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2009 Kia Rondo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2009 Kia Rondo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 72.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

55 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.

  • Steering. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

72 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AND RIBS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED SOUTHWEST KIA-ROCKWALL AT(469) 402-2900 (LOCATED AT 1790 I-30 FRONTAGE RD, ROCKWALL, TX 75087) TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11103780

95,900 miles · May 31, 2018
Vehicle Speed Control

MY CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS ARE NOT SETTING PROPERLY.WILL NOT SET PROPERLY

NHTSA ODI #11099084

89,000 miles · May 17, 2018
SteeringUnknown Or Other

ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS, I HAVE COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE WHEEL BECOMES ALMOST UNMOVABLE (I AM A STRONG, ADULT MALE). ON ONE OF THESE OCCASIONS, THE WEATHER WAS DAMP AND THE ENGINE ALSO STALLED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE AND COAST THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I WAS …

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ON THREE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS, I HAVE COMPLETELY LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. THE WHEEL BECOMES ALMOST UNMOVABLE (I AM A STRONG, ADULT MALE). ON ONE OF THESE OCCASIONS, THE WEATHER WAS DAMP AND THE ENGINE ALSO STALLED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE AND COAST THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE AWAY. ON THE REMAINING TWO OCCASIONS I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE POWER STEERING CEASED TO WORK. TERRIFYING AND DEADLY. LATEST EVENT WAS MAY 9, 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11096594

100,000 miles · Mar 23, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY SON & HIS FRIEND WERE HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A YOUNG MAN WHO INTENTIONALLY RAN A RED LIGHT. HE HID MY SON SO HARD THAT OUR 2009 KIA RONDO FLIPPED 3 TIMES AND NOT ONE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEY DID DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, HOWEVER I STILL…

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MY SON & HIS FRIEND WERE HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A YOUNG MAN WHO INTENTIONALLY RAN A RED LIGHT. HE HID MY SON SO HARD THAT OUR 2009 KIA RONDO FLIPPED 3 TIMES AND NOT ONE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THEY DID DEPLOY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY, HOWEVER I STILL HAVE PICTURES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED IN OTHER RONDOS SO NO ONE ELSE HAS TO ENDURE WHAT MY SON WHO WAS DRIVING DID. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURE THAT ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE STEERING WHEEL IN IN TACT AND NONE OF THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE THE CAR FLIPPED OVER 3 TIMES. HE WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI #11081001

85,000 miles · Oct 19, 2017
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #11034492

65,000 miles · Oct 1, 2017
Service BrakesSteering

ANY TIME THERE IS WATER ON THE ROAD MY CAR LOSES STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. DOESN'T MATER IF IT IS A SMALL PUDDLE OR A LARGE ONE. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS COME ON AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE HAPPENS. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THE SHIELD IS IN PLACE AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN…

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ANY TIME THERE IS WATER ON THE ROAD MY CAR LOSES STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. DOESN'T MATER IF IT IS A SMALL PUDDLE OR A LARGE ONE. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS COME ON AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE HAPPENS. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THE SHIELD IS IN PLACE AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2010 AND IT STARTED DOING THIS IN 2013.

NHTSA ODI #11030756

76,000 miles · Sep 12, 2017
Steering

WHEN IT IS RAINING AND IT SEEM IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE GETS WET FROM PUDDLES IN THE ROADWAY. THE BATTERY LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. MY CAR DOES NOT STALL AND AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE SOME TO DRY OUT THE BRAKE THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON THE DASH AND I GET THE POWER ST…

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WHEN IT IS RAINING AND IT SEEM IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE GETS WET FROM PUDDLES IN THE ROADWAY. THE BATTERY LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. MY CAR DOES NOT STALL AND AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKE SOME TO DRY OUT THE BRAKE THEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT ON THE DASH AND I GET THE POWER STEERING BACK. FROM THIS LIST OF OTHER HAVING THE VERY SAME ISSUE KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS. THIS JUST STARTED WITHIN THE PAST 9 MONTHS AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE 2010. KIA CAN'T KEEP IGNORING THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11022875

89,000 miles · Jul 25, 2017
Steering

MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF POWER STEERING CUTS OUT IN WET CONDITIONS WITH BATTERY LIGHT AND ANOTHER LIGHT ILLUMINATING. ONCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, POWER STEERING IS REGAINED. IT IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND NOW WE I DON'T LET HER DRIVE WHEN IT RAINS OR IF IT IS WET OUT. KIA STATES THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB FOR WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. H…

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MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF POWER STEERING CUTS OUT IN WET CONDITIONS WITH BATTERY LIGHT AND ANOTHER LIGHT ILLUMINATING. ONCE THE LIGHTS GO OFF, POWER STEERING IS REGAINED. IT IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND NOW WE I DON'T LET HER DRIVE WHEN IT RAINS OR IF IT IS WET OUT. KIA STATES THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB FOR WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING. HOW IS THIS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN? EACH OCCURRENCE THE CAR HAS TO BE STOPPED AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH MULTIPLE TIMES. WHEN MAKING A TURN HAVE TO SLAM ON BREAKS TO THE STOP TO REGAIN HEADING CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #11010482

144,000 miles · Jul 11, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED TO PUMP FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GRIECO HONDA LOCATED AT 1880 HARTFORD AVE, JOHNSTON, RI 02919; (877) 428-5614) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP UNIT NEEDED TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED TO PUMP FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GRIECO HONDA LOCATED AT 1880 HARTFORD AVE, JOHNSTON, RI 02919; (877) 428-5614) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-333-4542 AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 144,000.

NHTSA ODI #11004311

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEAD LAMPS, FOG LAMPS, AND BLINKERS WON'T TURN ON. WE CHANGED THE BULBS THINKING THEY HAD BLOWN. THE LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON WHEN CAR WAS RESTARTED.

NHTSA ODI #10995147

Official recalls

2

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.

08V459000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage

Sep 11, 2008

KIA IS RECALLING 6,680 MY 2008-2009 RONDO LX AND EX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4 LITER ENGINE. THE FUEL PUMP MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE. POOR ENGINE STARTING, ENGINE HESITATION, AND OTHER IMPAIRMENT MAY RESULT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNUSUALLY SEVERE IMPAIRMENT WHILE DRIVING COULD EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SUB-ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED PART. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA 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

1

DP22003 · Loss Of Motive Power

Opened Sep 12, 2022 · Closed Dec 12, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan assemblies of the subject vehicles. Based on a review of the available information, a loss of motive power resulting from an oil drain plug back out has not occurred between the initial sale of a vehicle and the completion of its first oil change. If during an oil change service, a technician fails to remove the existing drain plug gasket before installing a new gasket, it is likely that a proper seal between the drain plug and the oil pan will not be made. An improper seal between the drain plug and oil pan could lead to the backing out on the drain plug, resulting in the sudden loss of oil while driving. Additionally, the provided examples of oil pan cracks were localized to the immediate vicinity of the oil drain plug and/or appeared to be the result of direct-contact with a tool during servicing.  There is no information to support that a vehicle-based defect exists relating to the oil pan assembly, and instead the documented incidents are related to the failure to follow the proper maintenance procedures during oil change service. In October 2023, Hyundai published a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that provided detailed instructions for oil change service on its gasoline powered vehicles, specifically highlighting the need to remove and replace the existing drain plug gasket prior to reinstalling the drain plug. After a thorough review of the material submitted by the petitioner, the information already in NHTSA's possession, and the potential risks to motor vehicle safety implicated by the petitioners' allegations, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. Therefore, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA’s reasons for denial of the petition will be published. The reference numbers for the complaints to NHTSA cited by the petitioner can be found in the petition submission documents in the public file for DP22-003. To review those complaints and the additional complaints ODI added to its evaluation which are cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.