10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
62,911 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 2003 Kia Spectra:

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

problem #5

Jun 142014

Spectra

  • 100,234 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,234. The VIN was not available.

- Tullahoma, TN, USA

problem #4

Jan 232011

Spectra

  • 110,000 miles
The contact was a passenger in a 2003 Kia Spectra. While riding at approximately 30 mph, the driver blacked out, causing her to crash into a telephone pole head. The air bags did not deploy. Both the dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The contact sustained a fractured sternum and multiple bruises. The driver sustained multiple bruises to the body and a tooth was knocked out. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000. The VIN was unavailable. A poice report was filed.

- Lexington, KY, USA

problem #3

Aug 152005

Spectra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles
2003 Kia Spectra. The consumer stated when turning the vehicle was hit on the front driver's side by the wheel. The vehicle was hit so hard that the bumper came off and pushed the engine and hood up. The fireman said the air bags should have deployed. The vehicle spun around twice. This broke the rear axle on the driver's side. The vehicle ended up six feet from where the accident occurred. The consumer's back was sore for a few weeks. A police report taken. The insurance company totaled the vehicle and has not been inspected to see why the airbags did not deploy.

- Springfield, OH, USA

problem #2

Aug 262005

Spectra 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,275 miles
2003 Kia Spectra. The car has been in 2 accidents and the airbags did not deploy. During the first accidentconsumer's vehicle was cut off by someone in front. In turn a SUV hit consumer's vehicle on the rear passenger's side. During the second accident consumer's vehicle rear ended a car in fron. This was a front to rear collision at 25 T-30 miles mph. There was injuries in the second accident. A police report was taken. Also, there there was a problem with oil circulation. Ithe consumer was told by the dealership that the oil sending unit was not working properly.

- Cassel Rock, CO, USA

problem #1

Apr 212003

Spectra 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 45 miles
Posess a 2003 Kia Spectra GT that was involved in a rear end collision. Only one person in the vehicle but both air bags deployed. Airbag broke windshield as well as side casing that held the seat belts in place. I am concerned about this and want to know if this is a normal occurrence in this vehicle or any vehicle for that matter? pieces of the interior of the vehicle shattered and scattered throughout the vehicle and could have caused harm to anyone they contacted. Please advise.

- Lagrange, GA, USA