SeatsPart report

2003 Kia Spectra Seats Problems

Complaints: 3about this part
Share: 3%of 90 total for the year
Median mileage: 80,500miles
Trend: Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the seats of the 2003 Kia Spectra, 3% of the 90 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,500 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was driving down the highway during my trip to work (about an hour trip each way from my home), and my seat suddenly flung back into the back seat. I lost control of the vehicle for a moment and luckily snapped back up and got the vehicle back under control. After looking at what had happened, the metal railing under the seat that is attached to the floorboard had snapped...the front part of the railing still bolted down, and then an inch or two back the metal is just simply snapped in two. …”

NHTSA complaint #10183603, filed 2007-02, 51,000 miles

“Drivers seat bracket attaching seat to car broke three times, once under warranty which caused damage to entire seat, and once under replacement parts warranty . Third time outside of warranty period.”

NHTSA complaint #10182972, filed 2007-02, 110,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10001612, filed 2002-12

Seats: other model years

Year	Complaints	Share of year
2009	11	10%
2008	2	2%
2007	4	3%
2006	1	1%
2005	4	4%
2004	2	3%
2003	3	3%
2002	2	2%
2001	1	3%

Other parts of the 2003 Kia Spectra

Brakes
18 complaints Transmission and drivetrain
16 complaints Engine cooling
14 complaints Air bags
11 complaints Body and structure
11 complaints Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaints Electrical system
9 complaints Seat belts
9 complaints Exterior lighting
7 complaints Fuel system
5 complaints Steering
4 complaints Equipment
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Kia Spectra

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology