There are 4 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2009 Kia Rondoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
THE ESC LIGHT WENT TO ESC OFF STATUS. TRIED TO REPAIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT PLUNGER STOPPER WAS BROKEN. CANNOT FIND REPLACEMENT STOPPER OF THIS TYPE. APPEARS THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY THAN ORIGINAL RONDO LX 2009. THERE WAS DEFINITELY A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. NEED ASSISTANCE IN MAKING SAFETY ISSUE CORRECTED. PARK POSITION CAN ALSO SLIP OUT WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. BRAKE LIGHTS CAN STICK ON. NEED ASSISTANCE ASAP FROM KIA.
THIS MODEL CAR HAS AT LEAST THREE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE REPLACED THE MAIN HEADLIGHTS NOW 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 - 7 MONTHS. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK OR PAST NEUTRAL. THE ESC OFF LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE 2007 MODEL OF THIS CAR. *TR
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS/LUNGES WHEN IT SHIFTS AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 50 KM/HR. *TR
MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION SOLENOID THAT THE KIA FACTORY REP TOLD US "WHEN IT FAILS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO SAFE MODE AND YOU CAN BRING IT BACK". MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN (FACTORY REP WORD, NOT MINE) IT FAILS, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF MY WIFE IS DOING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE SOLENOID EMITS A VERY LOUD BUZZ THAT CAN BE HEARD FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET THAT WAS NOT THERE WHEN WE TEST DROVE THE CAR, AND IT WAS NOT THERE FOR ABOUT THE FIRST THREE WEEKS WE OWNED IT. IT STARTED AS AN OCCASIONAL BUZZ, AND IS NOW THERE AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN WE TOOK IT IN, A MECHANIC CAME OUT AND SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME I COULD TALK TO THE FACTORY REP ABOUT IT. THE FACTORY REP HAD NO ANSWER WHEN I ASKED WHY IT STARTED ONLY AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, NOR DID HE HAVE ANY ANSWER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH A HIGH-SPEED FAILURE. A COMPLAINT TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE LED THEM TO ASK THE FACTORY REP ABOUT IT, AND HE TOLD THEM THEY DO IT A FIRST START. OURS IS ALL THE TIME, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN (NOT IF) IT FAILS. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026