2003 Kia Spectra: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 132 complaints
132
Total Complaints
53,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
16
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

23,705 25th Percentile
53,000 Median Mileage
98,642 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
8
STRUCTURE
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
SEAT BELTS
6
AIR BAGS
5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
5
POWER TRAIN
4

Severity Assessment

16
Crashes
1
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEATER WENT OFF, DEALER INSPECTED AND FIXED THE PROBLEM ON 12/ 27/02 AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HEATHER SYSTEM WENT OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *DT"
"THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB"
"THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIBLE NOISE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NLM THE DOOR WAS MISALIGNED, REAR LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, SNOW HAD GOTTEN INTO THE REAR SEAT(S), THE VEHICLE LEAKED, SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, CLICK NOISE IN THE WIPERS WHEN ON A LOW SPEED..."

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