2005 Kia Spectra recalls and problems

The 2005 Kia Spectra has 2 safety recalls and 103 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kia dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
103
Crashes / fires
23 / 1
Injuries / deaths
17 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2005 Kia Spectra vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2005 Kia Spectra recalls

Recall 11V-256: Fuel System, Other

Reported Apr 25, 2011 · 58,322 vehicles affected · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Problem: Kia is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 spectra ld vehicles manufactured from november 7, 2003, through march 6, 2007, originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. There is a possibility that corrosion of the fuel tank straps which hold the tank may occur as a result of prolonged exposure to road salt. As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may separate allowing the fuel tank to contact the ground and possibly disrupt the integrity of the tank.

Risk: The fuel tank can fall from the vehicle and strike the ground which could cause a fuel leak. Leaking fuel can create a fire hazard.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank straps and attaching hardware with new zinc coated parts. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on june 6, 2011. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.

Recall 05V-183: Steering

Reported Apr 28, 2005 · 368 vehicles affected · KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the steering tie rods may have a manufacturing flaw that affects the metallurgy.

Risk: If the rod cracks or fails, loss of vehicle steering control may occur which could result in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the steering rack assembly, which includes the tie rod components free of charge. Owners were notified by telephone on april 8, 2005. An additional letter was sent to owners who had not taken their vehicles in for repair. This letter was mailed may 20, 2005. Owners may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.

2005 Kia Spectra problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Air Bags43
Electrical System12
Vehicle Speed Control12
Steering10
Power Train7
Structure6
Seat Belts5
Suspension4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Engine4
Seats4
Parking Brake3

Most reported parts

  • Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module — 12
  • Air Bags › Frontal — 5
  • Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel — 4
  • Structure › Body — 4
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 3
  • Air Bags › Side/Window — 2
  • Power Train › Manual Transmission — 2
  • Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 50,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2005 Kia Spectra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Air Bags · at 128,636 miles · reported Nov 29, 2020
Airbag warning light is activated. Car has not sustained damage. Seat or sensor malfunction may cause airbag not to deploy in crash.
Electrical System · at 88,088 miles · reported Mar 29, 2020
Vehicle speedometer randomly quits. Also dash lights on binacle. Then will come back on after a day or so, have replace with genuine kia OEM parts but still happens. Also looked on forums online and seems to be a common occurrence.
Air Bags · at 100 miles · reported Mar 9, 2019
Upon purchase, brand new off the lot in 2005, the seat belt light on my dashboard was always coming on and off when driving even if a person was sitting in the passenger seat or not. I never really understood exactly why or had money to have it looked at specifically for that problem. When I would take it to the mechanic, they would always say it looked normal. When I finally was able to take it to a mechanic specifically for this issue, I was informed that the airbag would not deploy due to an issue with needing a new seat. I have had my kia spectra ex for some time now, so I had to have them…
Electrical System · at 127,089 miles · reported Nov 14, 2018
Speedometer and odometer not working well it works the first time in the morning when I drive after I turn car off and go to drive again it will not work the entire day. Recently I have meet someone with exact make and model with the exact same issue literally as I described the other person who I did not tell about the problem word for word describe the same problem. Also when speedometer isn't working the cruise control also will nitwork. I have replaced input and output speed sensor , wheel speed sensor and the speed sensor which wires back up to instrument cluster and nothing has fixed the…
Air Bags · at 105,000 miles · reported Sep 27, 2018
My passenger seat occupancy sensor has gone bad and kia is refusing to replace the sensor mat for 2005 kia spectras, even though they have agreed to replace the mat for the same model car from 2007 to 2009 see the NHTSA pdf about the 2007 model year recall: https://static.NHTSA.gov/odi/inv/2015/inot-pe15031-63613.pdf please speak with kia. This recall agreement should also apply to 2005 model spectras. They are refusing to replace the sensor mat.

Other Kia Spectra years

Compare all Kia Spectra years · All Kia models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2005 Kia Spectra have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 Kia Spectra: 11V-256 (fuel system, other), 05V-183 (steering). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 Kia Spectra?

Owners report air bags problems most often (43 reports), followed by electrical system (12). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 50,000 miles.

Are Kia recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kia dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.