2007 KIA SPECTRA Complaints

ON MAY 26, 2008, I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA SPECTRA AT CARMAX, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 11335 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32225. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF AT THE STOP LIGHT, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, OR AFTER MAKING TURNS. THESE OCCURRENCES HAVE PLACED MY LIFE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS; AS WELL AS, THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN DANGER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT IS CLEARLY UN-ROADWORTHY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BY 'SPECIALIZED KIA TECHNICIANS' TO NO AVAIL. WORK WAS PERFORMED BY TECHNICIANS FROM CAMDEN (GEORGIA), BRUNSWICK (GEORGIA), AND JACKSONVILLE (FLORIDA) KIA DEALERSHIPS THEY HAVE YET TO IDENTIFY OR SUCCESSFULLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THE SERVICE I HAVE RECEIVED THUS FAR. I HAVE ALREADY ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY CONTACTING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICE VIA TELEPHONE, CONTACTING THOMAS J. FOLLIARD, CEO OF CARMAX, VIA MAIL, CONTACTING KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE IN ADDITION TO CONTACTING KIA CORPORATE OFFICE VIA TELEPHONE. I HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL ADMINISTRATIVE AVENUES. I HAVE ENCLOSED COPIES OF MY RECORDS, RECEIPTS, IN ADDITION TO PERTINENT HISTORY AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUR REVIEW. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEMS REMAIN UNRESOLVED. AS I AM SURE YOU CAN RELATE; I RELY ON MY VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT. EACH ATTEMPT MADE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE HAS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT INCONVENIENCE. *TR

WE OWN A 2007 SPECTRA WITH 13,000 MILES, BOUGHT NEW IN JULY 2007. WE ATTEMPTED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER JUNE 2009 AND IT BLEW HOT AIR. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD, " THE SCREWS AND BOLTS WHICH HOLDS THE A/C HOSE ON HAD COME LOOSE FROM HITTING BUMPS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DRIVE", SO THE FREON LEAKED OUT. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE, "EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PROBLEM WITH KIA'S THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE ANY PARTS". I CONTACTED THE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL FREE NUMBER WHO STOOD BY THE DEALER AND DISMISSED MY CONCERN. THEY TIGHTENED THE HOSE AND REPLACE THE FREON. WE WERE FORCED TO PAY EVEN REFUSING MY GRANDFATHER THE SENIOR DISCOUNT PROMISED TO HIM. *TR

2007 KIA SPECTRA HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG AND SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT WHEN THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER 4 MONTHS OF COMPLAINING AND FINALLY CALLING CORPORATE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN SEPTEMBER 2008, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN. THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN DEC 2008, THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG RESURFACED AGAIN. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE FAULTY, THE WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE SPEAKER IN THE FRONT DOOR HAD BLOWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED SPORADICALLY. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2007 KIA SPECTRA BRAND NEW...IT ONLY HAD 55 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW WEEKS IT STARTED TO GRIND IN 2ND GEAR, I TOOK THE KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT SOME SCREWS HAD COME LOOSE AND THAT IS WHERE THE GRINDING WAS COMING FROM, I WAS DRIVING WITH SCREWS IN THE CLUTCH! THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL AND PUT THE SCREWS BACK IN THE CLUTCHING SYSTEM. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT DID GOOD FOR A WHILE AND THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, AGAIN THEY SAID SCREWS WERE LOOSE AGAIN! I QUESTIONED HOW THE SCREWS KEPT COMING LOOSE, THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME A RENTAL, I HAD TO GET MY OWN AND THEY HAD TO LEAVE WORK EARLY. GOT THE CAR BACK AND IT DID FINE FOR A SHORT WHILE AND AGAIN THE SAME PROBLEM! I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS TIME IT WAS SOME PLASTIC PIECE THAT HAD COME LOOSE AND THAT WAS MAKING IT GRIND IN 2ND GEAR. AGAIN, I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE AND AGAIN, NO RENTAL. GOT THE CAR BACK AND DROVE FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSIDERING HOW LONG THEY KEPT MY CAR EACH TIME AND HOW LONG I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE EACH TIME...I CALLED KIA AND TOLD THEM THE SAME PROBLEM WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT UP THERE AND THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT...I COULDN'T BE WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR THAT LONG AGAIN AND MISS WORK AGAIN AND FIND WAYS FOR MY CHILDREN TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL. THINKING IT WAS THE PLASTIC PIECE AGAIN, I JUST KEPT DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE PAST PROBLEMS, I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. I WAITED LONGER THIS TIME DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TIME THEY KEPT IT EACH TIME AND I REALLY NEED MY VEHICLE. SO BECAUSE I WAITED TOO LONG, THEY ARE QUESTIONING THE FACT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE UNDER WARRANTY AND WANT ME TO SIGN A PAPER SAYING THAT IF THEY TEAR IT DOWN AND DON'T FIND ANY MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, THEN I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TEAR DOWN AND ANY REPAIRS! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA. IN JANUARY OF 2009, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A BYPASS HOSE WAS LEAKING. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND THE ENGINE WAS CLEANED BECAUSE OIL LEAKED ALL OVER THE MOTOR. THE OIL WAS ALSO CHANGED. IN APRIL OF 2009, THE VEHICLE FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING AND WOULD NOT START. THE DEALER STATED THAT DUE TO THE CONTACT'S LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND FAILURE TO CHANGE THE OIL REGULARLY, SHE WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS BURNT UP AND WOULD COST $6,000 TO REPLACE. THE KIA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BASED ON THE DEALER'S INFORMATION, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,165.

ON FEB 25, 2009 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE 2007 KIA SPECTRA SMELLED STRONG ODOR OF GAS PULLED CAR OVER ON SIDE OF ROAD OPENED HOOD AND THE MOTOR WAS ON FIRE CALLED 911. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS*TR

THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FOB OR DOOR BUTTON. WHEN USING THE FOB THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK AND THEN LOCK BACK INSTANTLY. I HAVE TO PLAY A 'CATCH ME IF YOU CAN' GAME, JUST TO GET INTO MY CAR. I CAN NOT EXIT THE CAR TO GET GAS WITHOUT IT LOCKING ON IT'S OWN. FIRST TIME I TURNED IT IN FOR SERVICE THE PROBLEM 'COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED'. TURNED IN SECOND TIME AND THEY ARE REPLACING THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISM. WAITING ON PARTS. *TR

I OWNED A 2007 KIA SPECTRA 5 SX THE CAR HAD AROUND 36,000 MILE ON IT. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OUT OF THE CAR THEN ON THE 10TH OF JAN 09 MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR TO RUN SOME ERRANDS. HE WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE CAR. WHEN WE CALLED KIA FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WE WERE TOLD IT WAS AN INSURANCE MATTER AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CALL THEM. THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE OFFERED TO DO IS BUY THE CAR BACK FOR AROUND 7,000 DOLLARS WHICH IS LESS THAN MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS OFFERING AND NO WHERE NEAR WHAT THE LOAN PAY OFF IS ON THE CAR. THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE. SO MUCH FOR MY 10,000 10 YEAR WARRANTY WHICH COVERED NOTHING. MY HUSBAND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BUT LUCKILY ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. I REALLY DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOME ONE ELSE WITH A WORSE OUT COME. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL TANK AND PURGE CANISTER SYSTEM. THE NORMAL OPERATION OF FUELING THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE THE PURGE SYSTEM TO BECOME FILLED WITH FUEL. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION BY ALLOWING FUEL TO BE EXPELLED OR LEAK OUT OF THE TANK OR WHAT THE DEALER CALLED OVERFLOW ONTO THE FLOOR IN MY GARAGE. WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE DEALERS INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING TOPPING OFF AFTER THE INITIAL SHUTOFF OF THE GAS PUMP TO THE EXTENT OF NOT FILLING THE TANK TO CAPACITY YET THIS HAS NOT MADE ANY DIFFERENCE. NOT ONLY DOES IT PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH FUEL LEAKING IN AN ENCLOSED AREA BUT IT ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES. THE PURGE VALVE AND CANISTER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THESE ACTIONS HOWEVER WILL NOT CORRECT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM , WHICH IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL EVAPORATION RECOVERY SYSTEM. I FULLY EXPECT THE PROBLEM TO REOCCUR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET I HAVE DISCOVERED MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE PRESENT IN OTHER KIA MODELS AS WELL. *TR

I WAS APPROX. 6 CAR LENGTHS FROM CAR IN FRONT OF ME, WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, NOTHING HAPPENED. I CONTINUED TO HIT THE BRAKES , FORCING THEM TO THE FLOOR AND STILL NOTHING. FIRST INSTINCT WAS TO VEER TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR BUT MY STEERING HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN, IT WOULD NOT LET ME TURN OR STOP. MY STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DID DEPLOY CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY WRIST AND ARM. BUT THE SCARY FEELING OF TRYING TO STOP WITH NO RESPONSE WAS SCARY. ROADS WERE A LITTLE WET BUT EVEN THEN WITH THE ABS I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. I AM GETTING THE REPAIR FACILITY TO CHECK THE BRAKES. *TR