Illustration2006 KIA SPECTRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION, STEERING AND VEHICLE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE SHIFTING PANEL NEEDED TO REPLACED. *JB
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 →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
270–25K
625–50K
1450–75K
1475–100K
15100–150K
7150K+
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
Steering complaints
3 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED ON FOUR TO FIVE OCCASIONS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO STATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN INVOICE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE DEALER STATED ON FOUR TO FIVE OCCASIONS, THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO STATE WHAT WAS REPAIRED AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN INVOICE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES TO WEAR AT 10,000 MILES. THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FIVE THIRTY SECONDS OF TREAD REMAINING ON THE TIRES. THE NORMAL MILEAGE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE BEFORE 40,000 MILES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE ROTATED AT 7,500 MILES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FUEL TYPE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,550.
ON MARCH 10, 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM, MY WIFE AND I WITNESSED A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON RED BLUFF BETWEEN KIRBY AND BAY AREA BLVD IN PASADENA TEXAS. THE VEHICLE WAS WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL AND EVENTUALLY LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH ON THE LEFT HAD SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER SAID THE CAR WENT "CRAZY." I EXAMINED THE CA…
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ON MARCH 10, 2007, AT APPROXIMATELY 4:45 PM, MY WIFE AND I WITNESSED A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT ON RED BLUFF BETWEEN KIRBY AND BAY AREA BLVD IN PASADENA TEXAS. THE VEHICLE WAS WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL AND EVENTUALLY LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN A DITCH ON THE LEFT HAD SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER SAID THE CAR WENT "CRAZY." I EXAMINED THE CAR AND NOTICED THE LEFT TIE ROD END WAS SHEARED OFF WHERE IT ENTERS THE TIE ROD ITSELF. THE LEFT STRUT WAS ALSO RIPPED OUT OF THE BODY OF THE CAR. IT IS MY OPINION, THE ROD WAS SHEARED WHEN THE CAR HIT A POT HOLE OR THE LEFT CURB. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND WAS VERY LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH BUMPS AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS A KIA. I DID NOT ASK THE YEAR OR MODEL, BUT I THINK IT WAS A SPECTRA. *JB
Official recalls
111V256000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.