2008 Kia SPECTRA5 Problems
- Complaints
- 16filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles, 15 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5. The part named most often is air bags, with 11 complaints (69% of the total), followed by fuel system (3) and electrical system (2). 15 of the complaints include a mileage, and 7% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags11 69%
- Fuel system3 19%
- Electrical system2 13%
- Seats2 13%
- Brakes1 6.3%
- Exterior lighting1 6.3%
- Other or unknown1 6.3%
- Body and structure1 6.3%
Example complaints
Air bags: “Passenger seat air bag sensor has gone bad on my 2008 Kia spectra 5. Car has 77,522 miles. Was told by Kia dealer that seat bottom needs to be replaced at a cost of $1700. Safety is the car manufacture's big selling feature. A recall should be issued by Kia in my opinion.”
NHTSA complaint #10838105, filed 2016-02, 77,430 milesFuel system: “This had been an ongoing problem since about 24,000 miles, but dealer just said to add power booster or something...by the time of this first documented dealer check out, it had gotten much worse... It has been in several times to no avail, and other than spending money on various solutions (that did not work) it has progressively gotten much worse. Finally I was told by dealer to not overfill or top off the tank when filling with fuel. Something that I do not do!!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10664927, filed 2014-12, 34,185 milesElectrical system: “Purchased a 2008 Kia spectra 5 in 2009. For 3 years it was a good commuter car. Then weird things started happening out of the blue. First, the car wouldn't allow us access by use of the key fob. It would unlock then lock. The vehicle flip the door unlock lever back and forth like a ghost was moving. Second, the car would blow a front head lamp almost every 6 months like clock work when the vehicle was shifted into drive from park. Third, the front console controlling the fan, heat etc. Would just stop working only to start working a few hours or days later. Especially problematic in winter. …”
NHTSA complaint #11054208, filed 2017-12, 65,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
7% of the 15 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 96,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10201529Sep 13, 2021Body and structure, Exterior lighting. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
Other model years of the Kia SPECTRA5
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 16 | 80,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2007 | 10 | 87,500 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2006 | 18 | 80,500 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 have?
NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 11 complaints (69% of the total), followed by fuel system with 3.
Has the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Kia SPECTRA5 reported?
Among the 15 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,000 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 96,000 miles; 7% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.