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KIA · vehicle model

KIA SPECTRA

1,210 NHTSA complaints and 2 safety recalls across model years 2000–2009.

Complaints
1,210
Recalls
2
Model years
10

The KIASPECTRA appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 1,210 consumer safety complaints and 2 recall campaigns across 10 model years (2000–2009). That averages roughly 121 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 2 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
2009152
2008162
2007206
2006129
2005130
200492
2003132
2002121
200156
200030

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 110 in 2017-2021 to 15 in 2022-2026, a fall of 86.4%. That is the 7th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

11
’01
50
’02
70
’03
80
’04
65
’05
72
’06
47
’07
43
’08
60
’09
72
’10
59
’11
69
’12
71
’13
114
’14
124
’15
78
’16
28
’17
27
’18
31
’19
13
’20
11
’21
6
’22
6
’23
3
’24

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare KIASPECTRA to Similar Vehicles

KIASPECTRA vs SUBARUWRX → KIASPECTRA vs TOYOTAFJ CRUISER → KIASPECTRA vs HONDAPROLOGUE → KIASPECTRA vs OLDSMOBILE88 →

NHTSA Investigations

PE15031Preliminary EvaluationClosed2015-09-01

Occupant Classification System

PE04065Preliminary EvaluationClosed2004-09-21

REAR DRUM BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER LEAKAGE

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the KIA SPECTRA?▼
The KIA SPECTRA has received 1,210 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2000 to 2009, with 2 recalls. That averages about 121 complaints per model year.
What years of KIA SPECTRA are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the KIA SPECTRA from 2000 to 2009 (10 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the KIA SPECTRA have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many KIA SPECTRA model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common KIA SPECTRA complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the KIA SPECTRA are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my KIA SPECTRA has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. KIA SPECTRA totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.