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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.

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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

7 reports
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80,055 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED CAUSING THE RIGHT SIDE STRAPS TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE EXCESSIVELY CORRODED CAUSING THE RIGHT SIDE STRAPS TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO ANSWER WHY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,055.

NHTSA ODI #10605617

92,880 miles · Oct 23, 2013
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

ONE OF THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAPS HAS RUSTED INTO AND DRAGGING THE PAVEMENT. THIS WOULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT, FIRE AND OR EXPLOSION IF TANK HAD HIT THE PAVEMENT AND RUBBED HOLE IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NO OTHER RUST ON UNDERCARRIAGE. SAID VEHICLE HAS 92,893 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2006 MODEL YEAR. I BELIEVE STR…

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ONE OF THE VEHICLES FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAPS HAS RUSTED INTO AND DRAGGING THE PAVEMENT. THIS WOULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT, FIRE AND OR EXPLOSION IF TANK HAD HIT THE PAVEMENT AND RUBBED HOLE IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NO OTHER RUST ON UNDERCARRIAGE. SAID VEHICLE HAS 92,893 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2006 MODEL YEAR. I BELIEVE STRAPS ARE MADE OF POOR QUALITY METAL AS THERE ARE NO OTHER RUST ISSUES WITH SAID VEHICLE! I THINK THAT THIS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED A KIA DEALER AND HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOME KIA'S IN THE NORTH FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. IF THEY KNEW OF THE PROBLEM THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THEM! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549264

72,000 miles · Oct 7, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

ABOUT THE END OF MARCH I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED BUT ITS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THING COULD'VE HAPPENED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON KIA SPECTRA FUEL SYSTEMS BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIGURE OU…

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ABOUT THE END OF MARCH I NOTICED MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED BUT ITS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. I NEVER HIT ANYTHING SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THING COULD'VE HAPPENED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON KIA SPECTRA FUEL SYSTEMS BUT MY CAR IS NOT COVERED. IT WOULD BE NICE TO FIGURE OUT WHY IT ISN'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429142

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2011
Fuel System, GasolineStructure

CALLED THE DEALERSHIP OF WHERE I BOUGHT MY KIA AT, COULDNT GET A HOLD OF THEM TO SET AN APPOINTMENT TO GO INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THE SERVICE DONE. I RECEIVED A LETTER ON JUNE 6TH, OF 2011, AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION, AND OR TO STILL TO TAKE IT IN? OR... IM NOT SURE ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10426708

99,334 miles · Jun 29, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, HE HEARD A POPPING AND DRAGGING NOISE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA LX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED, HE HEARD A POPPING AND DRAGGING NOISE AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS, STATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,334.

NHTSA ODI #10409361

71,000 miles · Sep 13, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

2006 KIA SPECTRA WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE GAS TANK STRAPS BROKE OFF AND LET THE GAS TANK FALL ON THE ROAD. THE STRAPS RUSTED OFF. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD.THE TANK HIT ON THE ROAD AND BROKE OPEN SPILLING GAS ON ROAD. CONTACTED KIA DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355282

51,000 miles · Apr 29, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

I DROVE MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA TO WORK 8:45 AM PARKED. AT 6PM I GOT INTO MY CAR TO COME HOME AND AS I WAS PULLING OUT HEARD SCRAPING NOISE UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED BACK INTO PARKING SPACE & GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER MY CAR; BOTH METAL STRAPS THAT SECURE THE GAS TANK WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND SCRAPING ON THE GROUND. MY GAS TANK WAS HANG…

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I DROVE MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA TO WORK 8:45 AM PARKED. AT 6PM I GOT INTO MY CAR TO COME HOME AND AS I WAS PULLING OUT HEARD SCRAPING NOISE UNDER THE CAR. I PULLED BACK INTO PARKING SPACE & GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER MY CAR; BOTH METAL STRAPS THAT SECURE THE GAS TANK WERE RUSTED THROUGH AND SCRAPING ON THE GROUND. MY GAS TANK WAS HANGING TO THE SIDE NOTHING WAS HOLDING THE GAS TANK TO THE CAR AT THIS POINT BUT THE FUEL LINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10328164

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.