2001 Kia Spectra problems
The 2001 Kia Spectra has 56 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (16%) concerns air bags. Next are brakes (12%) and engine (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 56 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 19 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 12 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 30,000 miles 23 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 23 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 30,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 19 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 12 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 98% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2001 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Kia Spectra with enough data (46 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Front seat belt buckles broke when consumer's vehicle was hit in the rear by another vehicle. Both driver and passenger sustained minor cuts and bruises, and were transported to the emergency room. They were later released.
Vehicle hit a deer and neither airbag deployed. Consumer hit head on steering wheel and windshield, sustaining neck/back and knee injuries. As tow truck hooked vehicle up, both airbags deployed. Damage to vehicle was $ 8000.
Vehicle hit a deer and seat belt did not restrain consumer. Hit head on steering wheel and windshield. Suffered back/ neck and knee injuries. Damage to vehicle was $ 8000.
Rear right tire developed bubbles and made noise while driving. Name of tire: kumho, ecsta-hp4, tire size: p185/65r14 DOT: number unknown.
Trans all of a sudden started slipping with no prior issues. Was reading a TCM code then codes for each gear replaced trans new trans drove 30 miles and is doing the exact same thing have to drive like a stick 1st 2nd and then can put in drive around 35MPH. Also breaks come and go as they please.