2009 Kia Spectra vs 2009 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 | 2009 Kia Spectra | 2009 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 114 | 1,547 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 28 | 117 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 16 | 36 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–27 | 21–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 74,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Spectra | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3 | 859 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 466 |
| Air Bags | 76 | 91 |
| Engine | 5 | 107 |
| Power Train | 2 | 95 |
| Structure | 5 | 90 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 49 |
| Visibility/wiper | 0 | 41 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 48 | 34 |
| Stalling | 7 | 58 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 483 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 229 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 16 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 13 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 10 |
2009 Kia Spectra
2009 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.