The 2004 Kia Ld Spectra has 1 safety recall and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is exterior lighting (3 complaints).
Problem: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG FEATURE, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT. THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.
Risk: THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Exterior lighting Headlights; Brake lights
3
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal › Sensor/control module
2
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Instrument cluster/panel
2
0
0
0
—
Power train
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 4, 2013 · 170,000 milesPower train I NOTICED THAT AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO DRIVE FROM PARK THE ENGINE WOULD "REV" BUT NO MOVEMENT UNTIL 3-5 SECONDS LATER THEN THE CAR WOULD "LUNGE" INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATE. I WOULD NOTICE THAT I WOULD BE DRIVING IN 2ND-3RD GEAR AND THERE WOULD BE NO ACCELERATION JUST "REVS" FROM THE ENGINE THEN IT WOULD JUMP BACK INTO GEAR AND GO. THIS INTERMITTENTLY STARTED HAPPENING AFTER I CHANGED THE RADIATOR THAT HAD A FAULTY TRANS-AXLE COUPLER ON IT, NOT SURE IF THAT COULD OF BEEN AN ISSUE WITH WHY THE AT IS ACTING LIKE IT IS. *TR
Jun 15, 2006Exterior lighting › Headlights IN THE PAST 16 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED BOTH HEAD LIGHTS AND BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS A TOTAL OF 22 TIMES - I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE THIS YEAR AND BOTH TIMES HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM - THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH ONLY MY BRIGHT LIGHTS FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF AS I REFUSE TO REPLACE ANY MORE HEADLIGHTS - THEY CEASE WORKING IN 1 TO 12 DAYS. *JB
May 15, 2006 · 11,757 milesElectrical system DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASH BOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT AND TURNED OFF. WHEN RESTARTED BOTH EXTERIOR AND DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Oct 21, 2004Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT IN THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY FLASHED. THE DEALER COMPLETED RECALL 05V431000 REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED EVEN AFTER RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED. SHE MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SUGGESTED SHE RETURN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. *AK
Oct 30, 2005Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS RECALL O5V431000, IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. SINCE THE REPAIRS THE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON IT ALERTED THE PASSENGER THAT THE AIRBAG WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT SITTING IN THE SEATS PROPERLY. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.