THE STEERING WHEEL, SINCE NEARLY BRAND NEW, WILL NOT RAISE OR LOWER AT TIMES. THIS IS DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY FOR SHORTER DRIVERS. IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO BE DEPLOYED THIS WOULD RESULT IN POSSIBLY FATAL HEAD/NECK INJURIES. THE STEERING WHEEL STAYS IN THE FULLY TILTED POSITION, EVEN WHEN DRIVING.
2009 Kia Borrego
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Borrego years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Steering complaints
9 reportsMY MOTHER AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 6/27/20 AND IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON. WELL I DROVE IT HOME AND IN THE WAY HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AND THE LIGHT FOR THE TIRES. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT FIRST OF ALL THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE DIFFERENT TIRES. AND ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREADS. BUT THEN THE VEHICLE KEPT GETTING WORSE AND WO…
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MY MOTHER AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 6/27/20 AND IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON. WELL I DROVE IT HOME AND IN THE WAY HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AND THE LIGHT FOR THE TIRES. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT FIRST OF ALL THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE DIFFERENT TIRES. AND ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREADS. BUT THEN THE VEHICLE KEPT GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. THE MORE I DROVE IT THE HARDER IT WAS TO HOLD IN THE ROAD. THEN IT STARTED RAINING. I THOUGHT SERIOUSLY THAT I COULD DIE WITH THIS AS BAD AS IT WAS. AND TO TOP THAT OFF I TRIED TO TURN ON THE WIPERS AND THEY STARTED FALLING ABOUT FROM BEING DRY ROTTED. I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE . FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS. SO THEN I TRIED TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND HIS DAUGHTER ANSWERED THE PHONE AND I ASKED TO TALK TO WHO SHE REFERRED TO AS HER FATHER. AND SHE SAID HE MAY NOT BE IN ALL DAY AND I TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK. I WAITED TILL WHEN THEY ALMOST CLOSE AND NO ONE CALLED . I TRIED TO CALL BACK AND THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER. AT WHICH TIME MY MOTHER GOT ON THE PHONE WITH HER CREDIT CARD PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM TO STOP THE PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY AGREED. AND TOLD US TO MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE GOT BACK UP THERE TO THEM. HONESTLY THAT WAS THE SCARED AS I EVER BEEN DRIVING SOMETHING. BUT I GOT IT BACK TO THEM. IT'S ONLY BEEN THE 3 DAY WHEN ALL THIS UNFOLDED. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE GONNA TREAT IT LIKE A REPOSSESSION. AND THREATENING MY 77 YEAR MOTHER. AND THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS. MY MOTHER TOLD THEM THE VEHICLE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZZARD LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO MY LIFE CAUSE IT WAS A WONDER THAT I DIDN'T GET KILLED THE LITTLE I DROVE IT. SHE DROVE BEHIND ME IN THE VEHICLE ON THE WAY BACK AND SEEN HOW THE VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE NEED TO BE ADJUSTED AND THE STOP LAMP SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC).THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,452.
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
THE STEERING COLUMN DOES NOT TELESCOPE EITHER IN OR OUT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES. TEMPERATURES LESS THAN 90 USED TO ALLOW NORMAL OPERATION. NOW IT DOES NOT TELESCOPE AT ALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60, SHE DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE OTHER TIME. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FASTER HE DROVE, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECAME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TO FIVE TIMES BUT WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. ON A P…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FASTER HE DROVE, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT BECAME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TO FIVE TIMES BUT WAS TOLD THE STEERING WHEEL FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. ON A PREVIOUS OCCASION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE ROD ENDS AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE STEERING WHEEL AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ
I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE 35MPH STRAIGHT ROAD AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE--THE WHEEL SEEMED TO ALMOST LOCK UP. I SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND MANAGED TO GT OFF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CAME TO A STOP, AND TRIED TO START UP AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. IT BEGAN TO STEER AGAIN AND I TOOK IT HOM…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE 35MPH STRAIGHT ROAD AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE--THE WHEEL SEEMED TO ALMOST LOCK UP. I SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY AND MANAGED TO GT OFF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CAME TO A STOP, AND TRIED TO START UP AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. IT BEGAN TO STEER AGAIN AND I TOOK IT HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE AND MAY DO SO AGAIN. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A CURVE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR
MY BRAND NEW 2009 BORREGO PULLS TO RIGHT AND I SHOULD KEEP STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT SIDE WHEN I WANT TO DRIVE IT STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT FIVE TIMES BUT FAILED. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT AGAIN WITH LITTLE DIFFERENCE. AFTER ALL THE ATTEMPTS THEY INSIST THAT PULLING TO R…
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MY BRAND NEW 2009 BORREGO PULLS TO RIGHT AND I SHOULD KEEP STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT SIDE WHEN I WANT TO DRIVE IT STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT FIVE TIMES BUT FAILED. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT AGAIN WITH LITTLE DIFFERENCE. AFTER ALL THE ATTEMPTS THEY INSIST THAT PULLING TO RIGHT SIDE IS NATURAL BECAUSE OF ROAD SHAPE( CROWN PHENOMENON? ) *TR
Official recalls
323V692000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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