2003 Kia Spectra: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 90 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (13% of complaints); the 2001 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
90
owner complaints
1
fire reports
55,500
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaigns1 fire report
Common problems
Computed from 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)13% · 12 complaints
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)12% · 11 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)11% · 10 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)9% · 8 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)8% · 7 complaints
Visibility (windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors)7% · 6 complaints
“My car is leaking gas on the passenger side underneath the car I also have gas fumes in my car too, I am losing a lot of gas in my car.I have strangers pointing out that my car is leaking gas and the smell of gas when I park my car in a public parking lot when I do shopping, I fear that my car will go up in flames and I have my children ride in the car and complain about the fumes of gas I see that there was the same recalls on 2004 kia spectra. Mine is is a 2003 which I having the exact problems with a gas leak . I need this to be on a recall list to get repair asap , for the safety of me and my kids.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · May 2018
“I noticed brake fluid underneath my car one day and checked my level to find that there was basically no brake fluid in the reservoir. Turns out it's the brake proportioning valve. After looking online it seems like this is a trend and has caused accidents previously. The mechanic was surprised that this was indeed the problem after calling and then getting the car repaired. The leak came on suddenly and was fairly sever requiring that I add brake fluid after every short drive. If I hadn't noticed this problem I likely would have ended up rear-ending someone or worse. It also seems to be prevalent amongst the 2000-2005 models.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Oct 2016
“I bought a car from a used dealer and I was informed that it had no frame damage but I took it to two garages and both garages informed me that there was frame damage front and back and the one garage I took it to said that they were aware of the frame damage”Owner report · Structure · Oct 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 kia spectra. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2014
“Tl* 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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2014
“Went to turn on my heater today and the smell of gasoline filled my car, 4-door sedan. The car had the same problems as many of the other owners mentioned before e.g. A brake fluid leak, squealing brakes and the transmission is always slow to kick in when pulling off from a stop. Never experienced a gas leak problem with any other car I owned. *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2013
“At my cost I had to replace the brake proportioning valve which was causing a brake fluid leak. Apparently this is a common dangerous situation. Please create a recall before someone's brakes completely fail in traffic. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2013
“The brake fluid proportioning valve is leaking for no reason. Not a serviceable part. Must be replaced. Not a wear and tear part either. Very common issue with 2002 and 2003 research stated. Thanks. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes · Dec 2012
“The car all of the sudden started loosing brake fluid rapidly. My perfectly good brakes were going out and I almost wrecked my car because of this problem. The kia dealership in dickinson, tx is charging me 300 dollars + to fix this problem. I see that thousands of people have had this problem with a defective manufacture part. My mechanic said that this was the first proportioning valve he has seen completely destroyed like this in 10+ years. This is happening to thousands of people. I have wrote all news stations about this and I am pursuing this aggressively. You all recalled the 2004-2007 proportioning valves then it should be for the earlier models as well. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Oct 2012
“My mother bought this car brand new couple years back. Haven't had any problems till now. On my way to work im going around a curve and transmission went out. Thought for a second I accidentally put it in neutral. My transmission never slipped, shifted hard or any other signs of problems. This is crazy, not sure yet if kia is covering they promised warranty.. I really hope so.. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2012
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2003 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
Body stylesHatchback/Liftback/Notchback · Sedan/Saloon
How other years compare
Check your exact Spectra by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Kia Spectra reliable?
NHTSA has 90 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Kia Spectra. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (13% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Kia Spectra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 55,500 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.