Electrical System Problems of Kia Motor Spectra - part 2

Doors lock and unlock on their own. I have been locked out numerous times, some with the engine still running. I brought car to kia numerous times, and was told there was nothing that could be done, it was a manufacturing defect. I feel this could prevent a very serious problem , both in a collision, or if a child were to be locked in the car. At times the car locks by itself so quickly, I cannot even turn the key fast enough to open the door. I have owned this car since 2009, and it has happened at least 50 or more times.

See all problems of the 2007 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

No indication of any problems with car or battery noticed whatsoever upon entering and starting the vehicle. . The complaint incidence occurred after driving approx 2 blocks and parking and turning off car and upon getting out of car noticed smoke coming from front driver side corner of hood. Since there was a baby in the car first action was to remove child to safe area and called 911. Within approx 5 minutes massive amounts of smoke pouring from hood cracks. Bystanders attempted to open hood and spray with borrowed fire extinguisher but could not open hood. When firetruck arrived they could not get hood open either and had to pry it open at which point flames erupted but were then quickly put out by fire department (goldsboro nc car fire at tj maxx store on sept 28, 2009) fire determined to have started in battery/fuse box area - fire department determined fire was electrical but cause could not be determined due to extreme amount of damage resulting from fire it appears that there was some kind of electrical malfunction that occurred suddenly and without any advance warning or signs of any problems before this incidence. Nothing was possible to be done to "correct" the problem except to extinguish the fire. The consequence was that the entire front end of the car was charred and the car totaled. The fire department arranged to have car towed from parking lot where fire occurred to lot where final inspection made. Luckily, circumstances allowed for almost immediate awareness of fire occurring and that driver and passenger were in a safe place with communication available. If circumstances had been different, the results could have been disastrous.

See all problems of the 2008 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

The contact owns a 2008 kia Spectra. The contact attempted to start the vehicle and noticed that it no longer had power and that none of the electrical components were functioning. The vehicle has not been inspected, to determine the cause of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 4000.

The doors lock again immediately after unlock. This happens almost all of the time. The locks also lock and unlock repeatedly while the car is in motion.

2008 kia Spectra, the parking lights come on by their self when its around outside and when its around outside the alarm want set the lights just blank on and off. Also I have a really bad rattle comes from the air bags so it sound in the dash and drivers side post air bag. Have took the car in 3 times and a week per time, and so far nothing as been fixed.

The contact owns a 2009 kia Spectra. While driving 50 mph, the contact rear-ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt did not lock. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle has stalled at least five times since the time it was purchased. The contact feels that the vehicle is unable to be driven and wants a refund or another vehicle from kia. The current mileage was 29,000 and failure mileage was 13,000. Updated 06/03/09 the windshield wipers worked intermittently, the rear lights were inoperative. The consumer stated the rear lights were replaced several times, because they were shortening out,. The transmission started shifting really hard and rough. The check engine light illuminated. Updated 06/04/09.

See all problems of the 2009 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

The contact owns a 2008 kia Spectra. The contact stated that the vehicle shut off while driving 40 miles per hour. The vehicle has been repaired several times but the failure continued to occur. The dealer offered the contact a new vehicle instead of repairing the one he owns; however, the newer models experienced the identical failure. The failure mileage was 3000. The current mileage was 40,126.

The contact owns a 2003 kia Spectra. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle began making a loud noise. The rpm, speed, and temperature were not functioning properly. The mechanic stated that the failure was electrical. The antilock brake information and powertrain were unavailable. The VIN was confirmed, but appears to be invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000 and current mileage was approximately 85,100.

See all problems of the 2003 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

I have an ongoing problem with my 2003 kia Spectra, approx. 2 years ago I started having problems with the car shutting off while I was driving and while I came to a stop at the traffic light. I had the car towed to kia and they did a tune up and replaced a part that was supposedly the problem for the vehicle to shut off or to accelerate while at a traffic light. When this happens it takes all you can do to keep the car from lunging forward. Also sometimes when you turn the air conditioner on it causes the car to accelerate while at a traffic light. The car could run great for days, but then it starts to do the same thing again. Especially on hot days. I have been in some scary situations on very busy highways, where the car shuts down while driving , fortunately I was able to get to the side of the road. I have had my car to sts 3 times to try and figure out what is wrong with the vehicle and on those occasions they haven't been able to simulate. I have also replaced the low and high beam headlights approx 8 times. I've had both low beams go out at the same time.

The 2003 kia Spectra caught on fire. Therewas nothing left of the car. The fire department and police said it was an electrial fire.

Electrical-my kia doesn't like to crank up on the first time, stalls in traffic or with a/c on I took to a auto shop after breaking down at a light in jacksonville FL they said it was the wires and charged me $468. 00 still had the same problem. I took it to another shop in GA and they spent 8 hours trying to figure out why it stalls at an idle. No one can fix it. I think this is extremely dangerous in the city and I am now afraid to drive my car long distance.

See all problems of the 2002 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

My auto has stopped on me for no reason at all. The first time it just wouldn't start, the second time I was in traffic and it just shut off and the third time which was this morning it started then shut down and I hadn't left my home yet. After that it wouldn't start. The care make and model is a 2003 kia Spectra. It was taken to the shop on both occasions and the first time I was told it the connection was loose the second time it stated that the master pulling too much vacuum causing her car to shut down. I was awaiting a part. I have to wait until 8 am to call for parts to see if it came in but this is a big problem.

: 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 -.

See all problems of the 2004 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

2003 kia Spectra 4 door power door locks automatically unlock themselves both while in motion and while unattended. Local kia dealership said that several of their vehicles had same problem recently and that they identified the problem is in a fuse block relay. However, as with most problems we have encountered, we are just past the warranty. We contacted the mfg but they too were not willing to do anything about this problem. But I believe this may turn out to be a serious safety defect which they are leaving to the consumer to bear, the cost of which is over $500 plus labor. As an aside, had we not recently moved to washington, we would have been within the warranty. But warranty or no, if these relays are going out on other vehicles as well, there must be a problem worth looking into.

Have replaced both high & low headlights 3 times each. Heater is not working. Junction box needs replaced 12/15/05. Car is a 2003 kia Spectra with 97,500 miles on it. It was bought new.

Window controls would not work intermittently. Vehicle was taken to a kia dealer who refused to do repairs, stating they only do oil changes on weekends. Dealer would not provide rental car for repairs to be made during the week. At this time, the electrical system was still under warranty. Repairs were never made. As of 5/5/2014 windows will only open occasionally.

See all problems of the 2005 Kia Motor Spectra 🔎.

Speedometer will occasionally quit working while driving, sometimes will quit altogether-other times will jerk around-dealer has been unable to duplicate.

: the consumer stated while driving at 40 mph on normal road conditions all warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they made the repair without determining the cause of failure. At the time of the incident the vehicle had only 52 miles. At 14000 miles the failure repeated and the dealer made the repair for the second time. On 1/19/06 the warning lights illuminated again but this time the engine shut off and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer.

Consumer has filed a safety complaint #6259431 with federal trade commission. Concerning automatic transmission failure on same issue as stated in odi #10125427. Also, consumer spoke with the manufacturer Kia Motors. Manufacturer said someone would be in contact with consumer within 3 days. It has been 2 weeks and consumer has not heard anything. Consumer said that transmission shifted into a lower gear for no reason. Last time vehicle was at dealer it would not go very fast, and the engine was very sluggish. Consumer said that it was like trying to pull out in a higher gear than 1st or 2nd. Gear. When driving on the highway at 70 mph the car would down shift to a low gear and it would drop to 35 mph. Dealer indicated that something was making the vehicle drop into safe mode, which caused vehicle to stay in second gear. Dealer replaced transmission control module (tcm), replaced the throttle body, and has done something to the grounds. In February the dealer replaced the transmission . Currently they replaced the tcm, added a new computer , and adjusted linkage cables for transmission. However, consumer maintained that problem became worse.

The vehicle drops serious power when the ac and radio are on. If I try rolling windows down while stopped at a light with the ac and radio on, lose more power.

This letter is being written as a result of an accident (case # fhph040ff003275) involving my 2003 kia Spectra gsx and another vehicle on March 6, 2004. The cruise control continued to work until about 1:00pm on interstate 10 when I was in the slow lane and driving at 70 mph (speed limit) with the cruise on. I was slowly catching up to two trucks in my lane, when the rear truck started to pass the slower truck ahead of me. Traffic behind me was catching up to me at the same time as the passing truck pulled into the passing lane. I had plenty of time to slow down so I pressed down on the coast set button on the steering wheel, four or five times and my kia slowed down to 65 mph. The truck in front of me slowed down to let the passing truck in the fast lane get by. I pressed the same coast set button on the steering wheel four or five times to slow the kia and nothing happening. The cruise control malfunctioned and the kia continued its speed of 65 mph. I then pressed the same coast set button on the steering wheel and the kia increased speed. I pressed the cancel button on the steering wheel and the kia increased speed. I stepped on the break and the kia cruise control didnt disconnect. I pressed down the clutch and stepped on the break three times and the engine continued to race but the cruise control didnt or wouldnt disconnect. I looked down at the coast set, cancel, and res accel buttons on the steering wheel and pressed cancel a number of times. Every time I pressed the cancel button on the steering wheel the car accelerated but now I was out of room and time. I hit another vehicle causing little damage to theirs, rubbed their bumper but a lot of damage to mine, $1500 - $2000. When our two vehicles collided the cruise control disconnected.

Had kia since 11-2002, had to take back to the dealer over 10 times within the first month. Had brake problems, engine light would come on and stick shift would not go into gear easily. Dash board has started warping because it is not glued together. The steering column also comes apart. Dealer says it is suppose to do that. Had taken it to mechanic who informs me that eventually my dashboard will warp all the to the airbags. Now I am afraid that airbag will deploy while driving and cause an accident. Then I found out that there was a recall on the back brakes because they were leaking, and I was never informed and had to pay to have my brakes fixed myself. I have talked to the home office of kia and everybody refuses to help me. Please give me any feed back to help me.