Model year record

2005 Kia Spectra recalls & problems

The 2005 Kia Spectra has 2 safety recalls and 103 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (43 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints103filed by owners

Crashes · fires23 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths17 · 0reported in complaints

2005 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.

SteeringApr 28, 2005

Linkages › Tie rod assembly

Recall 05V183000368 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.
Risk: IF THE ROD CRACKS OR FAILS, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL MAY OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE TIE ROD COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON APRIL 8, 2005. AN ADDITIONAL LETTER WAS SENT TO OWNERS WHO HAD NOT TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR. THIS LETTER WAS MAILED MAY 20, 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.

Crash test ratings

2005 Kia Spectra 4-DR w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2005 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

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

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 30 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module; Frontal	43	16	15	26,732 mi
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	12	0	0	75,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	12	3	1	100,000 mi
SteeringHydraulic power assist system; Linkages	10	4	2	24,000 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission	7	0	0	43,000 mi
StructureBody; Body › Bumpers	6	1	1	76,000 mi
Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front	5	3	4	10,000 mi
SuspensionFront	4	1	0	29,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Wheel speed sensor/tone ring; Pedals and linkages	4	0	0	41,000 mi
Engine	4	1	1	93,367 mi
Seats	4	0	0	100,000 mi
Parking brake	3	1	0	85,000 mi

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

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ACTIVATED. CAR HAS NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE. SEAT OR SENSOR MALFUNCTION MAY CAUSE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN CRASH.
Nov 27, 2020 · 128,636 miles
Electrical system
VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER RANDOMLY QUITS. ALSO DASH LIGHTS ON BINACLE. THEN WILL COME BACK ON AFTER A DAY OR SO, HAVE REPLACE WITH GENUINE KIA OEM PARTS BUT STILL HAPPENS. ALSO LOOKED ON FORUMS ONLINE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE.
Mar 28, 2020 · 88,088 miles
SteeringCrash
BAD SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL AND SOUNDS COMING FROM FRONT END. ONLY WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
Oct 1, 2019 · 160,000 miles
Air bags
UPON PURCHASE, BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN 2005, THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD WAS ALWAYS COMING ON AND OFF WHEN DRIVING EVEN IF A PERSON WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHY OR HAD MONEY TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PROBLEM. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC, THEY WOULD ALWAYS SAY IT LOOKED NORMAL. WHEN I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ISSUE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH NEEDING A NEW SEAT. I HAVE HAD MY KIA SPECTRA EX FOR SOME TIME NOW, SO I HAD TO HAVE THEM SALVAGE THE SEAT FROM A SALVAGE YARD. LUCKILY, THEY WERE ABLE TO LOCATE AN OLD SEAT IN A WRECKED…
Jan 1, 2016 · 100 miles
Electrical system
SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER NOT WORKING WELL IT WORKS THE FIRST TIME IN THE MORNING WHEN I DRIVE AFTER I TURN CAR OFF AND GO TO DRIVE AGAIN IT WILL NOT WORK THE ENTIRE DAY. RECENTLY I HAVE MEET SOMEONE WITH EXACT MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE LITERALLY AS I DESCRIBED THE OTHER PERSON WHO I DID NOT TELL ABOUT THE PROBLEM WORD FOR WORD DESCRIBE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING THE CRUISE CONTROL ALSO WILL NITWORK. I HAVE REPLACED INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR , WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE SPEED SENSOR WHICH WIRES BACK UP TO INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND NOTHING HAS FIXED THE ISSUE.
Jul 20, 2018 · 127,089 miles
Air bags
MY PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS GONE BAD AND KIA IS REFUSING TO REPLACE THE SENSOR MAT FOR 2005 KIA SPECTRAS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE AGREED TO REPLACE THE MAT FOR THE SAME MODEL CAR FROM 2007 TO 2009 SEE THE NHTSA PDF ABOUT THE 2007 MODEL YEAR RECALL: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/INV/2015/INOT-PE15031-63613.PDF PLEASE SPEAK WITH KIA. THIS RECALL AGREEMENT SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO 2005 MODEL SPECTRAS. THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE THE SENSOR MAT.
Sep 26, 2018 · 105,000 miles
SteeringCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE BRAKES SEIZED. THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED ONE STEERING RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V183000…
Jul 31, 2018
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL CONTACTED LOCAL KIA AND REFERRED TO NATIONAL PHONE 1-800-333-4542 WHERE A REPRESENTATIVE (JESSICA) STATED THAT KIA DOES NOT USE TAKATA AIRBAGS ON ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES; THEREFORE, NO NEED TO REPLACE. END OF CONVERSATION.
Nov 27, 2017

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