Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2007.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Spectra | 114 | 0 |
| 2008 Spectra | 121 | 0 |
| 2007 Spectra | 152 | 1 |
| 2006 Spectra | 100 | 1 |
| 2005 Spectra | 103 | 2 |
| 2004 Spectra | 71 | 1 |
| 2003 Spectra | 90 | 0 |
| 2002 Spectra | 92 | 0 |
| 2001 Spectra | 40 | 0 |
| 2000 Spectra | 23 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Air bags359
- Electrical system86
- Power train82
- Vehicle speed control72
- Engine and engine cooling55
- Seat belts54
- Service brakes, hydraulic50
- Structure49
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 166 Spectra vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 122 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 41 | 25 |
| 2008 | 25 | 18 |
| 2007 | 37 | 26 |
| 2006 | 32 | 30 |
| 2005 | 8 | 7 |
| 2004 | 8 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 | 2 |
| 2001 | 6 | 6 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 8 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 8.8–9.9 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Spectra · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 7.4 | 8.8 |
| 2008 | Spectra · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 7.4 | 8.8 |
| 2007 | Spectra · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.0 | 7.4 | 8.8 |
| 2006 | Spectra · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.6 | 7.4 | 9.2 |
| 2005 | Spectra · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.9 | 7.4 | 9.3 |
| 2004 | Spectra · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.4 | 8.1 | 9.9 |
| 2003 | Spectra · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.4 | 8.1 | 9.9 |
| 2002 | Spectra · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.4 | 8.1 | 9.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
9 Spectra cars are on the New Zealand register; 22% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
2 campaigns cover the Spectra.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE RODS MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING FLAW THAT AFFECTS THE METALLURGY.
NHTSA recalls