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2009 Kia Borrego

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

71 reports with mileage · 17 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE AND BRAKE SWITCH WAS ONCE A RECALL PART HAD IT REPLACED NOW IT GONE BAD AGAIN CAUSING ME TO HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE ESC OFF AND A DECLINE TRUCK SYMBOL IN LIT UP RED

NHTSA ODI #11172839

93,000 miles · Mar 14, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I HAD JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON. ECS, ABS, BREAK, ENGINE, 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND CRUISE CONTROL ERROR, AND THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST AUTO PARTS PLACE AND THEN DISCOVERED I COULDN'T PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. I HAD TO MANUALLY …

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I HAD JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON. ECS, ABS, BREAK, ENGINE, 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND CRUISE CONTROL ERROR, AND THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. I PULLED INTO THE NEAREST AUTO PARTS PLACE AND THEN DISCOVERED I COULDN'T PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. I HAD TO MANUALLY USE THE SHIFT LOCK. THEY RAN THE COMPUTER AND IT SHOWED A SPEED SENSOR ERROR. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. SOMETIMES IT LASTS A WEEK, THEN ACTS NORMAL FOR MONTHS OR A FEW HOURS, THEN GOES OFF AGAIN. THIS MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. EVERY TIME WE TRY TO TAKE IT IN, IT SEEMS TO WORK JUST FINE AND THEY CAN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CALLED KIA THEY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

NHTSA ODI #10965932

92,000 miles · Feb 17, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME AN INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE OCCURRED. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. BOTH TIMES, WHILE DRIVING, MULTIPLE LIGHTS INCLUDING ABS, ESC OFF, EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND DOWNHILL BRAKING ASSIST COME ON. MILEAGE, GEAR, AND SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVEL…

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THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME AN INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE OCCURRED. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. BOTH TIMES, WHILE DRIVING, MULTIPLE LIGHTS INCLUDING ABS, ESC OFF, EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND DOWNHILL BRAKING ASSIST COME ON. MILEAGE, GEAR, AND SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING SUDDENLY. VEHICLE SPEEDS WERE AT ABOUT 40 AND 45 MPH ON CLEAR ROADS. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED, YOU CAN ONLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL GEAR OR DRIVE AND THE KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF. THE BRAKES APPEAR TO CONTINUE WORKING, ALTHOUGH BOTH TIMES, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY ONCE I NOTICED ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON AND LACK OF SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS NO WAY TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE ONCE THIS OCCURS. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, WE WERE TOLD IT WAS THE ABS MODULE. KIA SERVICE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE LIGHT CODES AND HAD TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH KIA OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED. IT WAS REPLACED 1 YEAR AND 20 DAYS AGO BY A KIA DEALERSHIP AND FAILED AGAIN TODAY. KIA SERVICE IS NOT ABLE TO TELL US IF THE ABS MODULE SHOULD FAIL REPEATEDLY OR WHAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO FAIL REPEATEDLY.

NHTSA ODI #10836705

29,452 miles · Mar 20, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension

OUR KIA BORREGO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. A ROUGH RIDE AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. DOESN'T STAY ALIGNED AND TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVELY. WHEN EVER WE HAD VEHICLE SERVICED DEALERSHIP WOULD SAY"VEHICLE DRIVES AS DESIGNED, OR TIRE PRESSURE OUT OF SPEC, ONCE THEY EVEN HAD THE NERVE TO TELL US THE MANAGER DRIVES ONE…

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OUR KIA BORREGO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE WE PURCHASED IT. A ROUGH RIDE AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. DOESN'T STAY ALIGNED AND TIRES WEAR EXCESSIVELY. WHEN EVER WE HAD VEHICLE SERVICED DEALERSHIP WOULD SAY"VEHICLE DRIVES AS DESIGNED, OR TIRE PRESSURE OUT OF SPEC, ONCE THEY EVEN HAD THE NERVE TO TELL US THE MANAGER DRIVES ONE AND AGAIN DRIVES AS DESIGNED. FUNNY THING IS THOU ON WORK ORDER THEY WROTE TEST DRIVE. FOUND VEHICLE DRIVES AS DESIGNED. BUT MILEAGE IS THE SAME WHEN BROUGHT IN 'EXACTLY'. WE HAVE HAD TO BUY 2 AND 1/2 FULL SETS OF TIRES. AND STILL VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER AND ROUGH RIDE TO SAY THE LEAST. IT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO RIDE IN ,MY 4YR OLD PROTESTS EVERY TIME WE HAVE TO DRIVE ANYWHERE OTHER THEN CORNER MARKET. DOOR ACTUATORS ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE BROKE 2X. HAD TO WAIT FOR PARTS THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL AND NEVER DID. INSTEAD WE CALLED TO FIND OUT PARTS HAD BEEN THERE. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP POWER OUTLETS DO NOT WORK DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. DRIVER SEAT BELT UNEXPECTEDLY UNLATCHES WHILE DRIVER INTERMITTENTLY. CLEAR COAT FINISH IS PEELING. INSIDE DOOR HANDLES METALLIC PEELING LEAVING SHARP EDGES.WE GET TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM KIA HAD CAR TOWED THERE 2X AND WERE NOT OFFERED RENT-A-CAR EITHER TIME. THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND I'M SURE THEIR ARE MANY MORE WITH THESE SAME ISSUES. HOWEVER KIA MOTORS DOES NOT WANT TO EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY ON ANY LEVEL. 2 RECALLS ALREADY.I'M HOPING OTHER BORREGO OWNERS WILL MAKE COMPLAINTS IN ORDER TO GET INVESTIGATION OPENED. WE WOULD LIKE KIA MOTORS TO BUY BACK OUR VEHICLE, SO WE CAN PURCHASE SOMETHING OTHER THEN A KIA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700772

76,432 miles · Mar 2, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

ON THE 23 OF FEBRUARY I NOTICED ALL THE LIGHTS ON IN DASH, CHECK ENGINE, ESC, BRAKE LIGHT ECT. WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO SHUT IT OFF. I DID NOTICE WHEN DRIVING, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP APPLYING THE BRAKE, ALL THE LIGHTS GO OFF EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT GEAR I WAS IN,THEREFORE I W…

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ON THE 23 OF FEBRUARY I NOTICED ALL THE LIGHTS ON IN DASH, CHECK ENGINE, ESC, BRAKE LIGHT ECT. WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TO SHUT IT OFF. I DID NOTICE WHEN DRIVING, COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP APPLYING THE BRAKE, ALL THE LIGHTS GO OFF EXCEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IT ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT GEAR I WAS IN,THEREFORE I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. MULTIPLE TIMES I HAVE TO UNLOCK THE SHIFT MANUALLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ABS MODULE NEEDING REPLACED.. I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD BE PAYING 2000 FOR A PART THAT I DON'T BELIEVE IT NEEDS. I BELIEVE IT IS THE BRAKE LIGHT STOP SWITCH WHICH WAS REPLACED AFTER A RECALL. THIS SHOULD BE AGAIN RECALLED AS A DEFAULT, IF IT IS THE ABS MODULE, THEN IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MUCH AS THIS IS HAPPENING. IM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH ALL WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH TO GET A SOLID ANSWERER . AND WOULD APPRECIATE A REPLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691685

43,810 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes

ON FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2014 I WAS DRIVING TO THE VA HOSPITAL AT GREAT NAVAL BASE, ILLINOIS IN MY 2009 KIA BORREGO WHEN THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON. AT THAT TIME,L I WAS DRIVING IN THE I-294 (HIGHWAY) AT THE 55 MILES SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME REDUCED THE SPEED AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO…

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ON FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2014 I WAS DRIVING TO THE VA HOSPITAL AT GREAT NAVAL BASE, ILLINOIS IN MY 2009 KIA BORREGO WHEN THE ESC LIGHT CAME ON. AT THAT TIME,L I WAS DRIVING IN THE I-294 (HIGHWAY) AT THE 55 MILES SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME REDUCED THE SPEED AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO REDUCE THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED THE SAME DATE THE KIA DEALER AT ED NAPLETON KIA IN ELMHURST, IL, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND BROUGHT IT IN ON 18 NOV 14 AT 10:30 SUPPOSEDLY THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED AND I WAS CHARGED $320.94 FOR A SWITCH ASSY- BRAKE AND LABOR. TODAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2014 I WAS DRIVING AGAIN IN THE SAME HIGHWAY BEFORE MENTIONED AND ALMOST HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO TALK TO THE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND I ASKED FOR THE MANAGER. THE MANAGER CAME OUT I EXPLAINED HIM THE SITUATION AND HE SEND A MECHANIC TO TEST DRIVE WITH ME THE VEHICLE AND I SHOWED HIM THE ESC LIGHT ON AND EXPLAINED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUE WITH THE SAME ISSUES THAT HAD BEFORE. HE REPLIED THAT FIRST THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE BRAKE SWITCH TO SEE IF THAT WILL FIXED THE ISSUE BUT NOW I MUST CHANGE THE BRAKE MODULE WHICH IS $1,500 DOLLARS THE PART AND ABOUT $800 DOLLARS IN LABOR. THE DEALER PERSONNEL AND THE MANAGER NEVER LET ME THAT THIS ISSUE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS CHARGED FOR IT. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANICAL/SAFETY ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660589

34,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MILES AN HOUR SUDDENLY ABS,VEHICLE STABILITY ICON,BREAK ICON,ENGINE ICON,CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ON AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND SHOWED SPEED OF ZERO WHILE I AM STILL GOING AT SAME SPEED OF 60. FEW SECONDS LATER ALL ICONS DISAPPEARED AS I PREPARED TO STOP SO I KEPT DRIVING TILL DESTINATION. ONCE CAR WAS TURNED ON…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MILES AN HOUR SUDDENLY ABS,VEHICLE STABILITY ICON,BREAK ICON,ENGINE ICON,CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ON AND SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND SHOWED SPEED OF ZERO WHILE I AM STILL GOING AT SAME SPEED OF 60. FEW SECONDS LATER ALL ICONS DISAPPEARED AS I PREPARED TO STOP SO I KEPT DRIVING TILL DESTINATION. ONCE CAR WAS TURNED ON AGAIN AT DESTINATION, ABOVE ICONS CAME ON, HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP. MAIN ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE BY KIA. NOT CLEAR WHAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED TOTAL FAILURE OF MAIN ECM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578542

Official recalls

3

23V692000 · Structure:body:roof And Pillars

Oct 13, 2023

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Borrego vehicles. The headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A headliner plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will secure the headliner plates, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 30, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC286.

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

12V245000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

May 31, 2012

KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 BORREGO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 20, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH NON-ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. CERTAIN PEDAL MOUNTS MAY HAVE A FIBERGLASS COMPOSITION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BREAK OFF IN A COLLISION WHERE THE IMPACT HAS NOT IMMOBILIZED THE VEHICLE, WHICH WOULD THEN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER WOULD NEED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE OR EXPERIENCE A POSSIBLE SECOND IMPACT, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL MOUNT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.