2008 Kia Spectra
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
- Fuel economy
- 26–27 mpgcombined; city 23–24, highway 30–32; every version of this model year
- Five years of fuel
- $12,030–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $10,750–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
- Recall campaigns
- 0none on file
- Owner complaints
- 121filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales
Problems owners report
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Spectra. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
| Part | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 61 | 17 | 0 | 18 |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Steering | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
11 more parts
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment adaptive/mobility | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
Every Spectra year side by side
Recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Spectra. NHTSA's recall lookup checks a specific VIN.
Service bulletins and investigations
Carmakers sent NHTSA 30 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 Spectra, the latest on Sep 13, 2021. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (19), air bags (9), structure (4), electrical system (3), equipment adaptive/mobility (3).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
| Investigation | Part | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary evaluation PE15031 Occupant Classification System | Air bags | Sep 1, 2015 | Closed Feb 11, 2016 NHTSA's record and documents |
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 Spectra.
Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5
Specs
EPA class: midsize cars. Each version EPA tested:
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Fuel | City / hwy / comb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spectra Front-Wheel Drive | 2.0 L, 4 cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Regular Gasoline | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| Spectra Front-Wheel Drive | 2.0 L, 4 cyl | Manual 5-spd | Regular Gasoline | 23 / 30 / 26 |
Sources and dates
- U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
- NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data