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2006 Kia SPECTRA5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 16 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

13 reports
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72,000 miles · Sep 26, 2011
Air Bags

WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE) WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A …

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WITHOUT ANY REAL REASON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED WITH A PASSENGER OR DRIVER, EITHER ONE MAY DISPLAY THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ENGAGED (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE) WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. THIS MEANS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS STARTED SHORTLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A DEALER. THE DEALERS CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT RELATED BUT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE IS. THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY CAN FIX IT. THEY WILL CHARGE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO FIX IT BUT WILL NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED. WE ASSUME IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE... POSSIBLY THAT CONTACTS ARE WORN OUT. IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT SHOULD BE HAPPENING TO OTHER SPECTRA OWNERS AND IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THESE OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10427189

25,000 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. SINCE IT STARTED WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAN THE FUSE BOX WAS CHANGED. EACH TIME SO FAR THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THIS LAST TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IS THE BAG OPERATIO…

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THE AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON WITHOUT INCIDENT. SINCE IT STARTED WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES, THAN THE FUSE BOX WAS CHANGED. EACH TIME SO FAR THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. THIS LAST TIME I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON IS THE BAG OPERATIONAL? HE SAID NO AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT A REAL CONCERN FOR THE SITUATION. THAT SERVICE DEPT. HAS BEEN ATTENTIVE TO MY SITUATION BUT TO NO AVAIL ITS STILL A PROBLEM. THE ONE CONSEQUENCE AT THIS TIME IS OUR TRUST IN THIS VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. KIA WAS CONTACTED MONDAY 2/22/10 AND TODAY IS WED 2/24/10. I MENTIONED TO MANAGER ABOUT MY CONCERN FOR MY WIFE'S SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE AND SAID HE MENTIONED IT IN HIS REPORT TO KIA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313621

46,000 miles · Sep 8, 2009
Air BagsCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER FAILED TO COME TO A STOP WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS NT BEEN NOTIFIED SINCE THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE VI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPECTRA 5. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER FAILED TO COME TO A STOP WHICH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS NT BEEN NOTIFIED SINCE THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ODI #10283133

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.