Kia Spectra brake failure problems

Filed Dec 12, 2016 · Airbags, Brakes · 140,000 miles · SC · crash · 2 injuries

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 kia spectra. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact applied the brakes while approaching a red light. The engine shut down, and the steering and brakes failed. The vehicle crossed the intersection and crashed into the rear driver side of another vehicle. The brake and steering lights indicators remained illuminated. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The air bags failed to deploy. Two injuries were sustained, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

Filed Dec 30, 2015 · Brakes · 200,000 miles · VA · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2005 kia spectra. While driving 45 MPH, the contact noticed that the brake pedal was stiff when it was depressed. The brakes failed without warning and a crash occurred. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 kia spectra. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the brakes failed. The contact stated that the brake pedal went completely to the floorboard. The contact added brake fluid to the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that she noticed that the brake fluid was leaking out of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed May 12, 2011 · Brakes · 85,000 miles · TX

The car was parked in the driveway in 1st gear with the emergency brake engaged. The brake failed and the car rolled down our driveway and hit the house across the street.

Filed Dec 20, 2010 · Brakes · 80,150 miles · KY

Brake warning light illuminated. Brake fluid reservoir was low ? Added fluid. Light came on again after driving a short distance. Mechanic stated brake proportioning valve was leaking on 2003 kia spectra; potential for brake failure that could result in fatal accident.

Filed Nov 16, 2010 · Brakes · 21,000 miles · AZ · crash

In mid-sept10 I experienced 2 brake failures on my 2007 kia spectra ex. Each time after driving approx 800 miles to & from northern ca. Brakes failed to engage when exiting off of ca99 to ca4 (angels camp). Was able to steer car to far right shoulder where emergency brake was deployed. Thereby not hitting car in front of me. After 5 minutes was able to continue remainder of trip (40miles). Next morning took car to local kia dealership, they kept the car 2days/insisted that I call a report into kia consumer affairs; which did. According to them car was "operating according to specs"..in otherwords, we take no responsibility...upon returning back home to az. The same thing happened, except this time my garage door was what stopped my car. Both times the brake pedal was depressed all the way to the floor and nothing happened....again I used the emergency brake...but I damaged my gd/my brothers new car that was parked ion the other side and the front of my car...the car was towed to kia were it was kept for 2wks, while corporate decided how to proceed....after that time my car was returned to me..again with (this time verbally only) the expression of "working according to specs" used...I dealt with kia ca..I thought they were going to take care of the situation....overall I was treated like a I had done it deliberately..I have been driving for 32yrs and never have had as much as a ticket, much less an accident....when I asked the service manager for a "written" statement about the driveablity of my car, I was told it would come from the consumer affairs division.......after 2 additional calls to them I gave up.t...I subsequently wrote to our state's attorney's office/the local newspaper/aarp/jd powers & assoc.(they give kia safety awards). In researching I found over 1200 complaints on kia brake problems alone. & nothing has been done. I continue to make sure noone I know ever buys a kia! !the sm at kia had the gall to say- drive careful when I picked up my car!!

Filed Apr 7, 2010 · Brakes · AL

Loss of brakes when air condition is on.

Filed Aug 12, 2009 · Acceleration, Airbags · 14,500 miles · MA · crash · 1 injury

1. Two passengers (female 64 yr driver and female 13 yr old passenger) were proceeding down a residential road in a 2007 kia spectra at less than 20 MPH. Halfway down the road, driver began to lightly apply the brake knowing that the stop sign was further down the road. At this moment the car revved and experienced sudden acceleration. The driver shouted out that something was wrong with the car. The driver attempted to stop the car but the brakes failed. The car accelerated to approximately 60 MPH. Unable to stop, the car went through the stop sign and proceeded across the street towards a guard rail. Driver instinctively turned the wheel to the left so that the car would not hit the guard rail head on. The vehicle collided with the guard rail on the passenger side, throwing the driver into the passenger seat, where the other passenger was sitting. The driver hit her head hard on the passenger window and experienced other injuries as a result of being thrown from the driver seat. The air bags in the car failed to deploy. The car bounced off the guard rail and proceeded at full speed across the street again. The car ran over some small hedges in a resident's yard and proceeded up a steep hill before coming to a stop. The passenger of the car immediately dialed 911 and the police/ambulance arrived shortly after. 2. The car's electronic throttle is believed to be defective. This defect results in random episodes of sudden acceleration when the brakes are applied. Because the episodes are random, the problem is not easily duplicated. However, there are numerous documented cases of sudden acceleration in kia vehicles on the internet. 3. Vehicle was towed to a mechanic for investigation. Mechanic attempted a diagnostic test, but mechanic reported that the 2007 kia spectra is not sophisticated enough to apply such a test. Vehicle was then taken to the local kia dealership for further examination. Kia claims they are unable to duplicate the problem.

Filed Jun 8, 2006 · Brakes · 6,200 miles · MI

I was coming to a stop, depressing my brakes and the pedal went all the way to the floor, failing to stop my car. I pressed the brake pedal again, the car jumped forward and then came to a stop. This happened twice today, neither time causing an accident, but came close to hitting a house and a gas station.

Filed May 1, 2006 · Brakes · 650 miles · CA · crash

Dt*: the contact stated while approaching a stop driving 15 MPH, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle. The brake pedal was depressed, let off and pressed again, the vehicle then surged forward, and this caused a rear end collision. Seatbelts were in use and no injuries were sustained. There was no police on scene and a report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to dealer; upon inspection the dealer could not duplicate the problem.