Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Kia Spectra problems

Owners filed 162 complaints about the 2007 Kia Spectra with NHTSA between May 2007 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (60).

Complaints
162
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
23
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
20
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags60
  2. Fuel/propulsion system17
  3. Electrical system17
  4. Fuel system, gasoline16
  5. Vehicle speed control12
  6. Latches/locks/linkages12
  7. Power train8
  8. Engine8
  9. Engine and engine cooling7
  10. Structure6
  11. Steering5
  12. Service brakes5
  13. Seat belts5
  14. Seats4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20074
20086
200916
201020
20119
201212
201317
201426
201520
201613
20177
20185
20191
20200
20212
20222
20231
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

60 reports16 crashes
“Passenger Air bag sensor light has come on and stayed on. Took to AutoZone and have them put it on the code reader and said it was something faulty in the sensor mat under the seat.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 22, 2024Air bagsODI 11566976

Fuel/propulsion system

17 reports
“I purchased my 2007 Spectra5 used with 155,000 miles on it. The engine had no codes or any stored codes. It ran fine until I filled it up with gas. I DO NOT overfill the tank because I understand EVAP issues. After filling up the vehicle would stall at idle and occasionally lose power (momentarily) at highway speeds (55 mph and up). Obviously this is an extremely dangerous situation! Once the gas level got below 1/2 tank the issues went away…but now I ONLY fill the tank to halfway and the problems arise again every so often. Since there are no codes present I cannot replicate the issue without possibly damaging components further and I already replaced the battery, plugs, IAC valve, MAF sensor, and oil to try to remedy this problem. From reading other’s comments about this same problem I do not want to keep pouring money into a problem that KIA itself seems unable, and unwilling, to fix. This is extremely frustrating and dangerous as occasionally the vehicle loses all power on the highway at speeds exceeding 55mph and I feel an accident is inevitable. I’m not financially well off enough to just eat the cost of this vehicle and get a new (used) vehicle though so…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2023Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11521552

Electrical system

17 reports1 fire
“Doors LOCK and UNLOCK on their own. I have been locked out numerous times, some with the engine still running.I brought car to Kia numerous times, and was told there was nothing that could be done, it was a manufacturing defect. I feel this could prevent a very serious problem , both in a collision, or if a child were to be locked in the car. At times the car locks by itself so quickly, I cannot even turn the key fast enough to open the door. I have owned this car since 2009, and it has happened at least 50 or more times.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2021Electrical systemODI 11436947

Fuel system, gasoline

16 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA SPECTRA5. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED A RUSTED METAL PIECE DRAGGING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V256000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000. *AS *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2019Fuel system, gasolineODI 11222198

Vehicle speed control

12 reports3 crashes
“WHEN STOPPED (FOR EXAMPLE AT A STOP SIGN), WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES GO FROM "IDLE" TO A HIGHER SPEED (IT ACCELERATES). MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME AND THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE FLOOR MAT. (I KNOW BECAUSE I LOOKED.)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11074597

Latches/locks/linkages

12 reports
“THE DOORS LOCK AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER UNLOCK. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME. THE LOCKS ALSO LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2014Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10559013
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.