NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
88 reports98,197 miles · Aug 27, 2014
Suspension
I HAVE A 2009 KIA BORREGO IT HAS COST ME $900.00 TO REPLACE THE SWAY BARS ON BOTH SIDES MY CAR HAS ALMOST 100,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW I HAVE THE FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY SUV I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED ABOUT AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1,300 MORE BECAUSE IT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 YEARS NOW I G…
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I HAVE A 2009 KIA BORREGO IT HAS COST ME $900.00 TO REPLACE THE SWAY BARS ON BOTH SIDES MY CAR HAS ALMOST 100,000 MILES ON IT AND NOW I HAVE THE FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY SUV I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED ABOUT AND IT IS GOING TO COST ME $1,300 MORE BECAUSE IT IS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 5 YEARS NOW I GOT IT USED AND IT IS BECOMING A MONEY PIT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME LAGGING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND SOME SHIFTING NOISES WHEN IN PARK TO REVERSE IT WILL SOUND LIKE THE TRANSMISSION FALLING OUT AND NOW MY TRUCK SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON KIA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON ALL THE 2009 KIA BORREGO AND GIVE PEOPLE A CHOICE TO TAKE AN REPLACE THE SUV.. NOW MY FAMILY LOVE KIA BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER WITH THIS CAR NOW WE'RE THINKING ABOUT CHANGING TO FORD... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10628624
65,000 miles · Aug 20, 2014
Seat Belts
THE LOCKING MECHANISM RELEASES UNDER MODERATE PRESSURE (PULL). OCCURS AT ANY SPEED, INCLUDING WHILE PARKED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626893
78,000 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
I HIT A PARKED CAR ON PASSENGER FRONT SIDE. NO PASSENGERS WERE IN THE VEHICLE. SIDE AND WINDOW AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING INJURY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10617659
77,097 miles · May 24, 2014
Electrical System
IN LATE MARCH, OUR 2009 KIA BORREGO EX WOULD NOT START, ALTHOUGH THE BATTERY WAS STRONG AND ALL ACCESSORIES WORKED. WE ALMOST ALWAYS PARK IN OUR GARAGE, AND THE CAR GETS USED A LOT ON A DAILY BASIS. MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN IT A COUPLE HOURS EARLIER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PULLED ERROR CODE P1656 - AUTHENTICATIO…
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IN LATE MARCH, OUR 2009 KIA BORREGO EX WOULD NOT START, ALTHOUGH THE BATTERY WAS STRONG AND ALL ACCESSORIES WORKED. WE ALMOST ALWAYS PARK IN OUR GARAGE, AND THE CAR GETS USED A LOT ON A DAILY BASIS. MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN IT A COUPLE HOURS EARLIER. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY PULLED ERROR CODE P1656 - AUTHENTICATION FAILURE OFF THE ELECTRONIC MODULE. WE HAD TO HAVE ALL OF OUR KEYS REPROGRAMMED TO THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO OFFER ANY EXPLANATION FOR THE ERROR. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED OFF IN THE BOONDOCKS OR SOME OTHER LOCATION. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE CAR COULD SHUT DOWN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING IT, CREATING A SERIOUS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10593813
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
70,000 miles · Mar 25, 2014
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT GOING OUT, HAD THE BULB REPLACED TWICE. I WAS TOLD THE BULB WASN'T BLOWN, BUT HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT WORK. UNFORTUNATELY BOTH LOW BEAM LIGHTS STOP WORKING, EVEN AFTER REPLACING BULBS IN BOTH. I AM ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING, TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AWAI…
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I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT GOING OUT, HAD THE BULB REPLACED TWICE. I WAS TOLD THE BULB WASN'T BLOWN, BUT HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT WORK. UNFORTUNATELY BOTH LOW BEAM LIGHTS STOP WORKING, EVEN AFTER REPLACING BULBS IN BOTH. I AM ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING, TOOK VEHICLE TO SHOP AWAITING DIAGNOSIS. I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BACK STOP LAMP SWITCH, AFFECTING VEHICLE'S BRAKE LIGHTS. I'M WONDERING IF THIS HAS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT HEAD LIGHTS??? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10574653
75,000 miles · Feb 8, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure
FRONT LAMP - HEADLIGHT COMPONENTS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AFTER FLICKING ON AND OFF FOR OVER A YEAR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. WHEN UNCOVERED IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT LAMP HEADLIGHT COMPONENT HAD SUSTAINED AN ELECTRICAL MELT DOWN RENDERING THE UNIT USELESS AND UNABLE TO REPLACE INDIVIDUAL WIRES OR SINGLE COMPO…
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FRONT LAMP - HEADLIGHT COMPONENTS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AFTER FLICKING ON AND OFF FOR OVER A YEAR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. WHEN UNCOVERED IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT LAMP HEADLIGHT COMPONENT HAD SUSTAINED AN ELECTRICAL MELT DOWN RENDERING THE UNIT USELESS AND UNABLE TO REPLACE INDIVIDUAL WIRES OR SINGLE COMPONENTS AND IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT BUMPER - BUMPER COMPONENTS ON THE R & I FRONT BUMPER UPPER COVER AND R & I FRONT BUMPER LOWER COVER FOR A TOTAL COST OF $468.43. THIS SITUATION RENDERS A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD SITUATION AND OVER-COSTS IN REPLACING A SIMPLE PART BY HAVING TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE SECTION OF THE VEHICLE NOT PERTAINS TO THE ISOLATED ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563488
86,000 miles · Jan 29, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHT AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT EVERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHT AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT EVERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA ODI #10561977
73,000 miles · Dec 2, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AND BRUISING TO THE BODY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT ME…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDRO-PLANED AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY AND BRUISING TO THE BODY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 12/17/13*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10554341
25,000 miles · Oct 6, 2013
Structure
THE CHROME ON THE INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR LATCH HANDLE IS DELAMINATING CREATING A SHARP EDGE THAT CAN LACERATE SKIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10546901
Official recalls
3Oct 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.
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.
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 ↗