2005 Kia Spectra vs 2005 Nissan Maxima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Kia Spectra | 2005 Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 103 | 948 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 23 | 94 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 23 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 63,571 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Spectra | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 7 | 777 |
| Engine | 4 | 61 |
| Air Bags | 43 | 9 |
| Electrical System | 11 | 38 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 33 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 40 |
| Structure | 6 | 25 |
| Steering | 10 | 17 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 10 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 187 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 103 |
| Stalling | 0 | 68 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 50 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 27 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 19 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 18 |
2005 Kia Spectra
2005 Nissan Maxima
Compare all Kia Spectra vs Nissan Maxima 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.