KIA SPECTRA · model year

2000 KIA SPECTRA

30 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2000KIASPECTRA carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 SPECTRA is air bags with 4 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2000 SPECTRA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

30
Complaints
7
Crashes
0
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

30 filings

Crashes Reported

7 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK1

Recent Complaints

20051004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION HOUSING EXPLODED,COMPANY REFUSES TO BACK WARRANTY. *NM

Mileage: 52,670

20050701STEERING:COLUMN

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 KIA SPECTRA WHEN THE CLAM SHELL (STEERING COLUMN COVER) CAME APART WHILE SHE WAS MAKING A TURN. THE TOP PIECE PULL A WIRE LOOSE CAUSING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR TO COME ON, AND IT ALSO PREVENTED HER FROM COMPLETING THE TURN THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO MAKE. SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WE HAD JUST PICKED UP THE CAR THAT SAME DAY FROM HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT SERVICED AND THE RADIO REPLACED (2ND TIME FOR THE RADIO), AND THEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AND TECH CAME OUT TO OUR HOUSE AFTER MY WIFE FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER BUT IT WAS TOO LATE IN THE DAY SO THEY CAME OVER AND DROVE IT BACK THEMSELVES. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR EXTENDED WARRENTEE WHICH WAS STILL IN FORCE AT THE TIME. I ALSO RENTED A CAR FOR THE 3 DAYS THAT THEY HAD OUR CAR, AND THAT TOO WAS NOT T

20040823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. *AK

20040823AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AFTER STARTING THE CAR. FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT'S THE CLOCK SPRING,SECOND TIME IT WAS THE AIR BAG MODULE ,THIRD TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CLOCKY SPRING MODULE AGAIN.*AK

Mileage: 1,819

20040823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ENGINE OVERHEATS A LOT.WHEN I START THE CAR AT TIME SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER NEAT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AC LINE FROZEN . COOLING FAN NOT WORKING. FIRST TIME THEY REPLACED JUNCTION BLOCK, SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP,,,GASKET AND THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE RELAY....REPLACED COOLING FAN. *AK

Mileage: 29,284

20040823ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST AND MUFFLER. LOTS OF NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR.THEY REPLACED THE SILENCER THE FIRST TIME, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SILENNER,,GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, NUTS

Mileage: 12,126

20040823PARKING BRAKE

BRAKES MAKE NOISE AND FEEL LOW, CAR TOOK TIME TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE BRAKE AT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SWITCH .STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT NOISE AT THE MOMENT. ON AUGUST 2000 I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 55MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE WEATHERSTRIP JUST FEW INSIDE THE CAR AND IT LOOKS JUST LI A SNAKE AND I ALMOST CRASH. THE CAR HAD 1729 MILEAGE.FOLOWING WEEK THE REAR DOOR WINDSHIELD TRIM CAME OFF.THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WON'T WORK BECAUSE OF A CUT WIRE.EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR IS FALLING APART.I DIDN'T EXPECT A NEW CAR TO BE LIKE THAT.I FEEL SO UNSAFE IN THIS CAR SPECIALLY THE SMOKE THAT COMING FROM UNDER MY STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES.PLEAS HELP ME BEFOE I GET KILLED IN THIS UNSAFE CAR.*AK

Mileage: 1,729

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE OIL PAN PLUG FELL OFF OF THE OIL PAN AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL I HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AT LEAST 20 MILES. I HAD TO PAY FOR A TOW TO THE KIA DEALER, EVENTHOUGH, I WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.(5 YRS OR 50,000 MILES) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT STILL LEAKING OIL AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I DID BUY THE VEHICLE USED THREE WEEKS AGO AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS.

Mileage: 39,044

20040322ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILENCER PIPE HAD SPLIT DUE TO POOR PRODUCTION. THIS I BELIEVE IN TURN ALSO HAS AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE OF MY CAR AND CAUSED THE PURGE VALVE THAT I MUST ALSO REPLACE TO HAVE FAILED LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN REGISTERATION COMES DUE MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG. I HAVE HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES BUT I HAD TO BREAKDOWN AND GO TO PAY 82.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR AT LEAST 420.00 WORTH OF SERVICE THAT I MUST PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED 315.00 TO REPLACE SILENCER PIPE THAT WAS ALREADY DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER AND 90.00 FOR THE PURGE VALVE THESE

20040322AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

SILENCER PIPE SPLIT WHICH IS NO CAUSE OR DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER, THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, MY CAR HAS MADE AN EXCESSIVE EXHAUST NOISE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHICH AT FIRST WAS DIAGNOSISED AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, LATER TO DISCOVER FROM AN AUTHORIZED KIA DEALERSHIP THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THE SILENCER PIPE HAD SPLIT DUE TO POOR PRODUCTION. THIS I BELIEVE IN TURN ALSO HAS AFFECTED MY PERFORMANCE OF MY CAR AND CAUSED THE PURGE VALVE THAT I MUST ALSO REPLACE TO HAVE FAILED LEAVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND WHEN REGISTERATION COMES DUE MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG. I HAVE HAD EVERY SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE OUTSIDE THE DEALERSHIP NO ONE COULD DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM. EVERYONE CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THEIR OUTRAGEOUS CHARGES BUT I HAD TO BREAKDOWN AND GO TO PAY 82.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR AT LEAST 420.00 WORTH OF SERVICE THAT I MUST PAY TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED 315.00 TO REPLACE SILENCER PIPE THAT WAS ALREADY DEFECTIVE FROM MANUFACTURER AND 90.00 FOR THE PURGE VALVE THESE

20030807ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

20021101CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND I WAS INJURED AND WILL HAVE EFFECTS OF THIS FOR LIFE. KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS WERE CONTACTED AND RESPONDED TO THE COMPLAINT. THEY DID A INVESTIGATION ON WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY NOW THEY WILL NOT RETURN CALLS OR GIVE ANY INFORMATION ON FINDINGS. I'M A 23YR. OLD SINGLE MOTHER WHO IS DISABLED WITH KNEE AND BACK INJURIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME. DT

20021002SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES. BUT NOTHING HAS WORKED. NLM *JB

20021002POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WILL JUST STAY IN PLACE AND NOT MOVE FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

20021002LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HATCH BACK DOOR WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN, NOW THE HATCH DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. THER IS A RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. CONTACT DEALER. NLMCONSUMER STATES THAT THE SEAL WAS NOT SEALED TIGHTLY FROM THE FACTORY. *JG

20020809CrashAIR BAGS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020807CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

20020109SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL WAITING ON PARTS/APPOINTMENT FROM DEALER, STILL DRIVING THE CAR WITH THESE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ONE OF THEIR RENTAL CARS) ELECTRICAL SHORTS STARTING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE SPARK PLUGS(DUE TO FAULTY DEALER INSTALLATION OF AUTO START, I HAVE SEEN BLUE ARCS OF ELECTRICITY ACROSS THE FUSE BOX, I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE CAR ON NUMEROUS OCASIONS.) CLUNKING COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, REAR HATCH LOCK WOULD NOT RELASE. REAR HATCH WOULDNOT HOLD DOOR CLOSED AFTER DEALER REPAIR. *AK

20020109VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL WAITING ON PARTS/APPOINTMENT FROM DEALER, STILL DRIVING THE CAR WITH THESE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ONE OF THEIR RENTAL CARS) ELECTRICAL SHORTS STARTING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE SPARK PLUGS(DUE TO FAULTY DEALER INSTALLATION OF AUTO START, I HAVE SEEN BLUE ARCS OF ELECTRICITY ACROSS THE FUSE BOX, I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE CAR ON NUMEROUS OCASIONS.) CLUNKING COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, REAR HATCH LOCK WOULD NOT RELASE. REAR HATCH WOULDNOT HOLD DOOR CLOSED AFTER DEALER REPAIR. *AK

20020109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

BRAKES GRINDING/SQUEALING/REDUCED STOPPING POWER (18 MONTHS BEFORE REPLACED BY DEALER) VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHEN FOOT REMOVED FROM PEDAL AND I WAS FORCED TO RIDE AND COME CLOSE TO LOCKING THE BRAKES BEFORE I HIT A BASE SECURITY GUARD AFTER ARRIVING HOME VEHICLE CONTINUED SURGING WHILE AT IDLE(STILL WAITING ON PARTS/APPOINTMENT FROM DEALER, STILL DRIVING THE CAR WITH THESE BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD ONE OF THEIR RENTAL CARS) ELECTRICAL SHORTS STARTING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE SPARK PLUGS(DUE TO FAULTY DEALER INSTALLATION OF AUTO START, I HAVE SEEN BLUE ARCS OF ELECTRICITY ACROSS THE FUSE BOX, I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE CAR ON NUMEROUS OCASIONS.) CLUNKING COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, REAR HATCH LOCK WOULD NOT RELASE. REAR HATCH WOULDNOT HOLD DOOR CLOSED AFTER DEALER REPAIR. *AK

Compare 2000KIASPECTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2000 KIA SPECTRA have?
The 2000 KIA SPECTRA has 30 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 KIA SPECTRA?
The most-complained component for the 2000 KIA SPECTRA is AIR BAGS with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 2000 KIA SPECTRA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.