10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Kia Spectra electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Kia Spectra Owner Comments

problem #4

Mar 232012

Spectra 4-cyl

  • 76,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car just caught on fire while driving. No caution lights came on. Fire started around the back tire of car, passenger rear. Possibly trunk. Have photos. Smoke quickly entered back seat area with only moments to stop and jump out before it went up in smoke.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #3

Nov 102002

Spectra

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Had Kia since 11-2002, had to take back to the dealer over 10 times within the first month. Had brake problems, engine light would come on and stick shift would not go into gear easily. Dash board has started warping because it is not glued together. The steering column also comes apart. Dealer says it is suppose to do that. Had taken it to mechanic who informs me that eventually my dashboard will warp all the to the airbags. Now I am afraid that airbag will deploy while driving and cause an accident. Then I found out that there was a recall on the back brakes because they were leaking, and I was never informed and had to pay to have my brakes fixed myself. I have talked to the home office of Kia and everybody refuses to help me. Please give me any feed back to help me.

- Leesburg, FL, USA

problem #2

Jul 212006

Spectra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles
Electrical-my Kia doesn't like to crank up on the first time, stalls in traffic or with A/C on I took to a auto shop after breaking down at a light in jacksonville fl they said it was the wires and charged me $468 still had the same problem. I took it to another shop in ga and they spent 8 hours trying to figure out why it stalls at an idle. No one can fix it. I think this is extremely dangerous in the city and I am now afraid to drive my car long distance.

- Norman Park , GA, USA

problem #1

May 012004

Spectra

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The vehicle drops serious power when the ac and radio are on. If I try rolling windows down while stopped at a light with the ac and radio on, lose more power.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

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