Kia · Borrego · 2009
3
Recalls
87
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2009 Kia Borrego has 3 recalls and 87 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (9 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Something within the brake system is causing my shifter to not communicate with the brakes and will not allow my car to go into reverse or park. It stays stuck on drive or neutral. The only thing I can do is shut the car off and can’t do much except for move around the key until I can put the car into park. Then that is hot and starts making under the hood hot. Then the check engine light will go on and off. It is also making a leak of brake fluid somewhere which is making the brakes go to the floor and making it dangerous when trying to stop the vehicle.
I have owned this car since it was new. Anchors Kia hung up on me 3x as I tried to get 2 recall items addressed. I then called the Kia hotline and got hung up on. All I want is my recalled item taken care of…
I absolutely love my kia borrego and have been trying to find a way to give the car back and end payments on it because I can't afford to put parts on it anymore. I'm on disability and can't seem to find the real issue after thousands of dollars in failed attempts. My transmission has not been shifting and if it does shift, it's sudden and aggressive. It will rev up higher than normal and if you continue holding the gas at all it will jerk you as you are driving. It has nearly caused me to swerve or be hit by anyone following. It feels like someone hits the car from behind very hard. Not only is it scary, it is aggressive and could cause whiplash or harm to my children. On 3 occasions I have been driving and my seat belt has randomly popped off on the driver seat and twice in the passenger seat. It's awful I have to plan where I will park or my route because my car randomly shuts off while driving which is dangerous on the curvy roads where I live and the car mostly doesn't shift at all while driving after all the money I've wasted trying to have it fixed. This car was the best thing that I have ever owned until it became a dangerous, unreliable nightmare.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Borrego EX. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle, while driving into her driveway, the vehicle inadvertently applied the brakes, bringing it to a sudden stop. As a result, the contact stated that her friend, who had been following her, collided with the rear of the vehicle. No air bags were deployed. No warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. No police report was filed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 172,534.
Air bag - During a bad rain storm a couple years ago I had an accident and hit the center divider after entering the freeway going 50 mph instead of 65 mph and none of my airbags deployed. I let my insurance know as well as the repair shop but it is UNKNOWN if they actually checked. The light on my dash showed my airbags were on. Engine- My engine started to make a rattling noise that sounds like a diesel vehicle starting up during a cold starts. I have took it to the dealership I bought it from multiple times cause it has gotten louder and worst they claimed the looked at it and said that it was normal and decided to max out my GAP insurance so I can no longer take it in for that issue but my normal mechanic states that is not normal and it should not be making that noise. There were no lights or warning signs of any sort.
After recall for brake light switch was performed at dealership on 7-12-2022 brake light switch sticks causing brake lights to be illuminated randomly. Brake lights stay lit after being parked and may also be lit during operation. This may cause a safety issue if following drivers cannot determine when brakes are applied. Dealership has not rectified this problem. Problem never existed before the recall was performed.
I was driving in traffic with stop light coming up hit my brakes to slow down because of cars in front of me, I had no brakes/ no warning lights on dash. I pumped my brakes and was able to stop before hitting car in front of me. Local shop said master cylinder so I took it to local shop that repairs my car the last few years, they replaced Kia master cylinder, still no brake, replaced Kia brake booster, still no brakes, sent master cylinder back and reordered another new kia one it was put on and no brakes, had it towed to shop in Charlotte NC , no codes reading for problem so they said it must be the module accuator assembly. No mechanic knows what's wrong with my brakes because nothing can relay to their diagnostic machines. I have spent over about 13 hundred dollars so far and there is no way to find out what's wrong other than replace the entire brake system from wheels inward to the brake assembly and up to the booster and master cylinder because the brake assembly is not relaying any codes. I could of been in a bad accident because of my brakes failing.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Borrego. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front passenger’s and the front driver’s side seat belts unlatched independently without warning. The contact latched the seat belts, but the failure persisted. The dealer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. On another occasion while turning off the vehicle, the contact noticed that the key and the ignition were hot, but no warning light was illumined. The dealer was contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure. On another occasion, the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shifted into neutral independently without warning. The dealer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. Additionally, while attempting to unlock the driver’s side door, several attempts were needed before the door unlocked. The contact also stated that the failure also occurred while exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 160,000.
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT UNFASTENS WHILE DRIVING AND THE RIGHT REAR AND CENTER SEAT BELTS WILL NOT FASTEN WHETHER DRIVING OR SITTING STILL. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PROPEL FORWARD FULLY WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED TO INCREASE SPEED WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY.
WHILE DRIVING STEP ON BRAKES TO SLOW AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS RELATED TO BRAKES LITE UP AND CAR SHIFTER WAS STUCK IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES THE LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF . HAD CAR CHECKED AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND AS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THIS CAR IS USED BY WIFE AND CHILDREN DAILY. WITH ALL THINGS CONSIDERED WE HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES AND INCLUDES ABS MODULE,TRANSMISSION MODULE SPEED SENSOR, OR THE MAIN MODULE WHICH IS TROUBLING WHAT DO WE DO TAKE A GUESS WHAT TO REPLACE. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. AS ALL OF THE PARTS LISTED HAVE A HEAVY PRICE TO HAVE CHANGED.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM CHURCH WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING, IT JUST CAME ON WITH NO REASON
WHEN I RETURNED TO THE PLACE I LEFT. I STOPPED AND TRIED TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK. IT WOULD NOT GO PAST NEUTRAL. I COULD SHUT OFF ENGINE, BUT KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM IGNITION AND THE ACCESSORY, SUCH AS RADIO AND SOME LIGHTS STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE BUTTON AND THEN ABLE TO PUT INTO PARK.
MY MOTHER AND I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 6/27/20 AND IT WAS IN THE AFTERNOON. WELL I DROVE IT HOME AND IN THE WAY HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AND THE LIGHT FOR THE TIRES. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT FIRST OF ALL THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE DIFFERENT TIRES. AND ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF TREADS. BUT THEN THE VEHICLE KEPT GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. THE MORE I DROVE IT THE HARDER IT WAS TO HOLD IN THE ROAD. THEN IT STARTED RAINING. I THOUGHT SERIOUSLY THAT I COULD DIE WITH THIS AS BAD AS IT WAS. AND TO TOP THAT OFF I TRIED TO TURN ON THE WIPERS AND THEY STARTED FALLING ABOUT FROM BEING DRY ROTTED. I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE . FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS. SO THEN I TRIED TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND HIS DAUGHTER ANSWERED THE PHONE AND I ASKED TO TALK TO WHO SHE REFERRED TO AS HER FATHER. AND SHE SAID HE MAY NOT BE IN ALL DAY AND I TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK. I WAITED TILL WHEN THEY ALMOST CLOSE AND NO ONE CALLED . I TRIED TO CALL BACK AND THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER. AT WHICH TIME MY MOTHER GOT ON THE PHONE WITH HER CREDIT CARD PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM TO STOP THE PAYMENT ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY AGREED. AND TOLD US TO MAKE SURE THE VEHICLE GOT BACK UP THERE TO THEM. HONESTLY THAT WAS THE SCARED AS I EVER BEEN DRIVING SOMETHING. BUT I GOT IT BACK TO THEM. IT'S ONLY BEEN THE 3 DAY WHEN ALL THIS UNFOLDED. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE GONNA TREAT IT LIKE A REPOSSESSION. AND THREATENING MY 77 YEAR MOTHER. AND THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS. MY MOTHER TOLD THEM THE VEHICLE WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZZARD LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND IT WAS DANGEROUS TO MY LIFE CAUSE IT WAS A WONDER THAT I DIDN'T GET KILLED THE LITTLE I DROVE IT. SHE DROVE BEHIND ME IN THE VEHICLE ON THE WAY BACK AND SEEN HOW THE VEHICLE WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 72 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT IMPACT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIRBY KIA OF VENTURA (6424 AUTO CENTER DR, VENTURA, CA 93003) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE DEALER OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT FILED TWO CLAIMS WITH THE MANUFACTURER THAT WERE DENIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MY DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT LATCH ALL OF THE TIME. IT WILL POP OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. I AM ALSO HAVE TROUBLE WITH MY ANTENNA AROUND MY IGNITION SWITCH. IT DOESN'T DETECT MY KEY ALL OF THE TIME WHICH MEANS THAT MY CAR DOES NOT START EVERY TIME I PUT THE KEY IN IT. IT MIGHT TAKE A FEW ATTEMPTS. I JUST PUT ABOUT $5000 INTO THIS CAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND WAS HOPING TO BE DONE FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THE TECHNICIANS HAVE SHARED THAT NEITHER OF THESE ISSUES ARE OF MY DOING. THE CAR IS SIMPLY NOT READING MY KEY AND MY SEATBELT IS DEFECTIVE.
SUN VISORS ON BOTH SIDES WILL NOT RETRACT UP TO ROOFTOP SO ITS BLOCKING VISIBILITY. THE RIGHT SIDE WENT OUT 1ST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, BUT WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE STOP WORKING ABOUT 3 MO.. THAT'S WHEN I HAVE A PROBLEM. SO FOR THE PAST 3 MONTHS IS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME.
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
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EVERGREEN KIA (LOCATED AT 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 211-3116) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE AND CRANKSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2009 Kia Borrego has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 87 owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Kia Borrego.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2009 Kia Borrego.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2009 Kia Borrego are power train (9 reports), seat belts (7 reports), steering (6 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2009 Kia Borrego. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.