2009 Kia Spectra problems
The 2009 Kia Spectra has 152 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (51%) concerns air bags. Next are seats (7%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 152 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 51% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 29 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 18 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 71,000 miles 122 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 | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 14 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 30 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 28 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 9 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 122 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 70,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 71,000 miles (62 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 29 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 18 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 88% 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 2009 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 10 model years of the Kia Spectra with enough data (81 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.
My mother rear ended another car on 3-6-18. My mom, [xxx], died 3-13-18 from injuries inflicted by an airbag deploying. It broke all her facial bones including her jaw. It tore an artery on the left side of her brain and bruised the right side of her brain. Brain surgery was done but she could not recover from her injuries. She was driving a 2009 kia spectra. I have read articles that kia bags will deploy with greater force in some accidents. The wreck was her fault.
Letter from senator roberts re: inquiry on behalf of constitute in regards to her mother's 2009 kia spectra airbags deployed too much force and injured her mother. See also odi 11109673. *dsy the consumer stated the driver died as a result of injuries from the airbag during the crash. The manufacturer was notified.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia spectra ex/lx/sx. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the passenger front side of her vehicle. Upon impact the air bags failed to deploy and the restraint system failed to secure her in the seat. As a consequence she sustained severe injuries to the upper and lower part of her body. The cause of the failures has not been determined. She has a copy of indiana police report 09022263. She filed complaint number k1645446 with the manufacturer.
I am filing this for my mom. She rear ended a car who had stopped the flow of traffic at a green light to let a vehicle out of a parking lot. My mothers air bags did not deploy and she received a double open fracture to her right ankle and a fractured sternum and intense chest traura. She was life flighted to a hospital in wv ruby memorial she underwent surgery and they saved her right foot they wher unsure if they could save and talked before surgery of possible amputation
Airbag warning light is always on even if seat is occupied. In addition the airbag "off" message was displayed next to the clock and is always in the 'off', position. Both lights remain in that condition whether the vehicle is stationary mode (in park) or driving in motion. A safety inspection showed a b1448 code.