Most common 2008 Kia Spectra problems
Share of the 121 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Spectra complaints by model year
Best Spectra years: 2000, 2001, 2004. Years to avoid: 2007. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Kia Spectra:
Occupant Classification System
The subject vehicle population is MY 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles.Consumers report that the SRS (air bag) warning light is illuminated in their vehicle.The focus of the investigation was the failure of the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat.This sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could…
What 2008 Kia Spectra owners say
Air bags all 61 →
The passenger air bag has failed. The dash light stays on due to issue and the air bag itself stays off per the light on the airbag on/off alert. I contacted the dealership who quoted me over $100 just to take a look at it, but was told this seems to be an issue with Spectras that they see pretty commonly.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Kia Spectra. The contact stated while a passenger in the vehicle travelling at 45 MPH, the vehicle was hit on the passenger side by another vehicle as a result the passenger and driver side air bags as well as the passenger side air bags failed to deploy. The passenger and the driver of her vehicle sustained back, head and arm injures while the driver sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. The contact stated that the occupants of the other vehicle sustained no injuries. A police report was filed. The car was drivable as the air bags failed deploy however, the vehicle was deemed a total loss. The approximate failure mileage 185,000. The VIN was not available.
Speed control & acceleration
After starting car, for first 15-20 mins, all normal. After speedometer go erratic (showing slower than actual speed - or - higher than actual speed) and soon after it just stops working. No check engine light. Dangerous to drive without knowing actual speed. Have to use mobile phone app like Waze or something which shows apx speed. Upon internet search, I found there are many Kia spectra Ex (from 05-09 models) reported similar issues. This situation is dangerous as driver may be following speedometer on highway and ending up driving slower than actual speed. NHTSA should issue a recall. Kia - as usual - never acknowledged issue to save money. Dealership recommending me buy a new car rather than fixing the issue or at least attempting to fix it. When declined for trade-in (or buy a new car) they demanded upfront diagnostic charges without telling me what is actual issue.
Intermittingly, after starting the vehicle, engine begins revving. Intermittingly, while slowing & stopping at a traffic light, engine begins revving and attempts to lurch forward. I have to press the break very hard to keep vehicle from moving forward. Fred anderson Kia, raleigh, nc investigated this problem on 7/10/15 but was unable to recreate the problem. They re-cleaned the throttle body. The issue has continued on and off since then. On 8/20/15, after approximately 45 minutes of highway driving, I pulled into the parking lot at work. I put the car into reverse to back into a parking spot & the engine started revving dramatically & the car jerked noticeably as it went into gear. I backed into the spot & put the car in park, again jerking. I let the car idle for a few minutes & moved it in & out of gear. …
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Kia Spectra. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, there was an abnormal noise and suddenly there was smoke inside of the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A fire and a police report were filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,500. According to the letter from the consumer's lawyer, the vehicle was destroyed by an electrical fire arising under the dashboard, apparently from the blower/ventilation system. Updated 09/14/15. Ma 10/5 status updated 11/19/15. The consumer stated the manufacturer denied any liability. They blamed the fire on a past incident, where the vehicle was filled with too much oil. Updated 04/25/16.
I bought my 2008 Kia Spectra in June of 2015. About a month after the purchase my door locks started acting up occasionally. Now it is an almost everytime occurance. I will unlock my door via key fob, and it will instantly, and automatically, relock itself(all doors). When it does decide to unlock, and stay that way until I enter the vehicle, as soon as I open the drivers door all doors wil lock. I find this quite annoying, and dangerous due to the fact that I have a child, and a wife, and I would rather not have my vehicle prevent them from entering, or exiting the vehicle safetly. I have been in touch with Kia dealers and have been told that it will be a 300-750 dollar fix, and Kia motors themselves stated that some Spectra's have this issue, but mine does not because there is no service campaign for my VIN.
2008 Kia Spectra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 30 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Kia Spectra a good car?
Based on 121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Spectra rates average: 1.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Spectra at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Kia Spectra?
The air bags — 61 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the speed control & acceleration (15) and electrical system (14).
How many recalls does the 2008 Kia Spectra have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Kia Spectra. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Spectra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000, 2001 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007. See the full Kia Spectra years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Kia Spectra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 74,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.