Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
KNAFE221295••••••2009 Kia SPECTRA
This build draws 2.0× more complaints than the average 2009 Kia SPECTRA build (6 vs 3).
6on this build
91on the model
31builds in total
1involved a crash
1injuries
Most reportedStructure 2Air Bags 2Steering 1Electrical System 1
What owners of this build wrote
Air BagscrashJul 2016
The contact owns a 2009 kia spectra. While driving 60 mph, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. Prior to the crash, the passenger side air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact sustained head and shoulder…
Electrical SystemDec 2015
The back seal belts stop working. They will not come out no matter what I try. They have been doing this since I got the cat in 2012. But now they won't come out at all. Also the blower for the a/c or heat stopped working. I had to slam my hood for it to come on but now it…
SteeringDec 2015
I was backing out of my parking spot and my steering wheel locked up
StructureJul 2014
The contact owns a 2009 kia spectra. The contact stated that while attempting to exit the vehicle the front passenger's side door failed to open. The contact had to roll down the window and use the exterior door handle in order to exit the vehicle. The problem recurred twice.…
Air BagsDec 2015
Airbag light came on and stayed on. Took the car to the kia dealership, hooked it up to the computer, it was the ocs sensor mat. Is going to cost $1000-$2000 for a new seat with a new osc! The car only has about 53,000 miles and the passenger seat isn't/ hasn't been used often,…
Read all 6 complaints on this exact buildFull text, search by keyword, and the systems that fail most on cars built like yours.Unlock with Pro →
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 31 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN KNAFE221295651298 · decoded Oct 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.