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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
28,000 miles · Apr 2, 2012
Steering

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

NHTSA ODI #10453767

29,000 miles · Jan 19, 2012
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT REFUSES TO LATCH CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS OBVIOUS (YOU DON'T HEAR THE CLICK, YOU DON'T FEEL THE CLICK AND THE BELT STARTS TO RETRACT AS SOON AS YOU LET GO). OTHER TIMES, IT FEELS LATCHED BUT A TUG PULLS IT RIGHT OUT. AFTER A CLICK, RECLICK AND TEST SEVERAL TIMES IT USUALLY LATCHES. WE…

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THE SEAT BELT FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT REFUSES TO LATCH CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS OBVIOUS (YOU DON'T HEAR THE CLICK, YOU DON'T FEEL THE CLICK AND THE BELT STARTS TO RETRACT AS SOON AS YOU LET GO). OTHER TIMES, IT FEELS LATCHED BUT A TUG PULLS IT RIGHT OUT. AFTER A CLICK, RECLICK AND TEST SEVERAL TIMES IT USUALLY LATCHES. WE ARE CONTACTING THE DEALER NOW ABOUT GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, AS THINKING IT HAS CLICKED AND GETTING INTO EVEN A MINOR CRASH COULD CAUSE THE BELT TO UNLATCH. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10444532

64,570 miles · Oct 24, 2011
Steering

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

NHTSA ODI #10432655

25,000 miles · Oct 6, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING, FUEL WOULD SPLASH ALL OVER THE CONTACT AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CUR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN REFUELING, FUEL WOULD SPLASH ALL OVER THE CONTACT AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

NHTSA ODI #10428984

18,000 miles · Aug 30, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

BOUGHT OUR KIA BORREGO AND BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE WE NOTICED THAT AFTER ITS FIRST WASHING THE PAINT WAS PEELING AND THAT IS COVERED BY A WARRANTY....BUT WAS TOLD IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WE DID. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE, WE REPORTED THE PAINT AGAIN BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS IT PEELING IN 1 SPOT BUT ALL OVER …

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BOUGHT OUR KIA BORREGO AND BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE WE NOTICED THAT AFTER ITS FIRST WASHING THE PAINT WAS PEELING AND THAT IS COVERED BY A WARRANTY....BUT WAS TOLD IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING WE DID. WHEN WE TOOK IT BACK FOR ITS FIRST OIL CHANGE, WE REPORTED THE PAINT AGAIN BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS IT PEELING IN 1 SPOT BUT ALL OVER THE HOOD AND THE DOORS AND BODY...MANAGER SAID IT WAS RE[PORTED TO KIA BUT WE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING BACK, WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER 500 TO PAINT ONE DOOR...NOW HAVING TROUBLE OUT OF THE GAS TANK, IT WILL TAKE ONE GALLON AT A TIME AND I AM AFRAID EVENTUALLY I WILL RUN OUT OF GAS BECAUSE I CANT FORCE GAS IN IT...CANT GET INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR 15 DAYS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10422619

8,200 miles · Aug 15, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,200…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,115.

NHTSA ODI #10419519

11,000 miles · Jul 24, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT ROTOR WARPED BEFORE 12,000 MILES, KIA DEALER REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON A SATURDAY MORNING, BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE VERY BUSY TO COMPLETE ALL THE ISSUES I HAD, A RECURRING VIBRATION AT 70-80, BRAKES VIBRATING AND AN OIL CHANGE, SO I RESCHEDULED. I MISSED THE RESCHEDULED DATE AND WHEN I…

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FRONT ROTOR WARPED BEFORE 12,000 MILES, KIA DEALER REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON A SATURDAY MORNING, BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE VERY BUSY TO COMPLETE ALL THE ISSUES I HAD, A RECURRING VIBRATION AT 70-80, BRAKES VIBRATING AND AN OIL CHANGE, SO I RESCHEDULED. I MISSED THE RESCHEDULED DATE AND WHEN I DID FINALLY MAKE IT IN I WAS OVER 12000 MILES AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE BRAKES. I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AS I ALSO HAD TO ADDRESS THE VIBRATION BETWEEN 70 -80 MPH. KIA CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SEE IF A GOODWILL REPAIR OR EXCHANGE WOULD BE DONE, AND ARRANGE TEST DRIVE BY A REGIONAL MANAGER. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER & REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THE VIBRATION IS INHERENT TO THE BORREGO BECAUSE THE REGIONAL MANAGE DRIVES THE SAME SUV AND IT HAS THE SAME VIBRATION? IT SO ANNOYING, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE PASSENGER SEAT VIBRATE. AGAIN THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE BRAKE REPAIR STATING NOTHING WAS WRONG, EVEN THOUGH I HAD A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FROM THEM TO CUT THE ROTOR. THE NEXT DAY I SCHEDULED SERVICE TO HAVE THE BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED, AND THEY DID IT. HOW DO THEY EXPLAIN RESURFACING ROTORS THAT A REGION MANGER CLAIMS HAD NO BRAKE PROBLEM, AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE RESURFACED. AT 23800 MILES, THEY WARPED AGAIN, I PAID TO CUT THEM AGAIN. AT 33,000 THEY WARPED AGAIN, I PAID TO GET THEM REPLACED (KIA OEM). AT 41,000 THE ROTOR WARPED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, THE SAY TO PUT ON AFTERMARKET SLOTTED DRILLED ROTORS. I DISAGREE AS I DON'T WANT TO VOID ANY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10414934

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD MY 2009 KIA BORREGO FOR 1.5 YEARS AND ALL 4 ROTORS ARE WARPED NOW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS. BRAKE PADS ARE FINE. DISK ARE FINE. IF YOU RESEARCH WARPED ROTORS YOU WILL FIND THAT BAD BRAKE PADS ARE USUALLY THE CAUSE FOR WARPAGE. I READ IN SEVERAL FORUMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2009 KIA BORREGO, W…

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I HAVE HAD MY 2009 KIA BORREGO FOR 1.5 YEARS AND ALL 4 ROTORS ARE WARPED NOW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS. BRAKE PADS ARE FINE. DISK ARE FINE. IF YOU RESEARCH WARPED ROTORS YOU WILL FIND THAT BAD BRAKE PADS ARE USUALLY THE CAUSE FOR WARPAGE. I READ IN SEVERAL FORUMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2009 KIA BORREGO, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I STRONGLY DO NOT FEEL THAT "HEAT" SHOULD CAUSE ALL 4 ROTORS TO WARP AT THE SAME TIME. THAT IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THIS. I READ THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS TOLD THIS TOO. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, IF THAT WAS THE CASE EVERYONE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR ROTORS EVERY YEAR IN A HALF. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10412437

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

11,510 miles · Mar 8, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

2009 KIA BORREGO, EX, V6, 4X4 (MI: 11,510) WHEN FILLING FUEL, NO MATTER AT WHAT RANGE (1/4, 1/2 OR 3/4 FULL), WHEN FULL THE FUEL WOULD RUN BACK OUT OF THE TANK ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE GROUND. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY OVER 1 MONTH. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER SAID THE "ANTI SIPHON" FEATURE ON T…

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2009 KIA BORREGO, EX, V6, 4X4 (MI: 11,510) WHEN FILLING FUEL, NO MATTER AT WHAT RANGE (1/4, 1/2 OR 3/4 FULL), WHEN FULL THE FUEL WOULD RUN BACK OUT OF THE TANK ONTO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE GROUND. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY OVER 1 MONTH. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, THE DEALER SAID THE "ANTI SIPHON" FEATURE ON THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. ORDERED NEW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10386922

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.