Total Complaints
24 filings
KIA SPECTRA5 · model year
24 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008KIASPECTRA5 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 5 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 2008 SPECTRA5 is air bags with 11 filings, followed by fuel/propulsion system (2) and electrical system (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 38 investigation files overlapping the 2008 SPECTRA5, and 1 remain open. 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.
Total Complaints
24 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 11 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ANTI SLIP RESISTANCE ON THE PEDALS AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OF TIMES, WHERE MY MOTHER OR MY FOOT WOULD SLIP OFF THE BRAKE ONTO THE GAS CAUSING US TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE OBJECT IN FRONT OF US. IT FINALLY GOT ME AND I HIT THE SIDE OF MY HIGHSCHOOL WHICH DAMAGED MY HOOD AND BUMPER. I WOULD REALLY HAVE HATED IF ONE OF MY FRIENDS OR ANYONE AT ALL WERE IN FRONT OF MY CAR OR IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I GOT LUCKY THIS TIME BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME?
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA): CRUISE CONTROL (CC) SET TO ~85 MPH, SUDDEN LURCHING RED-LINE ACCELERATION OCCURRED, CC WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAD TO FIGHT MY VEHICLE (PULL E-BRAKE) TO GET SAFELY TO FREEWAY SHOULDER THEN TURN IGNITION OFF. CAR CONTINUED TO TRY TO RED LINE AFTER IGNITION KILLED, SHIFTING THRU ALL GEARS, BATTERY TERMINALS DISCONNECTED OR CC MODULE DISCONNECTED. VERIFIED BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED FINE AFTER PULLING OVER. 1ST INCIDENT - BEHIND AN 18-WHEELER, ALMOST REAR ENDED SAID 18-WHEELER! AFTER ~2HRS THE CAR "RESOLVED" ITSELF & STOPPED TRYING TO ACCELERATE. 2ND INCIDENT - HAD TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE CARS AROUND & PULLED OVER IN A CURVE! DID NOT RESOLVE ITSELF THIS TIME - ROOT CAUSE PER PITRE KIA: CC CABLE "BROKEN" (WOULD NOT ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ACCELERATION COIL AS NEEDED). EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EVEN WITH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER!! 1. OUT-OF-CONTROL ACCELERATION RUN-AWAY MAN-SLAUGHTER DEATH-TRAP CAR = NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE INCL 16 Y.O. SON WHO I INTE
Mileage: 115,000
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA): CRUISE CONTROL (CC) SET TO ~85 MPH, SUDDEN LURCHING RED-LINE ACCELERATION OCCURRED, CC WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAD TO FIGHT MY VEHICLE (PULL E-BRAKE) TO GET SAFELY TO FREEWAY SHOULDER THEN TURN IGNITION OFF. CAR CONTINUED TO TRY TO RED LINE AFTER IGNITION KILLED, SHIFTING THRU ALL GEARS, BATTERY TERMINALS DISCONNECTED OR CC MODULE DISCONNECTED. VERIFIED BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED FINE AFTER PULLING OVER. 1ST INCIDENT - BEHIND AN 18-WHEELER, ALMOST REAR ENDED SAID 18-WHEELER! AFTER ~2HRS THE CAR "RESOLVED" ITSELF & STOPPED TRYING TO ACCELERATE. 2ND INCIDENT - HAD TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE CARS AROUND & PULLED OVER IN A CURVE! DID NOT RESOLVE ITSELF THIS TIME - ROOT CAUSE PER PITRE KIA: CC CABLE "BROKEN" (WOULD NOT ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ACCELERATION COIL AS NEEDED). EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EVEN WITH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER!! 1. OUT-OF-CONTROL ACCELERATION RUN-AWAY MAN-SLAUGHTER DEATH-TRAP CAR = NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE INCL 16 Y.O. SON WHO I INTE
Mileage: 115,000
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA): CRUISE CONTROL (CC) SET TO ~85 MPH, SUDDEN LURCHING RED-LINE ACCELERATION OCCURRED, CC WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAD TO FIGHT MY VEHICLE (PULL E-BRAKE) TO GET SAFELY TO FREEWAY SHOULDER THEN TURN IGNITION OFF. CAR CONTINUED TO TRY TO RED LINE AFTER IGNITION KILLED, SHIFTING THRU ALL GEARS, BATTERY TERMINALS DISCONNECTED OR CC MODULE DISCONNECTED. VERIFIED BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED FINE AFTER PULLING OVER. 1ST INCIDENT - BEHIND AN 18-WHEELER, ALMOST REAR ENDED SAID 18-WHEELER! AFTER ~2HRS THE CAR "RESOLVED" ITSELF & STOPPED TRYING TO ACCELERATE. 2ND INCIDENT - HAD TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE CARS AROUND & PULLED OVER IN A CURVE! DID NOT RESOLVE ITSELF THIS TIME - ROOT CAUSE PER PITRE KIA: CC CABLE "BROKEN" (WOULD NOT ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ACCELERATION COIL AS NEEDED). EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS EVEN WITH AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER!! 1. OUT-OF-CONTROL ACCELERATION RUN-AWAY MAN-SLAUGHTER DEATH-TRAP CAR = NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE TO DRIVE INCL 16 Y.O. SON WHO I INTE
Mileage: 115,000
PURCHASED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5 IN 2009. FOR 3 YEARS IT WAS A GOOD COMMUTER CAR. THEN WEIRD THINGS STARTED HAPPENING OUT OF THE BLUE. FIRST, THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW US ACCESS BY USE OF THE KEY FOB. IT WOULD UNLOCK THEN LOCK. THE VEHICLE FLIP THE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER BACK AND FORTH LIKE A GHOST WAS MOVING. SECOND, THE CAR WOULD BLOW A FRONT HEAD LAMP ALMOST EVERY 6 MONTHS LIKE CLOCK WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. THIRD, THE FRONT CONSOLE CONTROLLING THE FAN, HEAT ETC. WOULD JUST STOP WORKING ONLY TO START WORKING A FEW HOURS OR DAYS LATER. ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IN WINTER. FOURTH, THE OCS SENSOR MAT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. IN ADDITION THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS LAG IN GAINING SPEED WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEEDS ON INTERSTATES. I GUESS I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT GREMLIN TO APPEAR. WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN.
Mileage: 65,000
PURCHASED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5 IN 2009. FOR 3 YEARS IT WAS A GOOD COMMUTER CAR. THEN WEIRD THINGS STARTED HAPPENING OUT OF THE BLUE. FIRST, THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW US ACCESS BY USE OF THE KEY FOB. IT WOULD UNLOCK THEN LOCK. THE VEHICLE FLIP THE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER BACK AND FORTH LIKE A GHOST WAS MOVING. SECOND, THE CAR WOULD BLOW A FRONT HEAD LAMP ALMOST EVERY 6 MONTHS LIKE CLOCK WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. THIRD, THE FRONT CONSOLE CONTROLLING THE FAN, HEAT ETC. WOULD JUST STOP WORKING ONLY TO START WORKING A FEW HOURS OR DAYS LATER. ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IN WINTER. FOURTH, THE OCS SENSOR MAT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. IN ADDITION THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS LAG IN GAINING SPEED WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEEDS ON INTERSTATES. I GUESS I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT GREMLIN TO APPEAR. WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN.
Mileage: 65,000
PURCHASED A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5 IN 2009. FOR 3 YEARS IT WAS A GOOD COMMUTER CAR. THEN WEIRD THINGS STARTED HAPPENING OUT OF THE BLUE. FIRST, THE CAR WOULDN'T ALLOW US ACCESS BY USE OF THE KEY FOB. IT WOULD UNLOCK THEN LOCK. THE VEHICLE FLIP THE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER BACK AND FORTH LIKE A GHOST WAS MOVING. SECOND, THE CAR WOULD BLOW A FRONT HEAD LAMP ALMOST EVERY 6 MONTHS LIKE CLOCK WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE FROM PARK. THIRD, THE FRONT CONSOLE CONTROLLING THE FAN, HEAT ETC. WOULD JUST STOP WORKING ONLY TO START WORKING A FEW HOURS OR DAYS LATER. ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC IN WINTER. FOURTH, THE OCS SENSOR MAT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG HAS MALFUNCTIONED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING OR STATIONARY. IN ADDITION THE CAR HAS A DANGEROUS LAG IN GAINING SPEED WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEEDS ON INTERSTATES. I GUESS I'M JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT GREMLIN TO APPEAR. WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN.
Mileage: 65,000
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE SHARP EDGES. THE THIN METAL COATING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IS PEELING OFF. THE SHARP EDGES CAUSED A CUT ON MY HAND.
Mileage: 99,000
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JUNE 19, 2017. A VEHICLE HIT MY KIA AT A SPEED OF 30 - 40 MPH IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL BASE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER, MOVING LESS THAN 10 MPH.
Mileage: 175,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,989.
Mileage: 160,989
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ON MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5. CAR HAS 77,522 MILES. WAS TOLD BY KIA DEALER THAT SEAT BOTTOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1700. SAFETY IS THE CAR MANUFACTURE'S BIG SELLING FEATURE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY KIA IN MY OPINION.
Mileage: 77,430
PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR HAS GONE BAD ON MY 2008 KIA SPECTRA 5. CAR HAS 77,522 MILES. WAS TOLD BY KIA DEALER THAT SEAT BOTTOM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1700. SAFETY IS THE CAR MANUFACTURE'S BIG SELLING FEATURE. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY KIA IN MY OPINION.
Mileage: 77,430
LIGHT FOR PASSENGER AIRBAG GOES OFF WITHOUT AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT, THEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON..SUSPECT THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS BAD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE..BEFORE IT WAS AN OCCASIONAL THING. NOW ITS EVERYTIME I START THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE
Mileage: 80,000
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND FLICKERS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SOMEONE LIGHT SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAG IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND IM AFRAID MY LOVED ONES WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTIONING SAFETY FEATURE. KIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUNDING ME THE $2100 IN EXPENSES FOR THIS AIRBAG SENSOR AND LABOR TO REPLACE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA VEHICLE AGAIN. IT IS CORPORATE-SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT KIA LACKS. THEY CHOSE NOT TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CARE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' WELL-BEING. *TR
Mileage: 70,000
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND FLICKERS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SOMEONE LIGHT SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAG IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND IM AFRAID MY LOVED ONES WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTIONING SAFETY FEATURE. KIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUNDING ME THE $2100 IN EXPENSES FOR THIS AIRBAG SENSOR AND LABOR TO REPLACE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA VEHICLE AGAIN. IT IS CORPORATE-SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT KIA LACKS. THEY CHOSE NOT TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CARE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' WELL-BEING. *TR
Mileage: 70,000
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON AND FLICKERS BACK AND FORTH WHEN SOMEONE LIGHT SITS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE AIRBAG IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND IM AFRAID MY LOVED ONES WILL BE SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTIONING SAFETY FEATURE. KIA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REFUNDING ME THE $2100 IN EXPENSES FOR THIS AIRBAG SENSOR AND LABOR TO REPLACE IT. I WILL NEVER BUY A KIA VEHICLE AGAIN. IT IS CORPORATE-SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT KIA LACKS. THEY CHOSE NOT TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IN PROTECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO CARE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' WELL-BEING. *TR
Mileage: 70,000
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WHEN THERE WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE LIGHT BEGAN TURNING ON AND OFF EVEN IF THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS EMPTY. NOW THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND HAS BEEN FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. THIS IS A 1 OWNER VEHICLE AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION.
Mileage: 90,000
MY CAR HAS BEEN IN A FENDER BENDER OR TWO (ALWAYS BEING HIT FROM BEHIND) BUT NEVER ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE THE AIRBAGS TO GO OFF. MY LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR WELL OVER A YEAR AND WHEN I CONTACTED MY CAR DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT, THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO REPLACE MY AIRBAG SYSTEM COSTING SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF $2000 TO $3000. I HAVE PUT MY CAR IN THE SHOP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING TO BE MAKING THIS LIGHT STAY ON. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT KIA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALLS CONCERNING AIRBAGS BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN AND READ, THERE REALLY SHOULD BEFORE SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENS. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE FROM KIA AGAIN. THEY ARE VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH AND DO NOT KEEP THEIR PROMISES OR MAKE GOOD ON THEIR VEHICLES.
Mileage: 60,000
THIS HAD BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE ABOUT 24,000 MILES, BUT DEALER JUST SAID TO ADD POWER BOOSTER OR SOMETHING...BY THE TIME OF THIS FIRST DOCUMENTED DEALER CHECK OUT, IT HAD GOTTEN MUCH WORSE... IT HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL, AND OTHER THAN SPENDING MONEY ON VARIOUS SOLUTIONS (THAT DID NOT WORK) IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. FINALLY I WAS TOLD BY DEALER TO NOT OVERFILL OR TOP OFF THE TANK WHEN FILLING WITH FUEL. SOMETHING THAT I DO NOT DO!!! THE VEHICLE HAS NOW REACHED THE POINT AFTER FILLING WITH FUEL, I HAVE TO USE ABOUT 1/4 OF A TANK BEFORE IT WILL RUN SOMEWHAT NORMALLY (UP TO 100 MILES). IT DIES AT STOPS, WILL SUDDENLY CUT OUT GOING DOWN THE ROAD, AND WHEN GOING SLOWLY AROUND CURVES, WILL DIE. THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS, AS THE POWER STEERING QUITS AT THE SAME MOMENT, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN. I HAVE JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH KIA USA, AND THE YOUNG LADY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS A NEW ONE TO HER. THAT MAY BE, BUT THE INTERNET IS LOADED WITH INCIDEN
Mileage: 34,185
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO ON AND OFF WITH NOBODY IN IT. AFTER 3 MONTHS OF THAT THE LIGHT QUIT DOING THAT. THEN I NOTICED THAT THE RED WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I WENT TO SELL THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE NEW BUYER THAT IT IS THE OCS PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. CODE B1448. COULD YOU INFORM ME WHAT BAGS WILL NOT GO OFF WITH THIS LIGHT ON. I SEE THERE IS A BYPASS SWITCH YOU CAN BUY TO AVOID THIS SO THERE MUST BE A FEW OF THESE OUT THERE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 96,000
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.