AI Damage2009 KIA Borrego: common problems
Owners of the 2009 KIA Borrego filed 88 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 88
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 18% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 13% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 10% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 16 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 16 complaints (18% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 15 complaints (17% of all).
- Seat belts: 11 complaints (13% of all).
- Steering: 9 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 88 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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…
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.
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 air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a head injury and bruising to the body. The police were called and a report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for inspection but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. The driver of the vehicle sustained a face contusion and lacerations to the nose. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.
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.
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.
The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front passengerâs and the front driverâs 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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,860 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Borrego has 31 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 88, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 KIA Borrego?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, electrical system. Total complaints: 88. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (16%), seat belts (13%), jerking, harsh shifts (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 KIA Borrego?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 KIA Borrego from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.