Major Problems with 2003 Kia Spectra Derived from Complaints & Recalls

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Worst 3 complaints of 2003 Kia Spectra

2003 Kia Spectra AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 110000 miles

2003 Kia Spectra GLASS, SIDE/REAR Victims: 1

2003 Kia Spectra AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 81275 miles

Browse 2003 Kia Spectra complaints by category

Problems with AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Kia Spectra owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN the engine made a horrible noise. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate the problem. *nlm the door...	12 ~ 20381 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC about a week after i purchased this vehicle i started having problems. the rubber weather strip came off and continues...	10 ~ 76451 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the engine made a horrible noise. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate the problem. *nlm the door...	8 ~ 13447 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM this letter is being written as a result of an accident (case # fhph040ff003275) involving my 2003 kia spectra gsx...	7 ~ 31019 miles
STRUCTURE snow entered the vehicle which caused the door not to open. *nlm the door was misaligned rear lights were inoperative...	7 ~ 37019 miles
SEAT BELTS the engine made a horrible noise. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate the problem. *nlm the door...	6 ~ 11871 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the air bags failed to deploy.*jb...	6 ~ 10417 miles
AIR BAGS posess a 2003 kia spectra gt that was involved in a rear end collision. only one person in the vehicle...	5 ~ 62911 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING the engine made a horrible noise. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate the problem. *nlm the door...	5
SERVICE BRAKES my brake light went on ( thought it was parking brake stuck or brake maintenance time ) after spending over...	4 ~ 111000 miles
POWER TRAIN about a week after i purchased this vehicle i started having problems. the rubber weather strip came off and continues...	4 ~ 64719 miles
MOTOR > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY the engine made a horrible noise. the dealer inspected the vehicle but could not duplicate the problem. *nlm the door...	4
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING while driving at 15mph engine locked up. vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with water inside the engine.	3 ~ 27667 miles
SUSPENSION once vehicle reaches 70 mph there is vibration in steering wheel. dealer has been contacted. *ak...	3 ~ 37759 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE i bought a car from a used dealer and i was informed that it had no frame damage but i...	2 ~ 56638 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM went to turn on my heater today and the smell of gasoline filled my car 4-door sedan. the car had...	2 ~ 35000 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY driver's door window regulator fails causing window to slide down track into the door. the power regulator raises and lowers...	2 ~ 52000 miles
SEATS drivers seat bracket attaching seat to car broke three times once under warranty which caused damage to entire seat and	2 ~ 80500 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING have replaced both high & low headlights 3 times each. heater is not working. junction box needs replaced 12/15/05. car	2
DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC my daughter owns a 2003 kia spectra [xxx] with a brake proportioning valve that started leaking about a week ago...	2 ~ 41000 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL dt: the contact stated when stopping at a stop sign or while braking or pulling into a parking lot vehicle...	2 ~ 24000 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS while driving vehicle was involved in a collision. the seat belt broke as a result of driver not being restrained	2 ~ 2565 miles
HUB > WHEELS i have a kia spectra ls vin [xxx] with optional alloy wheels package. the problem is i have lost 2...	2 ~ 2400 miles
STEERING while driving the steering wheel became hard to turn. *nlm...	2 ~ 77500 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE we have been having a problem with our kia spectra 2003 i have also heard from several others and a...	1
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia spectra. the contact stated that the vehicle's heat and air conditioner failed to activate....	1 ~ 68206 miles
LINKAGES > WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY tl*the contact owns a 2003 kia spectra. the contact reported windshield wipers failed while driving. the windshield wipers were activated...	1 ~ 6500 miles
RADIATOR ASSEMBLY > COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i have an issue with kia usa honoring my warranty for damage done to my car in which i am...	1 ~ 57500 miles
RACK AND PINION > STEERING dt*: the contact stated while attempting a left hand turn at 15mph the steering rack and pinion broke without warning....	1 ~ 45000 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2003 kia spectra 4 door power door locks automatically unlock themselves both while in motion and while unattended. local kia...	1
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC dt: the contact stated that while driving at 35 mph the brakes did not respond and the contact's vehicle crashed	1 ~ 25000 miles
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE fuel leakage. i took my car to kia dealer for engine an light. they replaced the gas cap and the...	1
BUMPERS > BODY > STRUCTURE front bumper cover coming loose on 2003 kia spectra with 38 050 miles. due to the cover coming loose the...	1 ~ 38050 miles
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM i brought this car on the 29th of october. two days later the car wouldn't start. the car was serviced...	1 ~ 38800 miles
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY my husband was driving 2 car lengths ahead of me and our 2 year old son in his car seat...	1
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER > EQUIPMENT my husband was driving 2 car lengths ahead of me and our 2 year old son in his car seat...	1
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS while driving at highway speed vehicle vibrated violently. dealer stated rotors were warped at 15 000 miles. *ak...	1 ~ 15000 miles
LOCK > TRUNK LID > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES my daughter whom is 7 went in the trunk to retrieve some belongings and the trunk closed on her. she...	1 ~ 11000 miles
FILLER PIPE AND CAP > TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE check engine light conitunes to pop on. as of 2/19/04 my check engine light has lit up 3 times. once...	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL intermittently when the cruise control is set it suddenly disengages by itself. when this occurs vehicle decelerates to a low...	1 ~ 10000 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT the front panel in the consumer's 2003 kia spectra made noise. *nm the consumer had several problems concerning the vehicle....	1 ~ 5130 miles
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i bought a kia spectra 2003 on 9/27/03 with manufacturer's date of 11/4/02. it was a used car with 20...	1
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT consumer states that air conditioner on new kia does not work. whenever she turns defroster on the air blows out...	1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER about a week after i purchased this vehicle i started having problems. the rubber weather strip came off and continues...	1
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING consumer stated that while driving and without warning steering wheel would pull in either direction. dealer notified. *ak...	1
VISIBILITY purchased the car in may of 2003 june 30th of 2003 check engine light came on and had to have...	1
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING purchased the car in may of 2003 june 30th of 2003 check engine light came on and had to have...	1
TIRES purchased the car in may of 2003 june 30th of 2003 check engine light came on and had to have...	1
HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > BODY > STRUCTURE tether anchors: child seat rear tether can not be installed/used properly on hatch back model. the hatch cover anchor location...	1
REAR/OTHER > SEAT BELTS the rear seat belts failed to fastened. 8jb...	1 ~ 2000 miles
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY the vehicles windshield wipers failed intermittently. the dealer replaced the windshield motor yet the problem persisted. *nlm the door was...	1
SEAT HEATER/COOLER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS consumer called complaining while driving the vehicle the heater went off dealer inspected and fixed the problem on 12/ 27/02	1

Torque wrench

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Mechanic tool set

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