2004 Kia Spectra: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 71 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (28% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tamara recall; there was an accident about ten cars in front of me. I seen everyone start hitting there brakes so I started applying mine. Then I realized everyone had come to a stop so I applied on my brakes even harder and they locked up and I slid about 15 ft. And hit a truck in the rear end still going about 35 mph. It shoved the front end of my car back quite a bit but yet my airbags never deployed.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2017
“After parking my car I could not open the driver side (left front) door. The inside door handle no longer opens the door. I now have to roll down the window and open the door using the outside door handle. I feel this is a safety issue. In an emergency I could become trapped inside. The electric windows won't work unless the car is running or the key is in the "on" position. Also it has a manual transmission with a stick shift so trying to exit through the passenger side really is not an option. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Dec 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia spectra. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact also stated months later the seat belt springs from the driver and passenger side exploded. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000 and the current failure mileage 143,000.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Nov 2012
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“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia spectra. The contact stated that that a sizzling noise was heard coming from the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that there was an electrical failure. The failure vehicle was previously repaired for the same failure, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 11,000 and the current mileage was 13,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Dec 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia spectra. The contact received a recall notice for recall 05v431000 (air bags) and the repair was performed. However, the air bag light illuminated again and stayed on. The passenger air bag sensor was non-functional. When someone sat in the passenger seat, the light did not illuminate indicating that the air bag was activated. The dealer stated that the failure could result in the air bag not deploying in an accident or it deploying at any time. The failure mileage was approximately 57,800. The current mileage was approximately 58,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2010
“Fuel tank straps rusting out. My fuel tank straps rusted out causing one to drag the ground making sparks! I looked over the car and nothing is rusted like the straps, the exsust is good the heat shield and the fuel lines are good just the fuel straps are so rusted to the point they snapped!”Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Apr 2010
“Tl* the contact owns a 2004 kia spectra. The contact stated that the seat track on the passenger side was located where the air bags were. She assumed that because the wires for the air bags were run close to the seat track, the air bags were disconnected when the seat was moved back and forth because the air bag light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer who stated that the seat mechanism would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was approximately 140,000 and the failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”Owner report · Seats · Jan 2010
“Black ice on roads I ended up turned upside down in a six foot ditch. Car has been totaled. No air bags deployed. Upset that a crash like that the air bags would not deploy. What is the protocol for something like this? *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2008
“Tl*the contact owns a 2004 kia spectra. While slowing down for a red light or stop sign at any speed, the vehicle makes a loud noise and accelerates. The contact had to turn off the vehicle in order for the failures to stop. The failure began in january of 2008. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. On november 9, 2008, while driving 5 mph in reverse, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a tree. The contact was uninjured. The vehicle is currently at the body shop. The failure mileage was 28,000 and current mileage was 37,000. Updated 12/17/08.*lj updated 12/18/08. *jb”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Nov 2008
“The car will suddenly accelerate while driving. It will also lunge when shifting into gear, forward and reverse. It does not occur everytime the vehicle starts. We brought it to the dealership twice for this problem. The first time they said they couldn't duplicate the problem. The 2nd time they said that it is normal for rpm's to go up when the engine is cool. When the car lunges, the brakes have to be depressed as hard as possible to stop the car. It sounds like the same problem they had with the kia amanti. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2008
When filing, owners marked a crash in 16 of these complaints and injuries in 9 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 SPECTRA LD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THROUGH MARCH 6, 2007, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH HOLD THE TANK MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY SEPARATE ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TANK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE WITH NEW ZINC COATED PARTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2004 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
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 2004 Kia Spectra reliable?
NHTSA has 71 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2004 Kia Spectra. The most complained-about area is air bags (28% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Kia Spectra problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 31,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Kia Spectra have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:mounting. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.