1.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
106,258 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Kia Spectra:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #4

Jul 112018

Spectra

  • 30 miles
When going down the interstate, it feels like I hit something (I did not). My speed decrease so much that it turned off my cruise control. Glad no-one was behind me. It started feeling very slugish with high rpms. I stopped for about 20 minutes. Restarted my engine light came on, and it would not shift out of 3rd gear. I stopped again this time for over an hour. Started my car and drove another 15 miles. It shift fine. Chwck emfine light was still on. Next, morning started my car and drove. I had no problems. 4 days late, driving my car 38 miles and had the same problem. This time with the same issue, take off is very very slow. This is not a constant problem. I never know when the problem will start.

- Pocahontas, AR, USA

problem #3

Nov 132016

Spectra

  • 115,000 miles
I test drove the vehicle and it drove fine. After I signed papers to buy the vehicle, I drove it home. On the way home I was doing the speed limit which is 65mph but I always stay a little under that speed limit. I got to about 65 and boom it was like the transmission had come through the floor and it felt as if I was going to be ejected from the car! that scared me to death!!! after that it started dragging so I had to exit the highway and drive the city streets with my emergency flashers on because I could do no more than 35-40 mph. I got the car Nov 2016 and this happens everytime I drive it. Its doing the same thing just sitting in a drive through. It kicks back so hard it hurts my neck. It feels like someone hits me from the back everytime. I would really Y like to know where I can have this repair taken care of because this is very dangerous. I have read a lot of reviews online and a lot of people have the same issue. It's been doing it since day one and I need it fixed because it hurts really bad. I didn't do this to the vehicle. It happens no matter what speed you're doing and then acts like it's stuck in high gear and takes off slowly after it jerks.

- Fort Gibson, OK, USA

problem #2

May 022017

Spectra

  • 145,000 miles
My car has approx 145000 miles. Drives great except for in the last few months it has a transmission problem. I googled the problem and numerous people have the exact same problem. After driving the car after sitting all night for about an hour you can be driving 5 mph or 60 mph the car will jerk hard...from the transmission. I have had the car inspected and fixed numerous times. Mechanic's say the transmission is in good condition. They have fixed numerous items on 3 different times with the transmission; flushed, welded, etc. Mechanic said that after googling problem that may be a computer download that is needed. As stated above numerous people have same problem with 2007 thru 2011 Kia

- Dunedin, FL, USA

problem #1

Jul 102012

Spectra 4-cyl

  • 165,000 miles
Randomly while driving at highway speeds (55 - 70) the car will downshift violently with a sudden jerk, it will remain in that gear until you pullover, turn off the car and restart it in order to resume normal driving.

- Kenna, WV, USA