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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

Power Train complaints

16 reports
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29,000 miles · Feb 22, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION AND WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE BACK TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION AND WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DRIVE POSITION THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000.

NHTSA ODI #10837459

18,000 miles · Oct 6, 2013
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP TO FOURTH GEAR AS I SLOWLY ACCELERATE TO UP TO 40 MPH REDUCING THE RPM TO AS LOW AS 1,300. THIS QUICK SHIFTING UP THROUGH THE GEARS DOES NOT MATCH VEHICLE SPEED RESULTING IN THE RPM BEING TOO LOW TO ACCELERATE WITH THE PACE OF TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE REAR OF M…

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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP TO FOURTH GEAR AS I SLOWLY ACCELERATE TO UP TO 40 MPH REDUCING THE RPM TO AS LOW AS 1,300. THIS QUICK SHIFTING UP THROUGH THE GEARS DOES NOT MATCH VEHICLE SPEED RESULTING IN THE RPM BEING TOO LOW TO ACCELERATE WITH THE PACE OF TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR DUE THE SLOWING RATE OF MY ACCELERATION CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING UP TO QUICKLY AND ENGINE BOGGING DOWN. CONVERSELY, WHILE ON FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMPS GAINING SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT UP TO FIFTH AT A CONSISTENT PACE UNTIL I REACH 50 MILES PER HOUR THEN IT WILL SHIFT BACK DOWN TO FOURTH ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR A FASTER PACE. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY AS DO THE QUICK SHIFTS AT LOWER SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546899

11,700 miles · May 7, 2011
Air BagsFuel System, GasolinePower Train

PURCHASED NEW 09 BORREGO IN JUNE 2010. TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 11,700 MILES, WOULD STAY AT 40MPH WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS PEDAL, SLIPPED IN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TO COME PICK THE BORREGO UP UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE SHIPPED TO THEM. THE FOLLOWI…

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PURCHASED NEW 09 BORREGO IN JUNE 2010. TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AT 11,700 MILES, WOULD STAY AT 40MPH WITH FOOT OFF OF GAS PEDAL, SLIPPED IN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS. TOOK IN FOR REPAIRS AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TO COME PICK THE BORREGO UP UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE SHIPPED TO THEM. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE IT THAT WAY, AND TO JUST BRING IT IN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION CAME IN. THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION (NEVER TOLD US THIS, UNTIL WE PICKED IT UP AND READ IT ON THE SERVICE TICKET). AT 11,900, AND ONLY 200 MILES AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, IT STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. IT WAS JERKING VERY HARD BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE.AT THIS POINT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ON. I CALLED AND WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR SEVERAL DAYS (THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS TOO BUSY TO GET THE VEHICLE IN) AND ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, WENT TO LEAVE HOME AND THE BORREGO WOULDN'T GO OVER 20MPH. BY THE TIME I MADE IT AROUND THE BLOCK TO RETURN HOME, IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 15MPH. WHEN I PULLED OUT ON THE STREET WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 45, I HAD CARS READY TO PLOW INTO ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO GO!!!! IT IS NOW BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (VIA FLATBED TOW TRUCK). SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS HAD GAS TANK ISSUES (REPLACED TANK AND NOW THE CO INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS AT LETHAL LEVELS), 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT OFF, CHIPPING PAINT, SEATBACKS FALLING OFF, ETC. WE ARE NOW ASKING FOR KIA TO REPURCHASE THE SUV AND WE WILL BUY A CAR THAT'S NON KIA!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399443

6,000 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Parking BrakePower Train

ON MY NEW KIA BORREGO, 2009 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY I WAS TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY FROM 70 MILES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN THE FRONT OF ME WHO SUDDENLY STOP DUE TO SOME CONSTRUCTION ON THE HIGH WAY. I HIT THE BRAKE VERY HARD. THE CAR START PULSATING AND SHAKING VERY HARD. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO…

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ON MY NEW KIA BORREGO, 2009 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY I WAS TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY FROM 70 MILES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN THE FRONT OF ME WHO SUDDENLY STOP DUE TO SOME CONSTRUCTION ON THE HIGH WAY. I HIT THE BRAKE VERY HARD. THE CAR START PULSATING AND SHAKING VERY HARD. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS A HORRIFYING MOMENT BEFORE FINALLY THE CAR SPEED WENT TO ABOUT 15 MILES. WHEN I TRIED TO CATCH THE TRAFFIC FLOW AGAIN, I PRESSED THE GAS PADDLE, HOWEVER IT THE CAR FELT VERY VERY HEAVY LIKE I WAS DRAGGING A TRAIN BEHIND ME, AND THE ESC LIGHT KEPT FLASHING IN THE DASH BOARD. I HAD TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION HANDLE FROM THE AUTO MODE TO THE MANUAL MODE. WHEN I DID THAT, I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK AND LOCKED ON THE 4TH SPEED . I HAD TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION HANDLE BACK TO THE 1ST SPEED THEN TO THE SECOND BEFORE THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN AGAIN, THEN I PUT THE TRANSMISSION ON AUTO AGAIN. DEALER SAID IT WAS A PAD BRAKE ROTORS AND HAD TO CHANGE ALL 4 OF THEM. THERE WAS BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SIDES AND A LOT OF BLACK DUST COVERING THE 4 WHILES REMS, DEALER SAID IT IS A BRAKE DUST. THEN THEY DID UPGRADE TO THE COMPUTER REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE SECOND TIME I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348930

5,800 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Power Train

MY KIA NEW BORREGO 2009 WITH 5800 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM WENT UP TO ABOUT 5000 WITH NO TRANSMISSION LOCK, THE CAR WAS STALLING WITHOUT MOVING ON THE HIGH WAY. I HAD TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PADDLE UNTIL …

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MY KIA NEW BORREGO 2009 WITH 5800 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM WENT UP TO ABOUT 5000 WITH NO TRANSMISSION LOCK, THE CAR WAS STALLING WITHOUT MOVING ON THE HIGH WAY. I HAD TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PADDLE UNTIL RPM WENT DOWN TO ABOUT 2000 BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED BACK AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN AGAIN, VERY VERY SCARY ON THE HIGH WAY. I WAS LIKE A LAM DUCK UNABLE TO MOVE. DEALER SAID IT IS A COMPUTER UPGRADE RECALL, AFTER THE UPGRADE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SO ROUGH TO DRIVE, THEY SAID IT MAY TAKE 300 MILES MORE BEFORE THE COMPUTER ADAPT. WILL WAIT AND SEE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348927

40,000 miles · Jul 6, 2010
Power Train

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, THE 2009 KIA BORREGO BECOMES STUCK IN DRIVE, NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE, BOTH TIMES THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT IS DUE TO A COMPUTER FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK IN NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVE …

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WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, THE 2009 KIA BORREGO BECOMES STUCK IN DRIVE, NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE, BOTH TIMES THE DEALER HAS INDICATED THAT IT IS DUE TO A COMPUTER FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK IN NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE DRIVE POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341680

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.