2006 KIA SPECTRA5
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › KIA › SPECTRA5 › 2006
These records cover every 2006 KIA SPECTRA5. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
18 complaints2 involved a crash
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags
Light stays on in the KIA spectra airbag system passenger seat mat IS bad
- Air bags
We have had no accidents, but the mat sensor in the passenger sensor has gone bad causing the air bag light on the dash to stay on. The dealer was able to determine this by getting a b1448 code when diagnosing the issue. Many others have complained of this same issue with this and other KIA vehicles. The part IS prohibitively expensive at approximately $1600 for parts and labor.
- Air bags · Seats
Airbag light on due to faulty passenger side seat sensor. Exorbitant cost to replace. Can't afford.
- Air bags
Air bag light illuminated and was told by mechanic the sensor was faulty and it's around 2000$ to fix. Will not pass inspection without repair. Started around 60,000 miles. This IS ridiculous, other KIA models have been recalled. What can anyone do?
- Steering
Steering continually knocked after multiple repairs I still had a knock in my steering wheel during turns and going and an audible one outside all axles and suspension was deemed fine. I ended up selling the car since it was an annoyance. The passenger seat air bag sensor did not work properly it…
Steering continually knocked after multiple repairs I still had a knock in my steering wheel during turns and going and an audible one outside all axles and suspension was deemed fine. I ended up selling the car since it was an annoyance. The passenger seat air bag sensor did not work properly it would flash a light on the hud for hours only when someone sat in it. The car also had very loose steering and was very unsafe on the freeway
- Air bags
Just as others with my same vehicle have stated, the airbag light on the dashboard comes on and off and IS a real safety concern. *tr
- Air bags · Electrical system · Seat belts
Air bag indicator light on dash board will not go off most times, even when a 125 pound passenger IS in seat. Occasionally driver side seat belt alarm will not chime. Had mechanic check wiring, he replaced alternator,battery still the same. kenwood stereo will not tune in from time to time, even…
Air bag indicator light on dash board will not go off most times, even when a 125 pound passenger IS in seat. Occasionally driver side seat belt alarm will not chime. Had mechanic check wiring, he replaced alternator,battery still the same. kenwood stereo will not tune in from time to time, even when in my same parking space also as we are driving with shifter locked into drive, the engine seems to change gears on flat road surface as if it IS in 3RD gear then goes into drive. There IS nothing else I can do. Already had mechanic look at these problems. No codes are showing up, but obviously there IS an electrical problem that may not allow passenger air bag to deploy or driver seat belt to activate or what ever else IS controlled by the electrical. Also have a 2006 KIA with some electrical problem that car stereo shop could not get a new stereo installed to work properly. Other wise car if very affordable,not sure how safe it IS. *tr
- Air bags · Seats
Airbag light came on, had a diagnostic ran on it came up as code b1448 oc passenger sensor mat defect, looks like its srscm 70. was told that there IS a tsb recall on this problem, but when I called KIA, they said that it was not for this model. However after looking up this problem on the…
Airbag light came on, had a diagnostic ran on it came up as code b1448 oc passenger sensor mat defect, looks like its srscm 70. was told that there IS a tsb recall on this problem, but when I called KIA, they said that it was not for this model. However after looking up this problem on the internet, a lot of people with this car have had this problem. not only IS it bad enough that lots of people are complaining about this, but KIA says that they can't replace the sensor by itself, I would need to buy a new seat which would be $1600 dollars!!!! That's ridiculous. A problem such as this one should not be so expensive to fix. Did KIA put this sensor there so that we would have to pay almost 2 grand to fix a crappy electrical job? by the way this IS not the only KIA around this year with this exact problem. Recall the spectra5 too!!!! *tr
- Air bags
The air bag indicator for passenger side as decided to come on and off. the main problem IS on the dash board the air bag light comes on and acts as if the air bag indicator IS not working, and it then will go off and come back on. this IS a major safety concern and I have noticed it happening to…
The air bag indicator for passenger side as decided to come on and off. the main problem IS on the dash board the air bag light comes on and acts as if the air bag indicator IS not working, and it then will go off and come back on. this IS a major safety concern and I have noticed it happening to a lot of other KIA spectra5. it should be raised as a safety concern for the fact that now I am scared to place my family in this car. also this car runs great engine wise, however, all of my door handels have broken off, my ck engine light has been on since my car hit 30,000 miles and the cd player has a mind of its on. Electrical wise its not good.
- Service brakes
TL* the contact owns a 2006 KIA spectra 5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. After diagnosis, they advised her that the front and rear brakes and calipers failed and needed to be replaced. The…
TL* the contact owns a 2006 KIA spectra 5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle decelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. After diagnosis, they advised her that the front and rear brakes and calipers failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred approximately eight months later. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they advised her that the front brake caliper fractured causing damage to the brake line hose. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 35,763. The current mileage was approximately 37,000. The vin was unavailable. *tr
- Air bags
Air bag light on dash came on and stayed on. passenger air bag message on dash does not come on anymore after starting vehicle. took vehicle to dealer and they gave code as b1448 internal fault in passenger seat mat. est. Repair $1450. called KIA consumer number and asked if this was the same…
Air bag light on dash came on and stayed on. passenger air bag message on dash does not come on anymore after starting vehicle. took vehicle to dealer and they gave code as b1448 internal fault in passenger seat mat. est. Repair $1450. called KIA consumer number and asked if this was the same problem as KIA rio recall. I was informed that the nhtsa did not make them recall any other models and only if they were made by nhtsa would there be a recall and they would contact me if there ever was a recall. so after seeing other complaints I am asking the nhtsa to please include all KIA models in the recall. I have 93500 miles and was going on 7 years of trouble free driving with my KIA until now. I can not afford $1450 repair so it will remain as it IS. thank you. *tr
- Air bags
I bought this used vehicle 4 months ago. I will make a copy/paste of previous complaints. Without any real reason when the car IS started with a passenger or driver, either one may display that the air bags are not engaged while driving at any speed. It IS not predictable. This means that the…
I bought this used vehicle 4 months ago. I will make a copy/paste of previous complaints. Without any real reason when the car IS started with a passenger or driver, either one may display that the air bags are not engaged while driving at any speed. It IS not predictable. This means that the airbags may not deploy. at this time we have a trust issue with this vehicle in case of an accident. I think the manufacturer should make a recall for this situation. *tr
- Fuel/propulsion system
The strap that holds the fuel tank came lose due to the fact that the bolt was not properly installed at factory. They had a recall for corrosion of the straps, this has nothing to due with corrosion. This IS poor quality control that can cause serious injury in the case that the fuel tank has contact with the road surface. *tr
- Air bags
Without any real reason when the car IS started with a passenger or driver, either one may display that the air bags are not engaged (possible electrical issue) while driving at any speed. it IS not predictable. this means that the airbags are not operational. this started shortly after the…
Without any real reason when the car IS started with a passenger or driver, either one may display that the air bags are not engaged (possible electrical issue) while driving at any speed. it IS not predictable. this means that the airbags are not operational. this started shortly after the transmission was replaced by a dealer. the dealers claim that it IS not related but does not know what the cause IS. they do not guarantee that they can fix it. they will charge for the attempt to fix it but will not guarantee that they will succeed. we assume it IS an electrical issue... Possibly that contacts are worn out. if that IS the case, it should be happening to other spectra owners and IS a serious safety issue for these owners. *tr
- Structure · Visibility
The molding around windshield popped out on passenger side of car and IS beginning to bulge out from driver's side. This appeared overnight. *Tr
- Vehicle speed control
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 KIA spectra5. The contact was driving approximately 25 mph, approaching a traffic light. The vehicle surged forward unexpectedly. When the brake pedal was engaged, the vehicle continued to accelerate under the speed of 26 mph. There were several attempts before the…
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 KIA spectra5. The contact was driving approximately 25 mph, approaching a traffic light. The vehicle surged forward unexpectedly. When the brake pedal was engaged, the vehicle continued to accelerate under the speed of 26 mph. There were several attempts before the vehicle was able to slow down. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer. The technician stated that the computer software was not an updated version who also stated that the vehicle should not have been sold without the updated software. The vehicle was not repaired for the failure. The identical failure occurred which resulted in a crash. The vehicle was completely destroyed. There were no injuries. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 500.
- Air bags
The air bag light started coming on without incident. Since it started we have taken it to the dealer more than three times. The sensor was changed a couple of times, than the fuse box was changed. Each time so far the problem has returned. This last time I asked the service manager about when the…
The air bag light started coming on without incident. Since it started we have taken it to the dealer more than three times. The sensor was changed a couple of times, than the fuse box was changed. Each time so far the problem has returned. This last time I asked the service manager about when the light IS on IS the bag operational? He said no and that's when I got a real concern for the situation. That service dept. Has been attentive to my situation but to no avail its still a problem. The one consequence at this time IS our trust in this vehicle in case of an accident. KIA was contacted monday 2/22/10 and today IS wed 2/24/10. I mentioned to manager about my concern for my wife's safety in this vehicle and said he mentioned it in his report to KIA. *Tr
- Air bags
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 KIA spectra 5. While driving 35 mph, the driver failed to come to a stop which caused her to crash into the vehicle in front of her. The front end of the vehicle was damaged. The air bags failed to deploy. The dealer has nt been notified since the contact believed it was a manufacturers defect. the vin IS not available. The current and failure mileage was 46,000.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10201529TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
- 10041265KIA motors: installing an additional ground cable to the battery may cause sensor problems.
Every KIA SPECTRA5 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.