2005 Kia Spectra vs 2005 Nissan Altima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Kia Spectra | 2005 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 103 | 1,091 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 23 | 108 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 23 | 48 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 18 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 21–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 63,571 mi | 87,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Spectra | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 6 | 351 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 259 |
| Engine | 4 | 141 |
| Power Train | 7 | 115 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 97 |
| Air Bags | 43 | 47 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 42 |
| Steering | 10 | 31 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 10 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 304 |
| Stalling | 0 | 189 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 85 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 29 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 27 |
| Overheating | 0 | 25 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 22 |
2005 Kia Spectra
2005 Nissan Altima
Compare all Kia Spectra vs Nissan Altima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.