2003 Kia Spectra problems
The 2003 Kia Spectra has 132 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (14%) concerns brakes. Next are engine (10%) and transmission (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 132 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 16 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 13 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 53,000 miles 68 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 | 16 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 12 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 5 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 10 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 13 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 68 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 53,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 88,000 miles (16 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 16 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 13 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Kia Spectra with enough data (101 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.
Tl*the contact was a passenger in a 2003 kia spectra. While riding at approximately 30 MPH, the driver blacked out, causing her to crash into a telephone pole head. The air bags did not deploy. Both the dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The contact sustained a fractured sternum and multiple bruises. The driver sustained multiple bruises to the body and a tooth was knocked out. The vehicle was destroyed. The current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While driving vehicle was involved in a collision. The seat belt broke as a result of driver not being restrained properly. Please provide additional information.
While driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision. The dual airbags did not deploy. The driver sustained injuries,and the vehicle was totaled.
Every time I take off from a stop sign ect. My transmission kicks when shifting first to second gear. In an automatic,it is rare. It is only a 2003 too. I have had people tell me that transmissions are designed like that. Bull!!!
The covering around the steering column has crumbled and is coming apart. I'm concerned because I'm not sure if this will affect the air bag if needed. Very poor quality of material was used for this.