2009 Kia RONDO: complaints, problems and recalls

RESPONDING TO RECALL SUMMARY ON LINE . I CALLED KIA MOTORS TOLD THEM MY 2009 RONDO WAS LISTED WITH A RECALL . I GAVE THEM MY VIN # THEY LOOKUP ON THEIR SYSTEM . AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. SO THERE NOTHING THEY DO . PLEASE HELP FIND OUT IF I'M STILL ABLE TO GET THIS RECALL SERVICE THANKS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 310 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286863 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10289391 at NHTSA ↗

WATER/MUD GETS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING HEAVY RAIN. A DAY AFTER DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, I OPENED THE HOOD, AND THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COVERED WITH A LAYER OF MUD. THIS INCLUDED THE ENGINE, WIRING, AND MOST ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE NEVER, IN 37 YEARS AND NEARLY ONE MILLION MILES OF DRIVING, HAD THIS SORT OF INTRUSION INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. OUR FEAR IS NOT ONLY THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, BUT OF THE SLOW FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, CAUSING SERIOUS PR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10289397 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND SIDE REAR BUMPER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE LEVEL OF FORCE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT AND REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353023 at NHTSA ↗

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS/LUNGES WHEN IT SHIFTS AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 50 KM/HR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10367762 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, FUEL SEEPAGE FROM INJECTORS ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. THE DEALERS COULD NOT FIND A LEAK OR SMELL ANY GAS FUMES. AS OF TODAY, VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10381157 at NHTSA ↗

2009 KIA RONDO LX - 2 BROKEN SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN BACK SEAT - THE SEAT BELT CASING ON DRIVER SIDE BACK SEAT COMPLETELY CAME OFF; THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CASING IS CRACKED AND INOPERABLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393006 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448553 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-09-11 (September 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: 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.

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 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: 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.