There are 11 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2001 Kia Spectrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA SPECTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISING AND SEVERE PAIN FROM THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINING HER NECK AND CHEST AREA. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 9/17/13*CN
MY DAUGHTER STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM BEHIND WITH HER CAR. THE UPON IMPACT THE CAR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING VERY HARD. SHE ENDED UP WITH CHEST, NECK AND SHOULDER SEVERE PAIN. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE. RADIATOR FLUID WAS EVERYWHERE. *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION CAUSING MY CAR TO BE SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,THE DRIVERS SEAT BACK BROKE. I HAVE RECEIVED A LOWER BACK INJURY, SHOULDER AND ARM INJURY, AND HEAD INJURY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, SO THERE ARE NO REPAIRS TO BE DONE. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THROUGH SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND OTHERS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, (SEAT BACK FAILURE) AND I DO KNOW THERE IS A SUIT PENDING IN THE STATE OF FL. I AM SURE THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE, ( SINCE THERE IS A SUIT PENDING) YET THEY HAVE NOT MADE STRIDES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. *LA
ON A FRONT SLIGHTLY LEFT INPACT TO MY VEHICLE, MY AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT.I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH, I HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A RATHER LARGE BUMP AND BRUISE. I HAVE PAIN TURNING MY NECK AND IN MY SHOULDERS AND WILL SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR THIS.
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN SEVERE NECK & BACK DAMAGE CAUSING IMMEDIATE CHIROPRACTIC CARE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH WAS IINVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISON AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.DRIVER WAS INJURED.*AK
VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL AT 65 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK *JB
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE HIT A DEER AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD, SUSTAINING NECK/BACK AND KNEE INJURIES. AS TOW TRUCK HOOKED VEHICLE UP, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 8000. *AK
VEHICLE HIT A DEER AND SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CONSUMER. HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. SUFFERED BACK/ NECK AND KNEE INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 8000. *AK
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES BROKE WHEN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THEY WERE LATER RELEASED. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026