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: 10 of 10 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 4 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 →
Engine. 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.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reports
117,000 miles · Jun 24, 2019
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A RUSTED METAL PIECE DRAGGING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A RUSTED METAL PIECE DRAGGING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000. *AS *TR
NHTSA ODI #11222198
117,000 miles · Nov 5, 2018
EngineSteeringFire
THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE TUBING THAT CARRIES THE FLUID BURST AND THE OIL SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND CAUSED A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN DOWN A MAJOR ROUTE ROAD LEADING TO THE HIGHWAY
NHTSA ODI #11149479
160,000 miles · Mar 19, 2018
Unknown Or Other
FUEL TANK STRAPS HAVE RUSTED AND ONE FELL OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 BUT I AM TOLD THAT MY 2007 MODEL BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT COVERED. KIA WILL NOT REPAIR.
NHTSA ODI #11080112
55,000 miles · Nov 12, 2017
Electrical System
THE DOORS KEEP LOCKING EVEN AFTER REPEATEDLY OPENING EITHER WITH REMOTE OR FROM INSIDE THE CAR. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE OCCUPANTS NEED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11045462
60,000 miles · Oct 1, 2017
Unknown Or Other
DOOR LOCKS GO HAYWIRE OPENING AND CLOSING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING OR WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. HAD TO BREAK THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN AND STICK MY ARM OUT OF IT, OPEN THE LATCH AND ROLL THE WINDOW BACK UP IN ORDER TO ORDER TO EXIT THE CAR. PASSENGER SIDE IS PERM…
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DOOR LOCKS GO HAYWIRE OPENING AND CLOSING WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING OR WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. HAD TO BREAK THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER SIDE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN AND STICK MY ARM OUT OF IT, OPEN THE LATCH AND ROLL THE WINDOW BACK UP IN ORDER TO ORDER TO EXIT THE CAR. PASSENGER SIDE IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED ALSO. YOU CAN'T EVEN USE A KEY TO OPEN IT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD!
NHTSA ODI #11030697
177,000 miles · Aug 29, 2017
Air Bags
PASSENGER AIR BAG COMMUNICATION ERROR. B1449 AIRBAG CODE. IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I AM UNABLE TO GET STATE INSPECTION. 8/29/17
NHTSA ODI #11020410
115,000 miles · May 21, 2015
Air BagsCrash
WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISON ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE WINDSSHIED RIPPED THE. WINDSHIELD FRAME ON PASSANER SIDE UP WHICH DAMAGED FRAME ON PASSANGER DOOR SIDE MIRROR ON OUTSIDE DESTROYED AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTANTMENT DAMAGED WHAT I AM REALLY UPSET ABOUT IS THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT TH…
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WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISON ON PASSENGER SIDE BROKE WINDSSHIED RIPPED THE. WINDSHIELD FRAME ON PASSANER SIDE UP WHICH DAMAGED FRAME ON PASSANGER DOOR SIDE MIRROR ON OUTSIDE DESTROYED AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE CONTANTMENT DAMAGED WHAT I AM REALLY UPSET ABOUT IS THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG CONDAINMENT JUST BROKE SLIGHTLY OPENED MY GRANDSON WAS IN THAT SEAT HE WAS LUCKY HIS HEAD DID NOT GO THROUGH WINDSHIELD WHAT SAVED HIM WAS SAFTEY BELT HOWEVER THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS 4000 AND THE BIGGEST EXPENSE IS HAVING TO REPLACE AIR BAGS WHICH ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT THIS IS TOTALLY A MAJOR PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10717696
17,372 miles · Apr 21, 2015
Unknown Or Other
ON 4/17/15 I WENT TO A KIA DEALER OFF OF BROWNDEER RD. IN MILWAUKEE TO COMPLAIN THAT MY FRONT WINDOW SHIELD'S PROTECTIVE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE ONLY 18732 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD HONOR MY PURCHASE THROUGH RUSS DARROW-WAUKESHA WISCONSIN MY SERVICING MY CAR. THIS C…
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ON 4/17/15 I WENT TO A KIA DEALER OFF OF BROWNDEER RD. IN MILWAUKEE TO COMPLAIN THAT MY FRONT WINDOW SHIELD'S PROTECTIVE GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE ONLY 18732 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD HONOR MY PURCHASE THROUGH RUSS DARROW-WAUKESHA WISCONSIN MY SERVICING MY CAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE UNTIL THIS LAST YEAR AND IN MY OPINION WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE AND PROPER SERVICE AND UPKEEP. I DEALER I WENT TO QUOTED ME THAT REPAIR WOULD COST ROUGHLY $250,00 WHICH I FEEL IS TOO EXPENSIVE. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONTACT THE DEALER WITH MY CONSENT. THE DEALER'S ADDRESS IS 2141 EAST MORELAND BLVD WAUKESHA WI. 53186. TELEPHONE NO. 1-262-547-1300. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10711879
53,288 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Air Bags
DEFECTIVE O.C.S. MAT IN PASSENGER SEAT. CAR PROS IS CHARGING $1500.00 TO REPAIR THEIR DEFECTIVE SENSOR. SAFETY CONCERN....THEY RECALLED RIO...WON'T RECALL SPECTRA5 BECAUSE IT IS "NOT AN ISSUE". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10654873
40,000 miles · Nov 4, 2014
Air Bags
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. WEIGHT SENSOR ON DASH WILL NOT WORK AND THE AIR BAG SYMBOL IS TURNED ON THE DASH. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE SEAT AT LEAST $1500. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10652472
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.
2007 Kia SPECTRA5 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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