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Engine & cooling

Kia Spectra Engine problems by year

88 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Kia Spectra's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20098300
200811100
200715200
20068110
20055110
20047000
200315110
20026000
20016100
20007020

Latest Spectra engine complaints

2006 Kia SpectraEngine & cooling

My car just stop on me. I think my engine is not working had to called a tow truck to take me home and car.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11547352
2007 Kia SpectraTransmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

I purchased my 2007 Spectra5 used with 155,000 miles on it. The engine had no codes or any stored codes. It ran fine until I filled it up with gas. I DO NOT overfill the tank because I understand EVAP issues. After filling up the vehicle would stall at idle and occasionally lose power (momentarily) at highway speeds (55 mph and up). Obviously this is an extremely dangerous situation! Once the gas level got below 1/2 tank the issues went away...but now I ONLY fill the tank to halfway and the problems arise...

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again every so often. Since there are no codes present I cannot replicate the issue without possibly damaging components further and I already replaced the battery, plugs, IAC valve, MAF sensor, and oil to try to remedy this problem. From reading other's comments about this same problem I do not want to keep pouring money into a problem that KIA itself seems unable, and unwilling, to fix. This is extremely frustrating and dangerous as occasionally the vehicle loses all power on the highway at speeds exceeding 55mph and I feel an accident is inevitable. I'm not financially well off enough to just eat the cost of this vehicle and get a new (used) vehicle though so KIA has really put me (AND OTHER DRIVERS) in a difficult and dangerous position. As others have stated from mechanics who have tried to diagnose this issue, there may be a serious issue with the EVAP system including, but not limited to, the charcoal canister and purge valve. I will try replacing the fuel filter in the gas tank but I do not have high hopes that this will fix this problem. Once again, there are no codes present before or after these stalling/power loss problems and live data from and OBD2 scanner is within parameters for this vehicle and it's age. I need to report this now so everyone, ESPECIALLY KIA, is aware of this issue and information.

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11521552
2006 Kia SpectraBrakesEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2006 Kia Spectra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V256000 (Fuel System, Other). The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The check engine and brake warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the recall and failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 116,000.

Filed Incident Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11424462
2006 Kia SpectraBody, doors & structureEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 kia spectra. The contact stated that the door handles were inoperable. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic who stated that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The door handles were replaced however, the engine was not repaired nor replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000. *Ln*jb

Filed Incident Latches / locks / linkages · EngineNHTSA 11373460
2008 Kia SpectraWheels & tiresEngine & cooling

I was driving to work on 7 march 2020. As soon as I turn to park in the parking lot of my job, the car turned off. I try to crank it on 3 times it wouldn't let me. So I went in to work, thank god I made it to the parking lot at least. After running to auxine to see what's wrong with it (they were no help) I made few calls between friends and car companies. Turned out it was the timing belt that snapped and it's because it wasn't change for a long time and I only had the car for 3 years. So with the timing belt...

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messing up, it mess up the engine also. I am now with no car juggling between rides and taxis to take to work. I really love my kia and I am so sad this happened. I don't even know what to do. This happened at zaxbys parking lot (where I work at) in wilson, nc.

Filed Incident Wheels · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11318347
2008 Kia SpectraEngine & cooling

Will randomly stall. Been to the mechanic several times and we can't find the problem. Doesn't matter if your going down the road or just idling in the yard stalls out.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11258235
2006 Kia SpectraEngine & coolingFuel system

The transmission keeps stalling and jolting the car, we cannot run the air conditioner and it only runs when in 3rd gear. There is definitely something wrong with the car and we don't even feel safe putting our children in the car, because it's not safe, and we cannot run the air conditioner without it stalling or jolting and not accelerating properly. We had the timing belt replaced in september 2018, we've had multiple oil changes and kept up with maintenance. However the problems have only gotten worse, our...

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check engine light has been on since 02/2019 at least and we've put steering fluid in, but the problems keep getting worse. We can't run the air conditioner, our fuses keep blowing and I would like our car checked out and fixed.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11229779
2009 Kia SpectraBrakesEngine & coolingCrash

When I applied the brake, the car sped up and lurched forward hitting the vehicle ahead of me which was stopped at a traffic light; I had a mechanic inspect it, he said it was the brake calipers and replaced the calipers, and rotors, and the problem has continued to occur..Have had it back to the mechanic 3 times and he says he cannot reproduce the problem

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11184559
2007 Kia SpectraSteeringEngine & coolingFire

The car caught fire due to the tubing that carries the fluid burst and the oil splattered all over the engine and caused a fire. The vehicle was being driven down a major route road leading to the highway

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11149479
2007 Kia SpectraBrakesEngine & coolingFuel system

Engine 💡 came on imidiately after pulling out of dealership. So I ca"ed them and they stated it wasnt anything to worry about. Several customers were calling in about the same issue. They said it was just the change in weather and the gas cap. They reset engine 💡 several times. No sooner than I would pull off the lot, it would come back on. Then I ask them for an auto check history report showing odometer desciipancies. Roll back calculations. The radiator is cracked, the emergency brake doesn't work, and the brakes and stuff are bad.

Filed Incident Service brakes · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11040492
2008 Kia SpectraBody, doors & structureDriver assistanceEngine & coolingCrash

Takata recall was running the paper route for the telegraph and a deer ran out in front of my vehicle insurance said loss cause but air bags never went off and some how ended up in salvage...

Filed Incident Structure · Electronic stability control (ESC) · EngineNHTSA 11023779
2008 Kia SpectraEngine & cooling

On 9/19/2016 I was driving on the 91 freeway about 40 miles from home, my car made a loud noise and shut off, I was in the left (fast lane) and lost all power, I put on the hazard lights and honked the horn as I steered the car toward the right side of the freeway crossing several lanes, luckily I made it without having an accident, I called for the nearest tow company to come and tow my car home. When I got home I opened the hood and seen the crankshaft came through the plastic...

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10916209

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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