What breaks most · 2000 to 2009 model years
Kia Spectra problems by year
Owners have filed 906 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Spectra across model years 2000 to 2009. Three years stand out: 2007 for air bags complaints, 2008 for air bags complaints and 2009 for air bags complaints. The quietest years are 2000, 2001 and 2004.
- Years to check closely: 2007, 2008, 2009
- Fewest complaints: 2000, 2001, 2004
- Complaints on file
- 9062000 to 2009, all trims
- Worst year
- 2007152 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 18419 fires · 157 injuries · 6 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 62kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 5Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 6 | 0 | Air bags (9) | |
| 40 | 13 | 0 | Air bags (9) | |
| 92 | 25 | 0 | Air bags (22) | |
| 90 | 15 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (16) | |
| 71 | 16 | 1 | Air bags (26) | |
| 103 | 23 | 2 | Air bags (43) | |
| 100 | 28 | 1 | Air bags (46) | |
| 152 | 22 | 1 | Air bags (56) | |
| 121 | 20 | 0 | Air bags (61) | |
| 114 | 16 | 0 | Air bags (76) |
What fails on the 2007 Kia Spectra
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 37% |
56 | 15 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 11% |
17 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2007 Kia Spectra |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 11% |
16 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2007 Kia Spectra |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 10% |
15 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2007 Kia Spectra |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 8% |
12 | 3 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2007 Kia Spectra |
| Latches and locksDoor latches and actuators | 8% |
12 | 0 | Shop latches and locks parts for the 2007 Kia Spectra |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 5% |
8 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 5% |
7 | 2 | Shop engine parts for the 2007 Kia Spectra |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
I reported multiple complaints on fuel tank over filling, tank was replaced but problem still exists. Lost of power when driving and exhilaration when trying to stop. Also have problems with engine,engine was replaced but problem still exists.
-
Will randomly stall. Been to the mechanic several times and we can't find the problem. Doesn't matter if your going down the road or just idling in the yard stalls out.
-
The back seal belts stop working. They will not come out no matter what i try. They have been doing this since i got the cat in 2012. But now they won't come out at all. Also the blower for the a/c or heat stopped working. I had to slam my hood for it to come on but now it completely stopped coming on.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Kia Spectra years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2007, 2008, 2009 carry the most filings on the Kia Spectra. The 2007 alone has 152 complaints, led by air bags.
What is the most common Kia Spectra problem?
On the 2007 model year, the most-reported component is air bags with 56 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Kia Spectra problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Kia Spectra complaints that include mileage is about 62,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.