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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Fuel system, other: storage, tank assembly
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 SPECTRA LD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 7, 2003, THROUGH MARCH 6, 2007, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH HOLD THE TANK MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY SEPARATE ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND AND POSSIBLY DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE TANK.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THE FUEL TANK CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIKE THE GROUND WHICH COULD CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. LEAKING FUEL CAN CREATE A FIRE HAZARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE WITH NEW ZINC COATED PARTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Owner complaints (71)
Owners filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Kia Spectra (16 crashes, 1 fires, 9 injuries, 1 deaths reported). Among 10 model years of this model, it ranks #8 for the most complaints (median 100).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Air bags | 26 | |
| Power train | 16 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | |
| Electrical system | 7 | |
| Seat belts | 5 | |
| Suspension | 4 | |
| Steering | 3 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Kia Spectra.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2004 Kia Spectra 4-DR w/SAB (2004.5) | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2004 Kia Spectra version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Spectra 1.8L 1.8 L Automatic 4-spd | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Spectra 1.8L 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 21 | 29 | 24 | $2,800 |
| Spectra 2.0L 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 21 | 31 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Spectra 2.0L 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.