2009 Kia Spectra recalls & problems
The 2009 Kia Spectra has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 114 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (78 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints114filed by owners
Crashes · fires16 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths10 · 2reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2009 Kia Spectra.
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
2009 Kia Spectra 5-DR w/SAB
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
2009 Kia Spectra 4-DR w/SAB
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
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
27mpg combined
| City / highway | 24 / 32 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Spectra
26mpg combined
| City / highway | 23 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags Frontal; Side/window | 78 | 71,000 mi |
| Seats | 11 | 74,000 mi |
| Electrical system | 10 | 56,500 mi |
| Seat belts | 9 | 62,500 mi |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 85,500 mi |
| Engine | 5 | 83,500 mi |
| Structure Body; Body › Door | 5 | 68,000 mi |
| Service brakes | 4 | 95,000 mi |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 86,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 67,380 mi |
| Wheels Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 3 | — |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 47,000 mi |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Nov 10, 2023Electrical system
I am having a problem with my hazard turning signal lights it won't turn on. - Dec 31, 2021Service brakes
My car seems like someone entered something in my gas tank while i may been in the store - Feb 18, 2020Air bags
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WE THINK THE OCS SENSOR MAT IS BAD. KIA HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR VEHICLES BETWEEN THE YEARS OF 2006-2009 TO HAVE A OCS SENSOR MAT REPLACED FOR FREE FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. - Aug 8, 2019 · 120,000 milesAir bags
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON EVEN IF SEAT IS OCCUPIED. IN ADDITION THE AIRBAG "OFF" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED NEXT TO THE CLOCK AND IS ALWAYS IN THE 'OFF', POSITION. BOTH LIGHTS REMAIN IN THAT CONDITION WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY MODE (IN PARK) OR DRIVING IN MOTION. A SAFETY INSPECTION SHOWED A B1448 CODE. - Aug 15, 2019 · 139,000 milesWheels
ON DECEMBER 18, 2018, I HAD A TIRE SEPARATE. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED FROM LONG TIRE COMPANY IN TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA ON JUNE 15, 1916 (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION OF THE PURCHASE). THE TIRE WAS FULLY COVERED BY WARRANTY AT THAT TIME, AND I ONLY PAID TO HAVE A NEW ONE INSTALLED (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION OF MY PAYING LONG TIRE COMPANY FOR THE THE INSTALLATION ON DECEMBER 12, 2018). THIS PAST WEEK, AUGUST 15-22, 2019, TWO MORE TIRES SEPARATED (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTATION). THIS WAS OBSERVED BY SCHLENKER AUTO (SEE ATTACHED). THE TIRES ARE HERCULES TOUR 4.0 PLUS 195/60 R15 (ALSO CONTAINS NUMBERS 88H MTS) AND THE BATCH NUMBER ON THE TIRES (BOTH ARE THE SAME) IS DOT KAAD B20H 2815. THE BATCH… - May 31, 2019Seat belts
DRIVER'S SEATBELT OFTEN FAILS TO LOCK IN AND POPS OPEN MID-DRIVE. IT IS OFTEN NOT APPARENT THAT THE BELT HASN'T LOCKED UNTIL IT POPS OPEN. THIS WOULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN AN ACCIDENT. - Feb 1, 2019 · 88,000 milesService brakes
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2011. SINCE THEN ONCE IN AWHILE WHEN I STOP MY CAR AT A LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, THE CAR MOVES FORWARD EVEN AFTER I STEP ON THE BRAKE. I THEN HAVE TO QUICKLY PUT THE BRAKE ON AND TURN THE CAR OFF OR ELSE I'M A HIT SOMEONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND I'M TOLD THAT I HAVE TO BRING IT THERE WHEN IT'S HAPPENING. THIS IS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE 2011. IT ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I WOULD STEP ON THE BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN WHEN MY CAR SHOULD BE MOTIONLESS HOWEVER IT WOULD KEEP GOING EVEN THOUGH I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. I HAVE NOT KEPT TRACK OF WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. BELOW I HAD TO PUT A DATE THAT IT HAPPENED. I DO NOT KNOW THE DATES… - Jan 14, 2019 · 95,000 miles · crashService brakes
WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR SPED UP AND LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME WHICH WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT; I HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT IT, HE SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE CALIPERS AND REPLACED THE CALIPERS, AND ROTORS, AND THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO OCCUR..HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC 3 TIMES AND HE SAYS HE CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PE15031 · opened Sep 1, 2015 · closed Feb 11, 2016Occupant Classification System
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the passenger frontal air bag.The OCS may develop a failure due to an open circuit in the sensor mat caused by the mat cracking during use.An open circuit in the OCS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the system by the air bag diagnostic. A trouble code will then be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag warning light will be illuminated.If this fault is detected, the OCS will not suppress the front passenger air bag and in a crash of…