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Electrical systemPart report

2009 Kia Spectra Electrical system Problems

Complaints
10about this part
Share
9%of 114 total for the year
Median mileage
56,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 10 complaints about the electrical system of the 2009 Kia Spectra, 9% of the 114 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 56,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

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.

“Takata recall, had new tires put on and now I have a light on on my dash all the time, I guess the tire place threw away or kept special valve stems, how do I turn off light. The front seat, seat cushion came loose from the seat frame while I was driving down a canyon road ,now I can lift the seat cushion and see the frame and floor below and dint know if cushion will come compleatly off next time I drive down the canyon road”

NHTSA complaint #11140540, filed 2018-10, 95,600 miles

“I installed a new battery in my vehicle recently,after removing the old battery I tried to get the new battery out of the car, which was in the back seat of the car. The doors happened to be locked but the drivers door window was down. With the battery out none of the doors would open, I reached in through the window to open the door from the inside and the door would not open and the windows would not roll down either. …”

NHTSA complaint #10938408, filed 2016-12, 124,500 miles

“The vehicle locks on its own. The car locks have a mind of there own and I feel it can potentially be a safety danger. For instance, one time the locks unlocked on there own while my toddler nephew was in the car. Another time, my wife was trying to open the car door multiple times as she was parked and a stranger seemed to be after her. She tried many times to unlock the car door, but the doors would lock on their own. Thank you.”

NHTSA complaint #10659310, filed 2014-11, 30,000 miles

“This car is trying to kill me. I turn on my car, feet aren't on the pedals, my rpms rev and sputter up to 4,000+ without me doing anything. Sometimes it will launch me a bit when I'm trying to back out of a parking spot. Sometimes I'll be at a stop sign or a red light, completely stopped, foot on the brake, hard. Cross-traffic flowing. Suddenly my engine revvs and my car lunges forward. Wtf Kia? I've taken it to Kia once and they told me its a transmission problem that's going to cost more than the car is even worth and more money than I have to spend. So now what? …”

NHTSA complaint #10863846, filed 2016-05, 89,000 miles

“The back seal belts stop working. They will not come out no matter what I try. They have been doing this since I got the cat in 2012. But now they won't come out at all. Also the blower for the A/C or heat stopped working. I had to slam my hood for it to come on but now it completely stopped coming on.”

NHTSA complaint #10819109, filed 2016-01

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2009109%
20081412%
20071611%
200655%
20051111%
2004710%
2003910%
2002910%
2001410%
200014%

Other parts of the 2009 Kia Spectra

Air bags
76 complaintsSeats
11 complaintsSeat belts
9 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsEngine cooling
3 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsWheels
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2009 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