Major Problems with 2002 Kia Spectra Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2002 Kia Spectra

2002 Kia Spectra FRONTAL Victims: 2 Mileage: 13734 miles

2002 Kia Spectra RECLINER Victims: 2 Mileage: 47102 miles

2002 Kia Spectra FRONT Victims: 2

Browse 2002 Kia Spectra complaints by category

Problems with FRONTAL, AIR BAGS and AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Kia Spectra owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS when driving on flat surface consumer was hit on front left driver side of vehicle and air bags did not...	12 ~ 5978 miles
AIR BAGS hit guard rail head on at 50 mph and air bags failed to deploy. dt...	10 ~ 38691 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN car was 4 weeks old when engine light came on for the first time - called dealer said it was...	8 ~ 17761 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC i rear ended another vehicle at 30-40 mph front end damage resulting in over $6400 including unibody alignment. upon impact...	7 ~ 42202 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the vehicle experienced sudden acceleration.*jb...	5 ~ 65100 miles
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph the brakes failed. the...	4 ~ 120424 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the vehicle drops serious power when the ac and radio are on. if i try rolling windows down while stopped	4 ~ 41000 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY windshield cracked easily. took vehicle to dealer and service manager said there was nothing they could do about the problem....	4 ~ 13750 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM failure to start on initial startup of the day engine stalls and goes dead. this is everyday kia doesn't know...	4 ~ 2203 miles
STRUCTURE ever since i bought my car--2002 kia spectra there has been problems with the steering and suspension in the front....	3 ~ 30003 miles
SEAT BELTS while driving 30 to 40 mph vehicle was in involved in a crash and air bags failed to deploy. *ak...	3 ~ 47671 miles
POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. the contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate from a...	2 ~ 30716 miles
SUSPENSION the rear driver tire went flat while driving 60 mph. the window was down and all of a sudden a...	2 ~ 147661 miles
WHEELS car in front stopped short so also immediately applied brakes forcefully in vehicle. wheels locked causing car to vereen across...	2 ~ 59000 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING at the end of july 2004 my kia spectra began to act as if the car was choking and not...	2 ~ 5400 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY driver's side front window locked up will not roll down. used on the way to work 4 hours later would	2 ~ 1500 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING consumer states the vehicle head lights keep blowing out on both sides of vehicle. consumer states that the head lights	2
TIRES i rented a 2002 kia spectra in colorado and experienced 3 "skids" when it was raining even though i was	2 ~ 50161 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER car was 4 weeks old when engine light came on for the first time - called dealer said it was...	2
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE car was 4 weeks old when engine light came on for the first time - called dealer said it was...	2 ~ 500 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the vehicle ran rough idled rough at stop lights and had a hard start in the morning. in a few	2
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my driver's window and passenger's right front window has a air leak and water will come in and engine runs	2
ANCHORAGE > FRONT > SEAT BELTS seatbelts not long enough ! standard size person just does fit. person 6ft a little heavy can't buckle the belt....	2
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL when stopping vehicle it will surge forward. the dealership has been contacted. please provide more details. ph...	2 ~ 14000 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. the contact stated that the front driver and passenger side interior door...	1 ~ 120000 miles
STEERING a front tie rod broke something in the steering column broke and the air bag indicator lit up but no...	1 ~ 195000 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectrum. the contact stated while driving approximately 25 mph the vehicle stalled. the...	1 ~ 165000 miles
LOWER ARM > CONTROL ARM > FRONT tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. after opening the front driver and passenger side windows they failed to...	1 ~ 72896 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. after opening the front driver and passenger side windows they failed to...	1 ~ 72896 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC 2nd request. i have a 2002 kia spectra ls. what i attributed to an engine surge since owning the car...	1 ~ 36600 miles
CHILD SEAT tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra (na). the contact owns a 2008 cosco child restraint seat model number 222-33pet....	1
LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP > CHILD SEAT tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra (na). the contact owns a 2008 cosco child restraint seat model number 222-33pet....	1
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN i have a 02 kia spectra and the transmission went on this vehicle. i only have 60 000 miles on	1 ~ 59900 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING on friday november 28 2008 at 4:45pm i was driving on state highway 58 by jenkins and rosedale highway in...	1
REAR/OTHER > SEAT BELTS tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. while driving approximately 5 to 10 mph the middle seat belt broke. the...	1 ~ 89300 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. the vehicle has starfire flite-line iv size p185/65r14 (na) tires. while driving 25...	1
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC car in front stopped short so also immediately applied brakes forcefully in vehicle. wheels locked causing car to vereen across...	1 ~ 42000 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS during an accident the consumer's seat belt released and the air bags did not deploy. *nm kia sent the consumer...	1
RECLINER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS the consumer's vehicle was struck from the rear at 65 mph causing it to strike another vehicle. upon impact both	1 ~ 47102 miles
HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS > HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST > STEERING power steering belt failed at 15 000 miles. dealer replaced the part. however consume r noticed that the part	1 ~ 15000 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC (1)brakes feel insufficient until pressed very hard (2) 2 accidents where i as the driver rear ended drivers (3) complaint...	1 ~ 33430 miles
MECHANICAL > EQUIPMENT (1)brakes feel insufficient until pressed very hard (2) 2 accidents where i as the driver rear ended drivers (3) complaint...	1 ~ 33430 miles
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT both headlights keep blowing out. at approx. 17 000 miles the drivers side headlight burned out. replaced with standard bulb....	1
STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR > STEERING ever since i bought my car--2002 kia spectra there has been problems with the steering and suspension in the front....	1 ~ 10 miles
RACK > RACK AND PINION > STEERING ever since i bought my car--2002 kia spectra there has been problems with the steering and suspension in the front....	1 ~ 10 miles
COLUMN > STEERING ever since i bought my car--2002 kia spectra there has been problems with the steering and suspension in the front....	1 ~ 10 miles
PINION SHAFT > RACK AND PINION > STEERING ever since i bought my car--2002 kia spectra there has been problems with the steering and suspension in the front....	1 ~ 10 miles
CONTROL MODULE > ANTI-THEFT > IGNITION 2 problems. 1st the steering wheel doesnt lock when vehicle is shut of you can turn the wheel freely and...	1 ~ 31000 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS while driving vehcile was in hit on the driver side which caused the vehicle to spin out of control and...	1
SEATS when driving on flat surface consumer was hit on front left driver side of vehicle and air bags did not...	1
PARKING BRAKE tl*the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. the emergency brake has not worked properly since the vehicle was purchased in...	1 ~ 63000 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES passenger front door latch defective. *ak...	1
DRIVESHAFT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN i have owned my 2002 spectra since nov. 2001. when i go to start the car up in the mornings...	1 ~ 100 miles
MACPHERSON STRUT > FRONT > SUSPENSION i have owned my 2002 spectra since nov. 2001. when i go to start the car up in the mornings...	1 ~ 100 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE the rubbers seal around the doors frame came off track. this resulted in the door not being closed properly. *tt...	1 ~ 15000 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING while driving at 25 mph vehicle experienced brake failure when brake pedal was depressed and vehicle failed to stop. engine	1 ~ 38000 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY consumer states of having problems with her windows. ts...	1

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