CarRecallWatchThe 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, including 3 crashes, 5 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Air Bags (11 reports).
0Recalls
16Owner complaints
3Crashes reported
n/aNHTSA safety rating
Is the repair still open on your SPECTRA5?
2008 Kia SPECTRA5 recalls
No safety recalls on file for the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5.
Most common 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 problems
Problem areas named in the 16 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
What owners report
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO ANTI SLIP RESISTANCE ON THE PEDALS AT ALL. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OF TIMES, WHERE MY MOTHER OR MY FOOT WOULD SLIP OFF THE BRAKE ONTO THE GAS CAUSING US TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE OBJECT IN FRONT OF US. IT FINALLY GOT ME AND I HIT THE SIDE OF MY HIGHSCHOOL WHICH DAMAGED MY HOOD AND BUMPER. I WOULD REALLY HAVE HATED IF ONE OF MY FRIENDS OR ANYONE AT ALL WERE IN FRONT OF MY CAR OR IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I GOT LUCKY THIS TIME BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT TIME?
SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (SUA): CRUISE CONTROL (CC) SET TO ~85 MPH, SUDDEN LURCHING RED-LINE ACCELERATION OCCURRED, CC WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. HAD TO FIGHT MY VEHICLE (PULL E-BRAKE) TO GET SAFELY TO FREEWAY SHOULDER THEN TURN IGNITION OFF. CAR CONTINUED TO TRY TO RED LINE AFTER IGNITION KILLED, SHIFTING THRU ALL GEARS, BATTERY TERMINALS DISCONNECTED OR CC MODULE DISCONNECTED. VERIFIED BRAKE LIGHTS WORKED FINE AFTER PULLING OVER. 1ST INCIDENT - BEHIND AN 18-WHEELER, ALMOST REAR ENDED SAID 18-WHEELER! AFTER ~2HRS THE CAR "RESOLVED" ITSELF & STOPPED TRYING TO ACCELERATE. 2ND INCIDENT - HAD TO NAVIGATE MULTIPLE CARS AROUND & PULLED OVER IN A CURVE! DID NOT RESOLVE ITSELF THIS TIME -
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 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 C
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE SHARP EDGES. THE THIN METAL COATING ON THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES IS PEELING OFF. THE SHARP EDGES CAUSED A CUT ON MY HAND.
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JUNE 19, 2017. A VEHICLE HIT MY KIA AT A SPEED OF 30 - 40 MPH IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL BASE. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN OUT OF A SHOPPING CENTER, MOVING LESS THAN 10 MPH.
2008 Kia SPECTRA5 questions
Does the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls on file for the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 at this time.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (11), Fuel/Propulsion System (2), Electrical System (2).
How do I check if a recall on my 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.