The contact owns a 2008 Kia Spectra. The contact stated that all three brake lights failed to illuminate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the brake light switch assembly multi-connector wiring harness needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired. The contact found information on other Kia recalls for other years, makes, and models that described the same parts failure. The contact found information on SC077 (Brake Switch), SC298 (Light Assembly), and SC299 (Light Assembly). The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 209,000.
Lights
Kia Spectra Lighting problems by year
32 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Kia Spectra's lights. Headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and interior lighting failures.
Lighting complaints by model year
Latest Spectra lighting complaints
The car randomly starts. When the car is finally started sometimes the power steering goes out, the windows randomly roll down, the locks randomly lock and unlock themselves. I have taken the car to several mechanic shops including electrical specialist and the dealership. None of them are able to determine what the problem is.
Purchased a 2008 kia spectra 5 in 2009. For 3 years it was a good commuter car. Then weird things started happening out of the blue. First, the car wouldn't allow us access by use of the key fob. It would unlock then lock. The vehicle flip the door unlock lever back and forth like a ghost was moving. Second, the car would blow a front head lamp almost every 6 months like clock work when the vehicle was shifted into drive from park. Third, the front console controlling the fan, heat etc. Would just stop working only...
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to start working a few hours or days later. Especially problematic in winter. Fourth, the ocs sensor mat for the front passenger air bag has malfunctioned. This happens when the car is moving or stationary. In addition the car has a dangerous lag in gaining speed when trying to merge into traffic at high speeds on interstates. I guess I'm just waiting for the next gremlin to appear. Will never own a kia again.
My son was in a collision, he rear ended someone, the whole drivers side in totally caved in and the airbags did not deploy.
The right-side passenger brakes lights are not working. All bulbs are good. My cruise control has been working intermittently. As I'm unable to view my brake lights while driving, I'm going to assume that these two problems are occurring at the same time. I believe it is due to a defective brake switch. I tested the cruise control by trying to engage it while driving at 40 mph. It did not engage. When checking the brakes with the car parked in the driveway - they worked intermittently. All wires are in good shape...
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and free from corrosion. I also have a problem with the passenger airbag sensor and reported this to your organization. At the time I reported it there had not been enough complaints for the spectra, specifically, to receive any help. The problem did exist in high numbers in other kia models of the same year -2008. Recently, I received notice that the air bag sensor defect has now been recognized and I can have this repair made at the dealership at kia's expense. I think it is prudent to report this apparent brake switch defect as I notice recalls on other kia models of the same year as mine - 2008 for brake switch defect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia spectra. While driving at various speeds, the cruise control failed to engage and the brake lights failed to illuminate when the brake pedal was depressed. The failures recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp switch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was temporarily repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 13v114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. Updated 05/24/16*lj
Dashboard airbag light illuminated, and nothing I tried--scanner, calling the dealer, and inspecting it myself--seems to be addressing the issue. I see multiple people are experiencing simpler symptoms. The light illuminates as usual upon ignition and shuts off as normal. It then comes back on around 10 to 20 seconds after the car starts, and it does not shut off until I turn off the car. The it sounds like a warranty issue.
Air bag light will not go off....Updated 09/22/15 *bf updated 11/03/2017*cn
My car was parked, in my driveway, and had ran fine the day before. I went out and started the car but could not get the car out of park and into reverse. I was unable to even roll the car a little by pushing it, which indicates the car was stuck in park with force. I had my neighbor come over and he managed to, with a ton of pressure, put the car in reverse. Seems to not be as hard on a flat surface but my driveway has a slant to it. Put car back in driveway and tried to leave a couple hours later and same issue....
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I had to purchase aaa and have somebody come out to pull out of park. Looked on line and there's a ton of recalls big mine the 2007 kia spectra. Which is the only year not being recalled. I was told, by kia dealership it was safe to drive but pet my research, no it's not. They want to change for repair yet every other kia make is recalled. *Js
I have a kia spectra 2006 which I have to keep replacing the headlights every three to four months. This issue began about three years ago when I had over 100,000 miles in my vehicle. I can't figure out why the headlights would burn so often. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 kia spectra. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the low beam lights and tail lights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that all four bulbs had burned out. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000. Updated 11/12/13*cn
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia spectra. The contact stated that the tail lights failed to power off when the vehicle was parked and unoccupied. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage was 63,000. The vin was not available. *Tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia spectra. The contact stated that the cruise control engage light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp switch needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions for the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000 and the current mileage was 80,000. *Tr
I have had to replace the head lamps on my 2006 kia spectra multiple times since it's purchase in 2006 but recently the drivers side tail light went out and I replaced the bulb and a week or so later my neighbor told me the passenger side tail light was out so when I proceeded to change the bulb like I did with the other, I couldn't get it to come out, it appeared to be fused to the plastic casing...When I finally got it out and replaced the bulb I went to turn the car on to check that it lit up I noticed that the...
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dashboard lights had gone out and the passengerside parking light...I have replaced all the bulbs and all the appropriate fuses. I can not imagine I am the first to have this issue. *Tr
I have a 2007 kia spectra 5. I pulled into a gas station and a woman pulled in to tell me I had no brake lights. I had just gone on a trip with my parents following behind me so it had to have just gone out. The next day my husband called the kia dealership and they said because the spectra was not on the recall list we would have to pay out of pocket. It seems that since the defect is occurring exactly like other models. There are also instances I have found online of other spectras doing the same thing. *Tr
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