Kia Spectra — Years to Avoid
Reliability breakdown of every Kia Spectra model year. Based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.
Model Years
10
Year
Risk Level
Complaints
Recalls
Invest.
TSBs
2009
152
0
1
28
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2009
152 complaints0 recalls1 invest.28 TSBs
2008
162
0
1
30
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2008
162 complaints0 recalls1 invest.30 TSBs
2007
206
1
1
30
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2007
206 complaints1 recalls1 invest.30 TSBs
2006
129
1
0
19
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2006
129 complaints1 recalls19 TSBs
2005
130
2
0
23
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2005
130 complaints2 recalls23 TSBs
2004
92
1
0
27
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2004
92 complaints1 recalls27 TSBs
2003
132
0
0
12
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2003
132 complaints0 recalls12 TSBs
2002
121
0
1
15
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2002
121 complaints0 recalls1 invest.15 TSBs
2001
56
0
1
13
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2001
56 complaints0 recalls1 invest.13 TSBs
2000
30
0
3
12
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2000
30 complaints0 recalls3 invest.12 TSBs
How we calculate this
Each year receives a composite risk score based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, safety investigations, and technical service bulletins. Years scoring more than 2x the model's average are flagged as “years to avoid.” Years in the lowest risk bracket are marked as “best years.” All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Which Kia Spectra Years Should You Avoid?
The Kia Spectra shows relatively consistent reliability across model years, with no single year standing out as significantly worse than others.
10 model years analyzed