2001 Kia Spectra: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 56 complaints
56
Total Complaints
30,000mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Top Issue
19
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

13,750 25th Percentile
30,000 Median Mileage
76,700 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
5
POWER TRAIN
5
AIR BAGS
4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
SEAT BELTS
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1

Severity Assessment

19
Crashes
2
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE HIT A DEER AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD, SUSTAINING NECK/BACK AND KNEE INJURIES. AS TOW TRUCK HOOKED VEHICLE UP, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 8000. *AK"
"VEHICLE HIT A DEER AND SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CONSUMER. HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. SUFFERED BACK/ NECK AND KNEE INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 8000. *AK"
"WHILE DRIVING 65MPH VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER PRESSING GAS PEDAL. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO JERK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A SHORT IN WIRES. HAD WIRE FUSED BACK, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28