10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,995 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.

2007 Kia Spectra engine problems

engine problem

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2007 Kia Spectra Owner Comments

problem #7

May 052023

Spectra

  • miles

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

I purchased my 2007 Spectra5 used with 155,000 miles on it. The engine had no codes or any stored codes. It ran fine until I filled it up with gas. I DO NOT overfill the tank because I understand EVAP issues. After filling up the vehicle would stall at idle and occasionally lose power (momentarily) at highway speeds (55 mph and up). Obviously this is an extremely dangerous situation! Once the gas level got below 1/2 tank the issues went away-??but now I ONLY fill the tank to halfway and the problems arise again every so often. Since there are no codes present I cannot replicate the issue without possibly damaging components further and I already replaced the battery, plugs, IAC valve, MAF sensor, and oil to try to remedy this problem. From reading other-??s comments about this same problem I do not want to keep pouring money into a problem that KIA itself seems unable, and unwilling, to fix. This is extremely frustrating and dangerous as occasionally the vehicle loses all power on the highway at speeds exceeding 55mph and I feel an accident is inevitable. I-??m not financially well off enough to just eat the cost of this vehicle and get a new (used) vehicle though so KIA has really put me (AND OTHER DRIVERS) in a difficult and dangerous position. As others have stated from mechanics who have tried to diagnose this issue, there may be a serious issue with the EVAP system including, but not limited to, the charcoal canister and purge valve. I will try replacing the fuel filter in the gas tank but I do not have high hopes that this will fix this problem. Once again, there are no codes present before or after these stalling/power loss problems and live data from and OBD2 scanner is within parameters for this vehicle and it-??s age. I need to report this now so everyone, ESPECIALLY KIA, is aware of this issue and information.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #6

Jul 152014

Spectra

  • miles
Engine 💡 came on imidiately after pulling out of dealership. So I ca"ed them and they stated it wasnt anything to worry about. Several customers were calling in about the same issue. They said it was just the change in weather and the gas cap. They reset engine 💡 several times. No sooner than I would pull off the lot, it would come back on. Then I ask them for an auto check history report showing odometer desciipancies. Roll back calculations. The radiator is cracked, the emergency brake doesn't work, and the brakes and stuff are bad.

- Cresco, IA, USA

problem #5

Mar 132014

Spectra

  • miles
As I was driving my 2007 Kia Spectra out of nowhere all my emergency lights came on and my car locked up and turned off while I was exiting the freeway. The steering wheel locked up and I could not turn it to get my car off the road. I then had to put my car in park turn the ignition off then restart it. This has happened more than 3 different times. Also as I am driving, my car starts to slow down like it starves for gas and I have to step on the gas and push the pedal down all the way before it will eventually pick up and go.

- Live Oak, CA, USA

problem #4

Oct 272014

Spectra 4-cyl

  • 97,963 miles

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

On my way to work I took the same route that I always take. I was going about 25mph and all of a sudden all of the lights came on ( check oil, battery, emergency brake, tire pressure, airbag, and check engine) the steering wheel completely locked up causing my car to swerve right into a community mail box. My windshield is broken, the front passenger side is off and the two passenger side tires are both flat. When I got my car in March of this year three days after I got it it had started doing this I took it back and it was in the shop for more than 3 months. When they had told me this problem was fixed I trusted that they were right but unfortunately it led me to this... the dealership has not returned my phone call and my insurance does not cover for a rental car. I have 2 children and my job does not pay me enough to just pay and get a new car or pay and have this car fixed. I am very unhappy with the responses about this car. Why would these cars be sold to people.

- Ruidoso , NM, USA

problem #3

Jun 012011

Spectra 4-cyl

  • miles
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.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #2

Dec 062012

Spectra 4-cyl

  • miles
I didn't know about this website until I realize that my 2007 Kia Spectra ex was not on the list of recall for brake light problem. So I started search for reporting it. I know my affect part is engine, but my husband & I car is falling apart. We don't have the money to have it fix. The engine is the last problem we have had so far.it stall if you go too fast around 55. It stall all the time. My husband stop at a red light it cut off. I believe the company should pay for the problems. They had no problem asking for a large amount of money from us. Both of the problems I stated are dangerous. Please help in doing something.

- Carrollton, GA, USA

problem #1

Aug 052012

Spectra 4-cyl

  • 112,000 miles
Car took me off the side of the road and straight into a tree dead center roughly going 35 miles an hour. Air bags did not deploy!!!! hit my head on steering wheel. And now trying to figure out if it was the dealership selling defective cars or if its Kia defect. Not understanding this whole airbag does not deploy thing because the safety graph explains 0-8 mph airbags will never go off 8-14 mph airbags are possible but not likely 14-above airbags should deploy always.

- Evansville, IN, USA

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