2009 Kia Borrego Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Kia Borrego ranks worst of 12 model years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and 88 complaints, mostly electrical (24%) and brake (23%) problems. It carries 3 recalls and is rated Avoid relative to other Borrego years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 12 Borrego years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 88
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 8
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- Best nearby year
- —
- no alternative with data
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 15.5 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2009 Kia Borrego problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System21 (24%)
- Brakes20 (23%)
- Transmission & Powertrain16 (18%)
- Other11 (13%)
- Seat Belts11 (13%)
- Engine9 (10%)
- Steering9 (10%)
- Fuel System7 (8%)
- Structure & Body7 (8%)
- Airbags6 (7%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes fail to engage or apply suddenly and unexpectedly, sometimes leading to a collision.
- Airbags fail to deploy in frontal or side-impact crashes despite significant vehicle damage.
- New vehicles pull to one side or drift, making it hard to keep the car centered in its lane.
- Engine stalls at idle while stopped at a traffic light, requiring the driver to restart it.
- Brake pedal mounts reported as defective, tied to a recall covering non-adjustable pedal mounts.
2009 Kia Borrego recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V692000Oct 13, 2023Structure & Body22,768 vehicles
Structure:body:roof and pillars
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.
Risk: A headliner plate that detaches during a crash may strike an occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
- NHTSA 13V114000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System980,377 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 12V245000May 31, 2012Brakes21,912 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages
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.
Risk: If this occurs, the driver would need to stop the vehicle with the parking brake or experience a possible second impact, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: 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.
2009 Kia Borrego fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Borrego years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Kia Borrego reliable?
- NHTSA data ranks the 2009 Borrego as the worst of 12 model years for this model, with a complaint index of 100 and 88 owner complaints, the highest count in the lineup.
- What are the most common problems on the 2009 Kia Borrego?
- Electrical System complaints make up 24% of reports, followed by Brakes at 23% and Transmission & Powertrain at 18%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2009 Kia Borrego have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls: a headliner plate recall, an electrical system recall shared across several Kia models, and a brake pedal mount recall specific to 2009 Borrego vehicles built between May 2, 2008 and January 20, 2009.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2009 Borrego?
- Median mileage at failure across complaints is 43,810 miles, though electrical issues show up later at a median of 72,500 miles and steering issues earlier at 29,452 miles.
- How does the 2009 Borrego compare to other years?
- The 2009 model has a complaint index of 100, far higher than 2008 (82), 2010 (91), and every later year, which all score below 55, making 2009 the highest-risk year for this model.