KiaSpectra2008Overview/kia/spectra/2008/base/

2008 Kia Spectra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Spectra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2008 Kia Spectra is a front-wheel-drive passenger car powered by a four-cylinder engine requiring 4.2 quarts of 15W-40 or 5W-20 oil, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA ratings of 24 city, 32 highway, and 27 combined mpg. Notably, this model year carries zero recalls, though its 136 total owner complaints—the second-highest in the 2000–2009 generation—are concentrated in the air bag system, placing it below the 2007 peak of 162 but well above the 2000 low of 23, indicating a reliability profile that improved slightly from the preceding year but still reflects persistent issues.

Model year20092008200720062005200420032002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 5W-20 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy24/32/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 540 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 540 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.8 in
Overall width67.7 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase102 in
Curb weight2701 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 32 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume97 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Spectra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.2–8.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.20 sec — 2005 Spectra5 Wagon
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2005Spectra5 Wagon 2.0L I-48.20 sec16.50 sec138 hpFWD
2005SX Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.20 sec138 hpFWD
2005EX Sedan 2.0L I-48.70 sec16.10 sec138 hpFWD
2004EX Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.20 sec138 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 15W-40 / 5W-20 API engine oil. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.5
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-85 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity4.2

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs10-11 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings35-38 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts123-130 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs8MM Bolts: 14-19; 10MM Bolts: 27-38 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub147-184 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.52-.64 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance7,480-10,120 ohms
Ignition Timing8, Not adjutstable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04-1.16 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.05-4.56 oz
Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-182 °F
Engine Compression185-206 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI
Engine Oil Pressure22.8 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.0079 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.0110 in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket18-24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle51-54 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket18-24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle51-54 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Lubricate bolts with clean engine oil · M10 Bolts:

117.0-20.0 ft. lbs.17–20 ft. lbs
260 degrees-65 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees-65 degrees; M12 Bolts:60 degrees
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
260 degrees-65 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees-65 degrees60 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60-6420–23 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 25,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 25,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 25,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · PCV Hose (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Timing Belt Tensioner (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Federal data shows complaint volume for the Kia Spectra climbed steadily through the generation, cresting at 162 in 2007 before retreating to 136 in 2008 and 114 in 2009, placing the target year on the downslope of that peak but still above earlier-year norms. Unlike 2004 through 2007, which carried one to two recalls annually, the 2008 model recorded zero recalls while tying 2007 for the generation's highest technical service bulletin count at 30. The 2008 model's complaint profile is dominated by 58 air bag entries, accompanied by 23 crash-related and 3 fire-related complaints, though the federal data does not specify root causes for these incidents. With investigations holding steady at one and TSBs remaining elevated, the 2008 year represents a modest improvement over the 2007 peak but carries more federal flags than the pre-2004 models. For a used-car buyer, this makes 2008 a marginally safer bet than 2007 within the generation, yet the persistent air bag complaints and high TSB volume suggest a thorough pre-purchase inspection of the air bag system is essential.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
30
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
136
Owner complaints
23 involved a crash · 3 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 136 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags58
Unknown Or Other6
Electrical System6
Vehicle Speed Control5
Seat Belts4
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Vehicle Speed Control,Engine3
Power Train3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 30 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
PS5392018-03-02Engine And Engine CoolingPITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed…
TSB-GEN085R12017-01-18EquipmentTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
TSB-GEN0852016-11-04Latches/Locks/LinkagesTSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners…
WTY001OWNERR12016-06-15Air Bags"REVISION: OWNER LETTER: WTY001 - 2007-2009 MY SPECTRA VEHICLES FRONT PASSENGER OCS…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Spectra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Spectra take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 14 degrees F: 15W-40 API, BELOW 14 degrees F: 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Spectra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Spectra get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 32 highway / 27 combined mpg.