2009 Kia BORREGO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
43,810 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 88 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 28.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 17.0% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 6.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
Electrical System: 15; Service Brakes: 12; Power Train: 11; Seat Belts: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Steering: 9; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 7; Exterior Lighting: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 9; 2012: 5; 2013: 9; 2014: 11; 2015: 6; 2016: 6; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 9; 2020: 4; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10323750 · 2010-04-05 (April 5, 2010)
STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED. HAD TO TURN ENGINE OFF. HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO. TODAY, 4/5/10 HAPPENED AGAIN. TURNED KEY OFF. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. RESTARTED ENGINE. SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 3000 RPM. TURNED ENGINE OFF, RESTARTED, OPERATED OK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10332388 · 2010-05-26 (May 26, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA MOTOR BORREGO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE; THE FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT WORKS WITH THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10332388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10348927 · 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)
MY KIA NEW BORREGO 2009 WITH 5800 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE RPM WENT UP TO ABOUT 5000 WITH NO TRANSMISSION LOCK, THE CAR WAS STALLING WITHOUT MOVING ON THE HIGH WAY. I HAD TO REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PADDLE UNTIL RPM WENT DOWN TO ABOUT 2000 BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED BACK AGAIN AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN AGAIN, VERY VERY SCARY ON THE HIGH WAY. I WAS LIKE A LAM DUCK UNABLE TO MOVE. DEALER SAID IT IS A COMPUTER UPGRADE RECALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10348930 · 2010-08-12 (August 12, 2010)
ON MY NEW KIA BORREGO, 2009 WITH 6000 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY I WAS TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY FROM 70 MILES TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN THE FRONT OF ME WHO SUDDENLY STOP DUE TO SOME CONSTRUCTION ON THE HIGH WAY. I HIT THE BRAKE VERY HARD. THE CAR START PULSATING AND SHAKING VERY HARD. IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS A HORRIFYING MOMENT BEFORE FINALLY THE CAR SPEED WENT TO ABOUT 15 MILES. WHEN I TRIED TO CATCH THE TRAFFIC FLOW AGAIN, I PRESSED THE GAS PADDLE, HOWEVER IT THE CAR FELT VERY VERY HEAV…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10348930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284554 · 2009-09-18 (September 18, 2009)
MY BRAND NEW 2009 BORREGO PULLS TO RIGHT AND I SHOULD KEEP STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT SIDE WHEN I WANT TO DRIVE IT STRAIGHT FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT FIVE TIMES BUT FAILED. THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED ALIGNMENT AGAIN WITH LITTLE DIFFERENCE. AFTER ALL THE ATTEMPTS THEY INSIST THAT PULLING TO RIGHT SIDE IS NATURAL BECAUSE OF ROAD SHAPE( CROWN PHENOMENON? ) *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10563488 · 2014-02-08 (February 8, 2014)
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.…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10593813 · 2014-05-24 (May 24, 2014)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,097 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386922 · 2011-03-08 (March 8, 2011)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 11,510 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386922 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399443 · 2011-05-07 (May 7, 2011)
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 (NE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561977 · 2014-01-29 (January 29, 2014)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561977 at NHTSA ↗