Skip to content
VINDecoder360
Menu

NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2004–2005

Kia LD Spectra recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 7 owner complaints for the Kia LD Spectra, covering model years 2004 to 2005. The 2004 model year drew the most complaints (5), and Air Bags is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Kia LD Spectra VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 7 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 2 model years with data (2004–2005)
  • most complaints: 2004 (5 for that model year)
  • top component: Air Bags (3 complaints)
  • latest recall 05V431000 (reported Sep 21, 2005)
  • 2 complaints reporting a crash (28.6%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 1 complaint reporting an injury (14.3%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Kia LD Spectra complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2004 model year has the most complaints: 5 of 7, or 71.4%. Next come 2005 (2).

Kia LD Spectra complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Kia LD Spectra complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
200450000
200522010
All model years72010

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Kia LD Spectra components

top 7 · NHTSA categories

Air Bags is the component named most often, in 3 complaints (42.9% of all 7), followed by Exterior Lighting (2) and Electrical System (1).

Components named most often in Kia LD Spectra complaints (top 7)
Components named most often in Kia LD Spectra complaints (top 7)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Air Bags342.9%
Exterior Lighting228.6%
Electrical System114.3%
Power Train114.3%
Steering114.3%
Structure114.3%
Wheels114.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Kia LD Spectra recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name LD Spectra, newest first. The only campaign, 05V431000, covers model years 2004 and 2005.

  • 1 recall campaign
Kia LD Spectra recall campaigns covering each model year
2004: 1 campaign2005: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 05V431000

    Reported

    Air Bags

    Model years 2004–2005

    On certain vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag feature, the occupant classification system (ocs) installed in the right front seat of the vehicle may misclassify a child restraint seat (CRS) as an adult. This may occur if the CRS is installed after an adult has been seated in the right front seat. If there has not been a 'key on' ' key off' cycle with the right front passenger seat empty prior to installation of the CRS.

    Consequence:
    The possibility of misclassification of a CRS as an adult may allow the right front airbag or side impact airbag to deploy in a crash and could result in injury to the right front occupant.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will reprogram the vehicle's ocs electronic control unit (ECU) to remove the feature that may cause the CRS to be recognized as an adult. The recall began on October 31, 2005. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542.

    Filed by Kia America, Inc.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Kia LD Spectra questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Kia LD Spectra have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Kia LD Spectra, covering model years 2004 to 2005. The campaign, 05V431000, was reported on September 21, 2005 and is filed under “Air bags”. The 2004 and 2005 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which Kia LD Spectra model year has the most complaints?

The 2004 model year, with 5 of the 7 complaints in NHTSA’s file (71.4%). The next is 2005 (2). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Kia LD Spectra complaint?

Air Bags is the component named most often: 3 complaints, or 42.9% of all 7. Exterior Lighting (2) and Electrical System (1) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Kia LD Spectra?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Kia dealer.

How many Kia LD Spectra complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 7 complaints, 2 report a crash, 0 a fire, 1 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Kia models

8 models · most complaints first

The Kia models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Kia VIN decoder with every Kia model page, WMI code and VIN note.

  • Kia Sorento 2003–2026 · 40 recalls · 10,159 complaints
  • Kia Optima 2001–2020 · 22 recalls · 7,499 complaints
  • Kia Soul 2010–2025 · 15 recalls · 5,532 complaints
  • Kia Sportage 1995–2026 · 36 recalls · 4,687 complaints
  • Kia Forte 2009–2024 · 18 recalls · 2,539 complaints
  • Kia Sedona 2002–2021 · 23 recalls · 2,406 complaints
  • Kia Telluride 2020–2027 · 19 recalls · 2,009 complaints
  • Kia Sephia 1995–2003 · 7 recalls · 1,687 complaints

All Kia models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.