2008 Kia Spectra5: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 24 complaints
24
Total Complaints
77,430mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
4
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

68,000 25th Percentile
77,430 Median Mileage
97,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
11
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
SEATS
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
SERVICE BRAKES
1

Severity Assessment

4
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"ABOUT 2YRS AFTER WE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE CAR WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE DRIVE WAY, AS WE PULLED OUT IT STARTED TO STALL AND DIED. WELL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AFTER FUELING UP THE TANK, WE WERE AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, UPON ACCELERATING TO GO THE CAR STALLED AND DIED(ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED). WE..."
"DRIVING ALONE ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AFTER DARK. HIT A COW CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $7,000 DAMAGE TO KIA SPECTRA5 VEHICLE FRONT END BODY, BUMPER, ETC. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AFTER REPAIRS COMPLETED AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND COULD NOT BE RESET BY KIA SHOP. PER KIA DEALE..."
"DRIVING ALONE ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AFTER DARK. HIT A COW CAUSING APPROXIMATELY $7,000 DAMAGE TO KIA SPECTRA5 VEHICLE FRONT END BODY, BUMPER, ETC. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS AFTER REPAIRS COMPLETED AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND COULD NOT BE RESET BY KIA SHOP. PER KIA DEALE..."

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