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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

What owners actually said

88 reports
108,000 miles · Jul 18, 2018
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

WHILE SITTING IN MY CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION LISTENING TO THE RADIO IT WOULD START UP. IT WOULD START UP IN PARK AND IT WOULD START UP AND NEUTRAL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STARTER ARMATURE IS ENGAGING AND WON'T STOP AND GAUGING IN NEUTRAL AND STOP I DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO START ALL ON ITS OWN WHY DOES ST…

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WHILE SITTING IN MY CAR WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION LISTENING TO THE RADIO IT WOULD START UP. IT WOULD START UP IN PARK AND IT WOULD START UP AND NEUTRAL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STARTER ARMATURE IS ENGAGING AND WON'T STOP AND GAUGING IN NEUTRAL AND STOP I DON'T HAVE TO BE IN THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO START ALL ON ITS OWN WHY DOES START ON ITS OWN IT VERY EASILY CAN YOU BE BUMPED INTO DRIVE AND TAKE OFF DOWN THE ROAD IF I LEAVE IT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK NOW IT SOUNDS HORRIBLE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN IT'S ALREADY RUNNING SO THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET THE OFF AND GOING NOW IS TO START THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BYE JUST SITTING THERE SOON AS YOU START SIDE DROP IT INTO DRIVE AND I HIT THE ROAD NEVER SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHILE IN GEAR BUT IT ALWAYS HAPPENS NOW IN PARK AND NEUTRAL. ON TOP OF THAT IT HAS A CODE FOR A BANK SENSOR IN THE SECOND BANK B BANK OR WHATEVER AND IT IS RETARDED AND ADVANCED IN TIMING. THE TIMING SEEMS TO BE ERRATIC AND ALL THE SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET IT SMOGGED THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T GO OFF DUE TO THE TIMING I'M GUESSING. WHILE IN DRIVE IT SEEMS TO WANT TO JUMP IF I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IT'S OKAY AND DOESN'T JUMP UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEN THE STARTER KICKS ON.

NHTSA ODI #11112068

Mileage unknown · May 9, 2018
Wheels

THE ALUMINUM WHEELS ARE CORRODING WHICH IS CAUSING THE TIRES TO LOOSE AIR PRETTY REGULARLY.

NHTSA ODI #11092667

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2017
Power Train

WHEN LETTING CAR WARM UP FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. PUT INTO REVERSE THE KIA JERKS HARD SO YOU PULL OUT PUT INTO DRIVE RPMS GO UP BUT BUT CAR NOT MOVING. THE PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. KIA DID AN UPDATE ,BUT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. BUT KIA WANTS ME TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FREE AND TO…

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WHEN LETTING CAR WARM UP FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. PUT INTO REVERSE THE KIA JERKS HARD SO YOU PULL OUT PUT INTO DRIVE RPMS GO UP BUT BUT CAR NOT MOVING. THE PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. KIA DID AN UPDATE ,BUT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. BUT KIA WANTS ME TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FREE AND TOLD THEM IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IT'S VERY DANGEREST NOT SHIFTING AND NO POWER. COMPLAINED TO VANDEVERE KIA AND PAYING A FEE AGAIN STATING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING.

NHTSA ODI #11033151

75,000 miles · Sep 8, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SUDDENLY FLASHED BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MIKE SHAW KIA LOCATED IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SUDDENLY FLASHED BEFORE THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MIKE SHAW KIA LOCATED IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FAULTY. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CAUSE OF THE SECOND FAILURE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #11022364

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

14,000 miles · Dec 28, 2016
Power Train

AFTER STARTING THE CAR THEN MOVING THE SHIFTER IN TO DRIVE . AS I GET THE SHIFTER IN THE REVERSE POSITION GOING TO DRIVE .. THE CAR JERKS FORWARD LIKE I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS.. IT IS VERY STARTLING. GOES IN REVERSE FINE.. BUT WHEN I MOVE ONTO IT DRIVE IT STARTS TO MOVE SLOW AND RPMS GO UP BUT IT'S MOVING FORWARD. *T…

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AFTER STARTING THE CAR THEN MOVING THE SHIFTER IN TO DRIVE . AS I GET THE SHIFTER IN THE REVERSE POSITION GOING TO DRIVE .. THE CAR JERKS FORWARD LIKE I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS.. IT IS VERY STARTLING. GOES IN REVERSE FINE.. BUT WHEN I MOVE ONTO IT DRIVE IT STARTS TO MOVE SLOW AND RPMS GO UP BUT IT'S MOVING FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10938360

96,270 miles · Sep 1, 2016
Power Train

THIS PAST TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC, IN PARTICULAR, AND AMONG OTHER ISSUES, HOLDING ON TO 3RD GEAR AND REFUSING TO UP SHIFT OR DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY. THERE WERE A FEW TIMES IN WHICH WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STAND-STILL ' A STOP LIGHT AND/OR 4-WAY-STOP INTERSECTION, FOR EXAMPLE ' THE VEHICLE…

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THIS PAST TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2016, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING BECAME ERRATIC, IN PARTICULAR, AND AMONG OTHER ISSUES, HOLDING ON TO 3RD GEAR AND REFUSING TO UP SHIFT OR DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY. THERE WERE A FEW TIMES IN WHICH WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STAND-STILL ' A STOP LIGHT AND/OR 4-WAY-STOP INTERSECTION, FOR EXAMPLE ' THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT UP FROM 1ST GEAR OR WOULD START ON 3RD GEAR AND WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT DOWN TO 2ND NOR UP SHIFT TO 4TH. BIZARRE AND DANGEROUS TO SAY THE LEAST, AS IT WAS A STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC SITUATION. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT OVER 35 MPH OR SO, THE ENGINE WOULD SHIFT VERY ABRUPTLY FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, AND THEN WOULD DOWN SHIFT BACK TO 3RD GEAR. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SHUT DOWN THE CAR. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO SO AFTER FIVE MINUTES OR SO I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEADED HOME. UPON EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE, DOCUMENTED BY MANY KIA BORREGO V8 OWNERS, AND ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT ISSUE AND IT HAS LED TO MANY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS PARTICULAR KIA BORREGO V8 MODEL THROUGHOUT KIA OWNERS' FORUMS AND EVEN ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I ALSO FOUND ONLINE THE KIA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 035 [REV1, 3/7/11], WHICH DOCUMENTS THE ISSUE TO A T. I HAVE SINCE WRITTEN AN EXTENSIVE LETTER TO KIA, EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND GIVING THEM REFERENCE LINKS. HOPEFULLY THEY TAKE ACTION AND THE IDEAL THING WOULD BE TO CLASSIFY THIS ISSUE AS A RECALL AND HAVE KIA REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND PICK UP THE TAB. IT IS MADDENING THAT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A *DEFECTIVE* COMPONENT IS OVERLOOKED AND CUSTOMERS ARE LEFT HANGING WITH A RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE TAB. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED TSB.

NHTSA ODI #10903169

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2016
Electrical SystemSeats

THE ELECTRIC CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER SEAT THAT LIFTS AND MOVES THE FORWARD AND BACKWARD COMES UNHOOKED CAUSING THE SEAT TO DROP TO LOWEST POSITION WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN B A SAFETY HAZARD BY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DRIVING IF THE ARM SHOULD COME UNHOOKED AND SEAT FALL TO LOWEST POSITION. THE PICTURE…

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THE ELECTRIC CONTROL ARM ON THE DRIVER SEAT THAT LIFTS AND MOVES THE FORWARD AND BACKWARD COMES UNHOOKED CAUSING THE SEAT TO DROP TO LOWEST POSITION WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN B A SAFETY HAZARD BY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR WHILE DRIVING IF THE ARM SHOULD COME UNHOOKED AND SEAT FALL TO LOWEST POSITION. THE PICTURE ATTACHED IS THE HEAD OF THE ARM AND BRACKET IT CONNECTS TO. I CURRENTLY HAVE A BOLT IN IT TO HOLD IT TOGETHER

NHTSA ODI #10892847

29,452 miles · Apr 1, 2016
Exterior LightingService BrakesSteering

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.

NHTSA ODI #10852923

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

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.