4.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
24,000 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.

2003 Kia Spectra engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Kia Spectra Owner Comments

problem #2

May 192005

Spectra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

I am writing in regards to an ongoing problem with my 2003 Kia Spectra. This will be the third time I have dropped off my vehicle to the tallahassee Kia repair shop. At the conclusion of the first repair, 5-19-05 I was told the problem was rectified. When I contacted the dealership about the problem at the beginning of June I was told to have the fuel filter replaced, I have done so but this has not rectified the problem. As of late, perhaps due to the heat, the problem is worse. The vehicle is still surging forward while I have my foot pressed on the brake. The problem occurs after the vehicle has been driven around town or on road trip and will sometimes when I first start it up. It occurs more often when the air conditioning is running. My father believes that the computer is bad or that the service has not been done according to the bulletins. Obviously, this is not only a dangerous situation but it is causing additional wear and tear on the transmission and brakes. At this juncture, the vehicle is unsafe to drive. When I spoke with a service technician at my local tallahassee dealership at the beginning of June I was told that I could drop the vehicle off and they would try to simulate the problem. The first time the vehicle was brought in I was without a vehicle for a number or days and had to rely on family and friends for transportation to work and school. I am scheduled to bring in my vehicle 8 -10-06 and they are still refusing to provide a vehicle for transportation. With no other choice I am forced to bring it in for safety reasons.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #1

Apr 152004

Spectra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles
The contact stated when stopping at a stop sign or while braking or pulling into a parking lot vehicle revved and lurched forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealership numerous times. They were unable to duplicate the problem. Updated 1/11/2006 - the transmission line had come off and cause coolant to leak. The line was repair and transmission was flushed but transmission slipped. The transmission was replaced. The check engine light illuminated three times and the dealer replaced the throttle position sensor three times. The engine light illuminated again and this time the dealer replaced the gene pulse assembly. The engine control module was reprogrammed. The engine ran rough intermittently. The dealer replaced the idle speed actuator.

- Gridley , KS, USA

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