RELIEVE PRESSURE IN HIS BRAIN. AS OF NOW NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECT.

NHTSA ODI #10404354

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.