Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
210–25K
1525–50K
1050–75K
1375–100K
7100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
88 reports
120,000 miles · Jul 10, 2019
Parking BrakeCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS OF ENTERING HIS HOME, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM HIS BACKYARD. THE CONTACT RAN OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS OF ENTERING HIS HOME, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM HIS BACKYARD. THE CONTACT RAN OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND CAME TO THE PROPERTY TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND THE FRAME WAS BENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *TR*JB
NHTSA ODI #11230847
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2019
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR AND WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR YOU HAVE TO SLAM THE GEAR SHIFT INTO A GEAR FOR IT TO RESPOND. HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND LET THE COMPUTER RESET FOR IT TO START ACTING RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 2 DAYS AND GETS AGGRAVATING.
NHTSA ODI #11210147
63,000 miles · May 25, 2019
Unknown Or OtherCrash
AS I PULLED ONTO MY DRIVEWAY, COMING TO A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR.
NHTSA ODI #11209932
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2019
Seat Belts
MY SEAT BELT POPS OUT ALL THE TIME. THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT AND MIDDLE ROW MIDDLE SEAT SEAT BELT BOTH DO IT.
NHTSA ODI #11193006
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
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2019
Unknown Or Other
ONCE IT WOUKD NOT KET ME PUT CAR IN REVERSE OR PARK. HAD TO GOIGLE THE ISSUE. BRAKES HAD TO BE MASHED TO FLOOR TO ENGAGE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING AT STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE DOESN'T REV DOWN AND CAUSES A SEVERE JERKING WHEN YOU ACCELERATE. IT HAPPENS DAILY, MANY TIMES DAILY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON.
NHTSA ODI #11171894
206,000 miles · Jan 17, 2019
Engine
I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE ALMOST 4 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND I CANT JUST GO PUT IT IN THE SHOP. FIRST I COULDN'T DRIVE IT BC THE COMPRESSOR BROKE AND I NEEDED 700 TO FIX IT. GOT IT FIXED BUT THE AIR STILL DONT WORK. NOW A ROD IS ABOUT TO GO AND I HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE NEW MOTOR,…
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I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE ALMOST 4 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND I CANT JUST GO PUT IT IN THE SHOP. FIRST I COULDN'T DRIVE IT BC THE COMPRESSOR BROKE AND I NEEDED 700 TO FIX IT. GOT IT FIXED BUT THE AIR STILL DONT WORK. NOW A ROD IS ABOUT TO GO AND I HAVE TO HAVE A WHOLE NEW MOTOR, WHICH IS 1500 WITHOUT LABOR. AND I HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY. I'M DRIVE A GAS GUZZLING TRUCK THAT I HAD TO BORROW. I THOUGHT KIA WAS A GOOD VEHICLE BUT APPARENTLY I GUESSED WRONG. MY VEHICLE IS JUST SITTING IN THE FRONT YARD BC I DIDNT WANT TO CAUSE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WHEN I HEARD THE LOUD KNOCKING AND IT'S BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS NOW..
NHTSA ODI #11170490
123,000 miles · Dec 17, 2018
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SEATBELT DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. POPS OPEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD WITHOUT TOUCHING IT. IT HAPPENS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON HIGHWAYS CITY STREETS GOING STRAIGHT AND TURNING. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR AT LEAST A YEAR NOW.
NHTSA ODI #11162056
1 miles · Oct 8, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other
#1 WHENEVER IT RAINS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. #2 WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN THERE IS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR THAT SMELLS LIKE WIRES BURNING. AND THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE ENGING COMPARTMENT AND FLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BETWEEN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND THE FRAME AREA. WE HAVE TAK…
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#1 WHENEVER IT RAINS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. #2 WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN THERE IS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CAR THAT SMELLS LIKE WIRES BURNING. AND THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM INSIDE THE ENGING COMPARTMENT AND FLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BETWEEN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND THE FRAME AREA. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO KIA FOR A DIOGNOSTIC AND ALTHOUGH THEY NOTICED THE ISSUE ALSO, THEY COULD NOT FIND WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. DRIVING THE KIA MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT. WE LIVE IN LAWRENCEVILLE GA AND THE ISSUE HAPOENS WEATHER WERE ON THE STREETS OR ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11139089
64,000 miles · Sep 5, 2018
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT MORE THAN FIVE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF LAKE CHARLES (337-439-9955, LOCATED AT 1700 SIEBARTH DR, LAKE CHARLES, LA 70615) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE REAR DR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNED OUT MORE THAN FIVE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF LAKE CHARLES (337-439-9955, LOCATED AT 1700 SIEBARTH DR, LAKE CHARLES, LA 70615) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING/BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
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.
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.
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.
2009 Kia Borrego Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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