2008 Kia Spectra problems
The 2008 Kia Spectra has 163 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (37%) concerns air bags. Next are cruise control (9%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 163 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 37% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 27 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 28 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 85,000 miles 129 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 | 22 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 16 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 24 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 20 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 16 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Of the 129 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 85,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 64,000 miles (42 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 27 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 28 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 91% 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 2008 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Kia Spectra with enough data (71 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 owned a 2008 kia spectra. The contact stated that while traveling in rainy weather, the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a pole. The front driver frontal and side curtain air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained severe injuries from the impact and was killed. The failure and the current mileage was 41,000. Updated 04/23/12 updated 05/08/12 spoke with consumer, there was one death and no injuries. Updated 05/151/2
Vehicle hit from rear at high rate of speed and pushed into vehicle to drivers side and vehicle in front. Fire dept at scene said the vehicle was impacted where airbag sensor is and should have gone off. No airbags went off. Driver with serious injuries. Children in back seat very minor injuries.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia spectra. While driving approximately 35 MPH, a second vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. During the crash, the air bags deployed, but the driver suffered first degree burns on both arms and right hand from chemicals used in the air bags. The front passenger also suffered an injured right hand and shoulder from the air bag deployment. A police report was not filed and medical attention was received. The manufacturer was notified.
The sensor light turned on and disabled airbags. We took it to the all star kia in baton rouge off of siegen lane. They told us it would be 1549. To fix it. I contacted corporate office spoke to [xxx] , he told me he would send the case to regional office since I wanted them to pay for it. Three days later [xxx] called me and said they would pay for half of the cost, we declined he said he would then send it to the regional office. I reminded him he had said that three days ago.
My airbag light is staying on when occupied. I'm at almost 60,000 mls. Thought I saw something about a recall sometime ago so l was surprised that I couldn't find any considering the complaints l've been seeing. I don't have to many passengers as my children were always in back and just started riding in front. So I'm not sure how long it could have been going on. Just wanted to let someone know another 08' s light is lit. Thanks for your time.