Seven problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 2004 Kia Motor Spectra. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Kia Motor Spectra based on all problems reported for the 2004 Spectra.
: the contact stated while shifting gears, the transmission lurches. The dealership determined the computer is not sending the proper signals to the transmission to shift gears. The dealership is unaware of how to repair the vehicle. Updated 5/3/2006 -.
My fiance's bought a kia Spectra. . . . I have noticed for awhile that at freeway speeds its ok. . . Getting to and coming down from freeway speeds however is a interesting time. . . The car for about 2-3 secs. Revs and doesn't slam but seems to ease into gear then jerks forward. . . Passing other vehicles is not done often due to this problem. And when getting on the off ramp the motor down shifts and revs. Way to high then same as before eases into gear and jerks backwards. Then while on city streets the transmission has a much larger stall before getting into gear 4-5 secs. And this time is slams into gear producing torque steer. I had her take it in and said they couldn't find anything. So I never further persuade it. . Because nothing was going to be done. Have worked at a dealership before. They did however see that the speedo would flip out and not work at sit at 40 mph at a dead stop then as you got to 20 mph it would climb insanely then sit there they have fixed it 3 times and the third seemed to be the charm. So I am wondering if there has been a recall about there transmissions. I don't remember when exactly when this happened but mileage was about 15k and still happens till this day at 58k. So I drive it because I worry for her safety and my sons.
I was stopped in traffic at a light and upon the light turning green I pushed the accelerator and my tachometer needle went up to 4 and higher until I took my foot off the gas. Upon pushing the gas pedal again it did the same thing (in the middle of traffic) and I had to shift into neutral while going about 35 mph and back into drive. My kia still didn't want to shift so I put it back into neutral again and pushed the gas pedal to rev the rpms and then put back into drive and it drove ok. This happened a few months after buying the car and the kia dealer said nothing was wrong with vehicle. It continues to happen unpredictably.
On several instances my car has not shifted into a higher gear when taking off from a stop sign. I have taken the car to the dealer twice and they have not found anything wrong. This has happened on the following dates: 9/11, 9/12, 9/20, and twice on 9/23.
Transmission gear will not change. Vehicle locked while in traffic. Dealer was not able to duplicate the problem. The transmission continued to lock up and produced a burning smell.
The vehicle would not accelerate more than 50 miles per hour. The consumer took the vehicle to the repair, but the problem still continued.
While driving at any speed and no warning the automatic transmission, will not shifting properly when vehicle is changing gears. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information.