Model year record

2004 Kia Spectra recalls & problems

The 2004 Kia Spectra has 1 safety recall and 71 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (26 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints71filed by owners

Crashes · fires16 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths9 · 1reported in complaints

2004 Kia Spectra in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Fuel system, otherApr 25, 2011

Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting

Recall 11V25600058,322 vehicles

Problem: 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 JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH HOLD THE TANK MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY SEPARATE ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TANK.
Risk: THE FUEL TANK CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE THE GROUND WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. LEAKING FUEL CAN CREATE A FIRE HAZARD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE WITH NEW ZINC COATED PARTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2011. 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.

Crash test ratings

2004 Kia Spectra 4-DR w/SAB (2004.5)

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2004 Kia Spectra NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Spectra 2.0L

25mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 31 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Spectra 2.0L

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Spectra 1.8L

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

Spectra 1.8L

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module; Frontal	26	12	0	8	33,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift	17	2	0	0	8,250 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control	9	1	1	0	30,800 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine	7	0	0	0	18,325 mi
Electrical systemSoftware	7	0	0	0	14,700 mi
Seat beltsFront › Retractor; Front	5	2	0	2	46,051 mi
SuspensionRear	4	0	0	0	1,651 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm	3	1	0	0	4,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	3	0	0	0	55,600 mi
Seats	2	0	0	0	—
StructureBody	2	0	0	0	—
Equipment	1	1	0	2	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Vehicle speed controlFire
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…
Mar 24, 2022 · 121,000 miles
Electrical system
ELECTRICAL - SPEEDOMETER / ODOMETER - FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY DUE TO POSSIBLE SHORT IN WIRING
Jun 7, 2016 · 193,946 miles
Air bagsCrash
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.
Aug 5, 2017
Structure › Body
METAL AROUND WHEEL WELLS ROTTING OUT.
Sep 25, 2014 · 70,000 miles
Air bagsCrash
FRONT END COLLISION GOING AROUND 30MPH AND NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. CAR IS TOTALED. *TR
Mar 19, 2015 · 130,000 miles
Structure › 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
Dec 3, 2014 · 56,150 miles
Seat 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.
Nov 7, 2012 · 140,000 miles
Power 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…
May 10, 2012 · 100,932 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.