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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

Structure complaints

9 reports
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110,000 miles · Mar 22, 2019
Structure

WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, BOTH (LEFT AND RIGHT) REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE UPON ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR USING NORMAL FORCE. THE DOOR HANDLES CAME OFF THE CAR AND THE REAR DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE

NHTSA ODI #11190932

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

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…

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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

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

93,400 miles · Oct 12, 2009
StructureCrashInjury

I GOT A NEW CAR LAST WEEK.. HAD ALL THE BRAKES AND FLUIDS, ETC. CHECKED AND FIXED. PICKED IT UP FRIDAY. DROVE TO WORK THEN WAS LEAVING WORK WHEN MY FOOT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE COULDN'T GET IT OUT WHEN I HIT A TRUCK IT CAME LOOSE. I VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE MARKS ON TOP AND THE SIDE OF MY FOOT. I REALLY THINK I…

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I GOT A NEW CAR LAST WEEK.. HAD ALL THE BRAKES AND FLUIDS, ETC. CHECKED AND FIXED. PICKED IT UP FRIDAY. DROVE TO WORK THEN WAS LEAVING WORK WHEN MY FOOT GOT STUCK BETWEEN THE GAS AND BRAKE COULDN'T GET IT OUT WHEN I HIT A TRUCK IT CAME LOOSE. I VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE MARKS ON TOP AND THE SIDE OF MY FOOT. I REALLY THINK IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE THE BRAKE AND GAS ARE WAY TO CLOSE TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10287065

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 2008
Structure

THEIR IS STANDING WATER INSIDE THE DASH I BELIEVE. YOU CAN SMELL STAGNATE WATER . ON WARM DAYS CAR WILL STEAM UP ON INSIDE OF WINDOWS. YOU CAN ALSO HEAR IT MOVING AROUND. SEEMS TO BE QUITE A BIT OF WATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10222131

13,000 miles · Sep 7, 2007
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE CURB WAS HIGHER THAN THE FRONT BUMPER, THE FRONT BUMPER COULD POSSIBLY FALL OFF IF IT HIT THE CURB. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

NHTSA ODI #10202180

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2007
StructureUnknown Or Other

ON MARCH 2, 2007, WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA-5 AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOLDING BLEW OUT OF THE TRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT SCARED ME BEYOND WORDS. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED THE MOLDING WITH NEW PARTS. THE DEALERSH…

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ON MARCH 2, 2007, WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 KIA SPECTRA-5 AT HIGH SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOLDING BLEW OUT OF THE TRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT SCARED ME BEYOND WORDS. I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED THE MOLDING WITH NEW PARTS. THE DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CAR THEY HAD REPLACED THIS MOLDING ON. LAST WEEK, APRIL 8, 2007 THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING POPPED OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME ON BOTH SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE MOLDING IS STILL IN PLACE ALONG THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE DEALER HAS ORDERED A NEW PART. I EXPECT TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED AGAIN NEXT WEEK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10188442

20,000 miles · Apr 6, 2007
Structure

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALER IN 2/06, BROUGHT REGULARLY TO DEALER FOR ANY AND ALL WARRANTY/MAINTENANCE WORK. THIS YEAR VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER BECAUSE AT TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND SOUNDED AS IF THE GAS WAS BEING APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER ASSURED THIS WAS T…

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VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM DEALER IN 2/06, BROUGHT REGULARLY TO DEALER FOR ANY AND ALL WARRANTY/MAINTENANCE WORK. THIS YEAR VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER BECAUSE AT TIMES WHEN THE BRAKE WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND SOUNDED AS IF THE GAS WAS BEING APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. DEALER ASSURED THIS WAS THE ABS KICKING IN , AND ALL WAS WELL. THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF OURS WAS HIT, AND ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PAINT WAS COMING OFF THE CAR BELOW BOTH REAR DOORS ON BOTH SIDES, WE WERE TOLD THIS WAS DUE TO SALT AND SAND. HOWEVER THERE WAS NO OTHER PART OF THE VEHICLE EFFECTED, AND WE SAW THAT ON THE 2007 SPECTRA THERE HAS BEEN A GUARD ADDED TO ENSURE THAT THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON THE 2007 SPECTRA. HOWEVER WE WERE TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT APPLY BECAUSE WE LIVED IN A SALT AND SAND STATE. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS WASHED WEEKLY, IN LESS THAN A YEAR ,IT WILL SIMPLY CONTINUE TO RUST AND WE HAVE NO RECOURSE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187232

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.