Model year record
2006 Kia SPECTRA5 recalls & problems
The 2006 Kia SPECTRA5 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 18 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (13 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2006 Kia SPECTRA5.
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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 13 | 93,000 mi |
| Seats | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| Visibility | 1 | — |
| Structure | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Seat belts | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Air bags
LIGHT STAYS ON IN THE KIA SPECTRA AIRBAG SYSTEM PASSENGER SEAT MAT IS BAD
- Air bags
WE HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, BUT THE MAT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SENSOR HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH TO STAY ON. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THIS BY GETTING A B1448 CODE WHEN DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS AND OTHER KIA VEHICLES. THE PART IS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE AT APPROXIMATELY $1600 FOR PARTS AND LABOR.
- Air bags
AIRBAG LIGHT ON DUE TO FAULTY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR. EXORBITANT COST TO REPLACE. CAN'T AFFORD.
- Air bags
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND IT'S AROUND 2000$ TO FIX. WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIR. STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, OTHER KIA MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHAT CAN ANYONE DO?
- Steering
STEERING CONTINUALLY KNOCKED AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS I STILL HAD A KNOCK IN MY STEERING WHEEL DURING TURNS AND GOING AND AN AUDIBLE ONE OUTSIDE ALL AXLES AND SUSPENSION WAS DEEMED FINE. I ENDED UP SELLING THE CAR SINCE IT WAS AN ANNOYANCE. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR DID NOT WORK PROPERLY IT WOULD FLASH A LIGHT ON THE HUD FOR HOURS ONLY WHEN SOMEONE SAT IN IT. THE CAR ALSO HAD VERY LOOSE STEERING AND WAS VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY
- Air bags
JUST AS OTHERS WITH MY SAME VEHICLE HAVE STATED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD COMES ON AND OFF AND IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
- Air bags
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON DASH BOARD WILL NOT GO OFF MOST TIMES, EVEN WHEN A 125 POUND PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. OCCASIONALLY DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALARM WILL NOT CHIME. HAD MECHANIC CHECK WIRING, HE REPLACED ALTERNATOR,BATTERY STILL THE SAME. KENWOOD STEREO WILL NOT TUNE IN FROM TIME TO TIME, EVEN WHEN IN MY SAME PARKING SPACE ALSO AS WE ARE DRIVING WITH SHIFTER LOCKED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO CHANGE GEARS ON FLAT ROAD SURFACE AS IF IT IS IN 3RD GEAR THEN GOES INTO DRIVE. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO. ALREADY HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT THESE PROBLEMS. NO CODES ARE SHOWING UP, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT MAY NOT ALLOW PASSENGER AIR BAG TO DEPLOY OR DRIVER SEAT BELT TO…
- Air bags
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN ON IT CAME UP AS CODE B1448 OC PASSENGER SENSOR MAT DEFECT, LOOKS LIKE ITS SRSCM 70. WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A TSB RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I CALLED KIA, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT FOR THIS MODEL. HOWEVER AFTER LOOKING UP THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS IT BAD ENOUGH THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, BUT KIA SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T REPLACE THE SENSOR BY ITSELF, I WOULD NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT WHICH WOULD BE $1600 DOLLARS!!!! THAT'S RIDICULOUS. A PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS ONE SHOULD NOT BE SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. DID KIA PUT THIS SENSOR THERE SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 2…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.