KIA SPECTRA · model year

2004 KIA SPECTRA

92 NHTSA complaints, 20 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004KIASPECTRA carries 92 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 20 crashes, 1 fire, 12 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 2004 SPECTRA is power train:automatic transmission with 13 filings, followed by air bags (13) and vehicle speed control (7). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2004 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.

92
Complaints
20
Crashes
1
Fires
12
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

92 filings

Crashes Reported

20 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
AIR BAGS13
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SUSPENSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
SEATS2
POWER TRAIN2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
EQUIPMENT1
STEERING1

Recalls (1)

11V25600025/04/2011

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

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 J

Recent Complaints

20220328FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

The contact owns a 2004 Kia Spectra. The contact stated the cruise control feature was not operating properly. The contact stated while her boyfriend was driving and approaching a traffic light, when depressing on the brake pedal the vehicle failed to stop and accelerated independently to 80 mph. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to stop the vehicle by using the emergency brakes and parked on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, they noticed the cruise cable was not in place was separate from the box. The contact also stated she saw the area was black/burned. The contact called local dealer and them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

20170818ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL - SPEEDOMETER / ODOMETER - FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO POSSIBLE SHORT IN WIRING

Mileage: 193,946

20170806CrashAIR BAGS

TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 1,983,297

20170806CrashSERVICE BRAKES

TAMARA RECALL; THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ABOUT TEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME. I SEEN EVERYONE START HITTING THERE BRAKES SO I STARTED APPLYING MINE. THEN I REALIZED EVERYONE HAD COME TO A STOP SO I APPLIED ON MY BRAKES EVEN HARDER AND THEY LOCKED UP AND I SLID ABOUT 15 FT. AND HIT A TRUCK IN THE REAR END STILL GOING ABOUT 35 MPH. IT SHOVED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BACK QUITE A BIT BUT YET MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

Mileage: 1,983,297

20160129STRUCTURE:BODY

METAL AROUND WHEEL WELLS ROTTING OUT.

Mileage: 70,000

20150320CrashAIR BAGS

FRONT END COLLISION GOING AROUND 30MPH AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR IS TOTALED. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20141217STRUCTURE:BODY

AFTER PARKING MY CAR I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE (LEFT FRONT) DOOR. THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE NO LONGER OPENS THE DOOR. I NOW HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR USING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IN AN EMERGENCY I COULD BECOME TRAPPED INSIDE. THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS WON'T WORK UNLESS THE CAR IS RUNNING OR THE KEY IS IN THE "ON" POSITION. ALSO IT HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH A STICK SHIFT SO TRYING TO EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE REALLY IS NOT AN OPTION. *TR

Mileage: 56,150

20121221SEAT BELTS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE 143,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20121221AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED MONTHS LATER THE SEAT BELT SPRINGS FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT FAILURE MILEAGE 143,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20120720POWER TRAIN

I WENT INTO KROGER'S AND PICKED UP A FEW ITEMS. WHEN I WAS DONE, I LEFT THE STORE AND GOT BACK INTO MY CAR TO FINISH RUNNING SOME ERRANDS. I STARTED MY KIA- SPECTRA AND SHE PURRED LIKE A KITTEN- AS USUAL. I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE BUT MY KIA WOULD MOVE. I WAS PRESSING THE PEDDLE AND MY CAR DID NOT MOVE. I COULD HEAR THE CAR REVVING UP BUT I WASN'T MOVING. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT- I HAD MY KIA TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD COST ME BETWEEN $2200-3600. I WAS DEVASTATED AND SHOCKED. MY KIA WAS WORKING JUST FINE. I NEVER HAD ANY INDICATORS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. NONE OF MY DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASH OR LIGHT UP. MY CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO COVER THE REPAIRS. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 4 YEARS AGO AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR ALL THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TO MAINTAIN A WELL-FUNCTIONING VEHICLE.

Mileage: 100,932

20120123ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN AND IT IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING BELT KEEPS LOOSENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BOUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT TIGHTENED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE TIMING BELT, ONCE FIXED, SHOULD REMAIN IN TACT AT LEAST FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (NOT A MONTH!). THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHATEVER, I HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR. AM DISAPPOINTED. I REALIZE THE COST WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR UPON PURCHASE, BUT MY HYUNDAI AT THE SAME COST BREAK (ACTUALLY LOWER) PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CAR. I GAVE THE HYUNDAI TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND IT IS KEEPS ON TICKING. IT IS STIL

Mileage: 60

20120123AIR BAGS

THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN AND IT IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING BELT KEEPS LOOSENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BOUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT TIGHTENED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE TIMING BELT, ONCE FIXED, SHOULD REMAIN IN TACT AT LEAST FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (NOT A MONTH!). THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHATEVER, I HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR. AM DISAPPOINTED. I REALIZE THE COST WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR UPON PURCHASE, BUT MY HYUNDAI AT THE SAME COST BREAK (ACTUALLY LOWER) PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CAR. I GAVE THE HYUNDAI TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND IT IS KEEPS ON TICKING. IT IS STIL

Mileage: 60

20120123SUSPENSION

THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE SPECTRA 2005 4-DOOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM DAY 1. THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO THEY WERE NEVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENTLY 'ON' AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING OR NOT. IT IS DEFINITELY A CONCERN AND IT IS A DEFINITELY A PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING BELT KEEPS LOOSENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BOUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO GET IT TIGHTENED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THE TIMING BELT, ONCE FIXED, SHOULD REMAIN IN TACT AT LEAST FOR A LENGTH OF TIME (NOT A MONTH!). THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, THE LIGHT REMAINS ON. WHATEVER, I HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR. AM DISAPPOINTED. I REALIZE THE COST WAS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR UPON PURCHASE, BUT MY HYUNDAI AT THE SAME COST BREAK (ACTUALLY LOWER) PROVED TO BE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER CAR. I GAVE THE HYUNDAI TO A FRIEND OF MINE AND IT IS KEEPS ON TICKING. IT IS STIL

Mileage: 60

20111227ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THAT A SIZZLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

Mileage: 11,000

20110826FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

KIA SPECTRA EX 2004.5. CONSTANTLY STALLS AND ENGINE RACES AT ANY TIME AND ANY SPEED. I AM FORCED TO PLACE TRANSMISSION IN "N" WHEN I APROACH A STOP SIGN. I AVOID HIGHWAYS BEING AFRAID TO STALL AT A HIGH SPEED AND CAUSE A FATALITY TO MYSELF OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROBLEMS STARTED WHEN VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IN A TYPICAL KIA FASHION I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG.NOW OUT OF WARRANTY SITUATION HAS GOT WORSE.MY MECHANIC SAYS IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE INTERNET IS FULL WITH THIS SAME COMPLAINT FROM MANY SPECTRA AND ANOTHER KIA MODELS OWNERS. THIS DESERVE AN INVESTIGATION. A FATALITY MAY HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. PLEASE, FORCE KIA TO COME FORWARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE. CERTAINLY THEY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, BUT THEY ALWAYS SAY "NOTHING IS WRONG". *TT

Mileage: 55,600

20110812CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONTAL IMPACT AT ABOUT 40 MPH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SUFFERED STRAINED NECK. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20110414SEATS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOCATED WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE. SHE ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE THE WIRES FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE RUN CLOSE TO THE SEAT TRACK, THE AIR BAGS WERE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20110414AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS LOCATED WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE. SHE ASSUMED THAT BECAUSE THE WIRES FOR THE AIR BAGS WERE RUN CLOSE TO THE SEAT TRACK, THE AIR BAGS WERE DISCONNECTED WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED BACK AND FORTH BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT MECHANISM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20100829POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2004 KIA SPECTRA THAT HAS AN ISSUE STICKING IN THIRD GEAR. IT STARTED A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. I NOTICED IT WHEN I FIRST PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET ON TO A MAIN ROAD AND WHEN I PUSHED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR WAS BARELY MOVING. THANK GOD NO ON COMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING, CAUSE YES I WOULD OF CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO KIA THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUES. THEN A MONTH OR SO LATER I WAS ACCELERATING OFF AN EXIT RAMP AND THE TRANSMISSION STUCK IN THIRD GEAR. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT RESET AND I WAS OFF AGAIN. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY KEPT IT ALL DAY, BUT STILL SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPEN 6 MORE TIMES, BUT KIA SAYS THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY ISSUES ON THEIR COMPUTER. NOW THE CAR HAS NO WARRANTY SO I JUST LIVE WITH IT. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

20100609AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 05V431000 (AIR BAGS) AND THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. HOWEVER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND STAYED ON. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS ACTIVATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING IN AN ACCIDENT OR IT DEPLOYING AT ANY TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000.

Mileage: 57,800

Compare 2004KIASPECTRA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 KIA SPECTRA have?
The 2004 KIA SPECTRA has 92 NHTSA complaints, 20 crashes, 1 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA?
Yes, the 2004 KIA SPECTRA has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 KIA SPECTRA?
The most-complained component for the 2004 KIA SPECTRA is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2004 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.