The Kia Borrego spans 2009–2011 with 7 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2009, 2010, 2011 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2011, 2010, 2009. It delivers up to 18 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Kia Borrego is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2009 to 2011 across multiple generations.
How to read a Kia Borrego VIN — every digit explained
Every Kia Borrego carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Kia and the country it was built in (real Kia codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Borrego.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA5NP · 5XX · 5XY · U5Y
- South KoreaKNA · KND · KNJ
- Mexico3KM · 3KP
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Borrego, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Kia Borrego have?
The Kia Borrego has 7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2009–2011. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2011 Kia Borrego recalls 2
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
What's wrong. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
2010 Kia Borrego recalls 2
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
What's wrong. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
2009 Kia Borrego recalls 3
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
What's wrong. 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.
Fix. 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.
Best and worst years for the Kia Borrego
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 3 tracked years, the worst years are 2009, 2010, 2011 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2011, 2010, 2009.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Borrego | Service Brakes | Avoid | |
| 2010 Borrego | Power Train | Avoid | |
| 2011 Borrego | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Kia Borrego problems?
The most-reported Kia Borrego problems are Seats (3 reports), Tires (2 reports) and Engine (6 reports) — out of 89 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Power Train 18 Read
I now find myself dealing with an issue that i now know is a well-known and documented problem with the zf 6-speed transmission used in this particular v8 model. This past week, the transmission shifting became erratic, in particular, and among other issues, holding on to 3rd gear and refusing to up shift or down shift properly. There were a few times in which when accelerating from a stand-still ' a stop light and/or 4-way-stop intersection, for example ' the vehicle would not shift up from 1st gear or would start on 3rd gear and would not down shift down to 2nd nor up shift to 4th. Bizarre and dangerous to say the least, as it was a stop-and-go traffic situation. On two other occasions, while driving at over 35 mph or so, the engine would shift very abruptly from 3rd to 4th gear, and then would down shift back to 3rd gear. The second time this happened i pulled to the side of the road to shut down the car. I did not know what to so after five minutes or so i restarted the vehicle and headed home. Upon extensive research, i have found that this is a well-known issue, documented by many kia mohave v8 owners, and one that has not been classified as a recall, even though it seems to be a defective component issue and it has led to many unsafe and dangerous driving situations. I have found many complaints on this particular kia mohave v8 model throughout kia owners' forums and even on the nhtsa website. I also found online the kia technical service bulletin 035 [rev1, 3/7/11], which documents the issue to a t. At this point. There is no official callback issued by kia motors yet. This issue is a disastor waiting for happen which can cause great harm to its unsuspecting customers.
Our 2009 kia borrego has had several issues. Worst are 1) we put vehicle in reverse and backed out of garage, went to put in drive and started down driveway. We forgot something so stopped and backed up, upon putting back to drive we got locked in neutral. We could not get car into reverse or park. We pushed the engine off button which shut car off, but still were stuck in neutral. Car would not start back up. We had to press brake hard and got car started then it was ok. 2) then a few days later the engine light came on. The car was going to be driven to another city for work so we took by kia. They said we could drive it, but it could stall out while driving. At any speed! We left at kia for service. Under warranty, so not exactly what caused it. But do know my car battery is now dying and we've had for 6 months. Now we have to deal with that. *tr
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Borrego. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front passenger’s and the front driver’s 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. On another occasion while turning off the vehicle, the contact noticed that the key and the ignition were hot, but no warning light was illumined. The dealer was contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure. On another occasion, the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shifted into neutral independently without warning. The dealer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. Additionally, while attempting to unlock the driver’s side door, several attempts were needed before the door unlocked. The contact also stated that the failure also occurred while exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 160,000.
While driving step on brakes to slow and all warning lights related to brakes lite up and car shifter was stuck in drive or neutral. This has happened many times the lights come on and off . Had car checked and nothing could be found as no check engine light has come on. This is very dangerous as this car is used by wife and children daily. With all things considered we have researched this issue and found that many people have had similar issues and includes abs module,transmission module speed sensor, or the main module which is troubling what do we do take a guess what to replace. Any help would be appreciated. As all of the parts listed have a heavy price to have changed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that the ecu warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was jerking and failed to shift gears as designed. The vehicle was taken to deland kia (2322 s. Woodland blvd, deland, fl 32720, (386) 734-7800) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ecu module and stop lamp needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated the failure was similar to nhtsa campaign number 13v114000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
When i returned to the place i left. I stopped and tried to move gear shift into park. It would not go past neutral. I could shut off engine, but key would not release from ignition and the accessory, such as radio and some lights stayed on. I was able to press the shift lock release button and then able to put into park.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. While the vehicle was parked in a parking lot, the contact was unable to shift into reverse. The contact was able to shift into drive and drove to his residence. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to evergreen kia (located at 9205 s western ave, chicago, il 60643, (800) 211-3116) where it was diagnosed that the abs module and crankshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 68,000.
The transmission gets stuck in 4th gear and won't shift out of 4th gear you have to slam the gear shift into a gear for it to respond. Have to disconnect the battery and let the computer reset for it to start acting right. This problem has been going on for 2 days and gets aggravating.
While sitting in my car with the key in the ignition listening to the radio it would start up. It would start up in park and it would start up and neutral and it sounds like the starter armature is engaging and won't stop and gauging in neutral and stop i don't have to be in the vehicle for it to start all on its own why does start on its own it very easily can you be bumped into drive and take off down the road if i leave it in neutral or park now it sounds horrible and it sounds like you're trying to start the vehicle when it's already running so the only way for me to get the off and going now is to start the vehicle in neutral bye just sitting there soon as you start side drop it into drive and i hit the road never seems to happen while in gear but it always happens now in park and neutral. On top of that it has a code for a bank sensor in the second bank b bank or whatever and it is retarded and advanced in timing. The timing seems to be erratic and all the sensors have been replaced and it is not possible to get it smogged this year because the check engine light doesn't go off due to the timing i'm guessing. While in drive it seems to want to jump if i put it in neutral it's okay and doesn't jump until something happens and then the starter kicks on.
When letting car warm up for a couple of minutes. Put into reverse the kia jerks hard so you pull out put into drive rpms go up but but car not moving. The put a rebuilt transmission in but still have problems with the same issue. Kia did an update ,but still doing the same thing. But kia wants me to pay a diagnostic free and told them it doesn't happen all the time. It's very dangerest not shifting and no power. Complained to vandevere kia and paying a fee again stating they couldn't find anything.
Electrical System 16 Read
Our 2009 kia borrego has had several issues. Worst are 1) we put vehicle in reverse and backed out of garage, went to put in drive and started down driveway. We forgot something so stopped and backed up, upon putting back to drive we got locked in neutral. We could not get car into reverse or park. We pushed the engine off button which shut car off, but still were stuck in neutral. Car would not start back up. We had to press brake hard and got car started then it was ok. 2) then a few days later the engine light came on. The car was going to be driven to another city for work so we took by kia. They said we could drive it, but it could stall out while driving. At any speed! We left at kia for service. Under warranty, so not exactly what caused it. But do know my car battery is now dying and we've had for 6 months. Now we have to deal with that. *tr
I have owned this car since it was new. Anchors Kia hung up on me 3x as I tried to get 2 recall items addressed. I then called the Kia hotline and got hung up on. All I want is my recalled item taken care of…
I absolutely love my kia borrego and have been trying to find a way to give the car back and end payments on it because I can't afford to put parts on it anymore. I'm on disability and can't seem to find the real issue after thousands of dollars in failed attempts. My transmission has not been shifting and if it does shift, it's sudden and aggressive. 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. Not only is it scary, it is aggressive and could cause whiplash or harm to my children. On 3 occasions I have been driving and my seat belt has randomly popped off on the driver seat and twice in the passenger seat. It's awful I have to plan where I will park or my route because my car randomly shuts off while driving which is dangerous on the curvy roads where I live and the car mostly doesn't shift at all while driving after all the money I've wasted trying to have it fixed. This car was the best thing that I have ever owned until it became a dangerous, unreliable nightmare.
While driving step on brakes to slow and all warning lights related to brakes lite up and car shifter was stuck in drive or neutral. This has happened many times the lights come on and off . Had car checked and nothing could be found as no check engine light has come on. This is very dangerous as this car is used by wife and children daily. With all things considered we have researched this issue and found that many people have had similar issues and includes abs module,transmission module speed sensor, or the main module which is troubling what do we do take a guess what to replace. Any help would be appreciated. As all of the parts listed have a heavy price to have changed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that the ecu warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was jerking and failed to shift gears as designed. The vehicle was taken to deland kia (2322 s. Woodland blvd, deland, fl 32720, (386) 734-7800) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the ecu module and stop lamp needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact stated the failure was similar to nhtsa campaign number 13v114000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
My drivers side seatbelt does not latch all of the time. It will pop off while driving. This seems very dangerous and unsafe. I am also have trouble with my antenna around my ignition switch. It doesn't detect my key all of the time which means that my car does not start every time i put the key in it. It might take a few attempts. I just put about $5000 into this car over the last couple of years and was hoping to be done for a little while. The technicians have shared that neither of these issues are of my doing. The car is simply not reading my key and my seatbelt is defective.
#1 whenever it rains the right headlight goes out and has to be replaced. #2 when the car is driven there is a burning smell inside the car that smells like wires burning. And there is smoke coming from inside the enging compartment and flowing from under the hood. Between the battery compartment and the frame area. We have taken the vehicle to kia for a diognostic and although they noticed the issue also, they could not find where it was coming from. Driving the kia makes me very nervous and we would like to know what is causing the problem and how to fix it. We live in lawrenceville ga and the issue hapoens weather were on the streets or on the highway.
While sitting in my car with the key in the ignition listening to the radio it would start up. It would start up in park and it would start up and neutral and it sounds like the starter armature is engaging and won't stop and gauging in neutral and stop i don't have to be in the vehicle for it to start all on its own why does start on its own it very easily can you be bumped into drive and take off down the road if i leave it in neutral or park now it sounds horrible and it sounds like you're trying to start the vehicle when it's already running so the only way for me to get the off and going now is to start the vehicle in neutral bye just sitting there soon as you start side drop it into drive and i hit the road never seems to happen while in gear but it always happens now in park and neutral. On top of that it has a code for a bank sensor in the second bank b bank or whatever and it is retarded and advanced in timing. The timing seems to be erratic and all the sensors have been replaced and it is not possible to get it smogged this year because the check engine light doesn't go off due to the timing i'm guessing. While in drive it seems to want to jump if i put it in neutral it's okay and doesn't jump until something happens and then the starter kicks on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. While driving approximately 45 mph, the instrument panel lighting suddenly flashed before the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer (mike shaw kia located in corpus christi, tx) where it was diagnosed that the battery was faulty. The battery was replaced, but the failure recurred. The cause of the second failure was not yet diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was not available. The failure mileage was 75,000.
I had just stopped at a red light when all the lights on my dashboard came on. Ecs, abs, break, engine, 4 wheel drive and cruise control error, and the speedometer, odometer, and temperature gauge doesn't work. I pulled into the nearest auto parts place and then discovered i couldn't put the vehicle into park. I had to manually use the shift lock. They ran the computer and it showed a speed sensor error. This has been going on for a year. Sometimes it lasts a week, then acts normal for months or a few hours, then goes off again. This makes it really hard to figure out what's going on. Every time we try to take it in, it seems to work just fine and they can't diagnose the problem. When i called kia they told me there is nothing they can do.
Service Brakes 16 Read
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Borrego EX. The contact stated that upon purchasing the vehicle, while driving into her driveway, the vehicle inadvertently applied the brakes, bringing it to a sudden stop. As a result, the contact stated that her friend, who had been following her, collided with the rear of the vehicle. No air bags were deployed. 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.
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.
Something within the brake system is causing my shifter to not communicate with the brakes and will not allow my car to go into reverse or park. It stays stuck on drive or neutral. The only thing I can do is shut the car off and can’t do much except for move around the key until I can put the car into park. Then that is hot and starts making under the hood hot. 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.
After recall for brake light switch was performed at dealership on 7-12-2022 brake light switch sticks causing brake lights to be illuminated randomly. Brake lights stay lit after being parked and may also be lit during operation. This may cause a safety issue if following drivers cannot determine when brakes are applied. Dealership has not rectified this problem. Problem never existed before the recall was performed.
I was driving in traffic with stop light coming up hit my brakes to slow down because of cars in front of me, I had no brakes/ no warning lights on dash. I pumped my brakes and was able to stop before hitting car in front of me. Local shop said master cylinder so I took it to local shop that repairs my car the last few years, they replaced Kia master cylinder, still no brake, replaced Kia brake booster, still no brakes, sent master cylinder back and reordered another new kia one it was put on and no brakes, had it towed to shop in Charlotte NC , no codes reading for problem so they said it must be the module accuator assembly. No mechanic knows what's wrong with my brakes because nothing can relay to their diagnostic machines. I have spent over about 13 hundred dollars so far and there is no way to find out what's wrong other than replace the entire brake system from wheels inward to the brake assembly and up to the booster and master cylinder because the brake assembly is not relaying any codes. I could of been in a bad accident because of my brakes failing.
The driver's side seat belt unfastens while driving and the right rear and center seat belts will not fasten whether driving or sitting still. The vehicle will not propel forward fully when the gas pedal is pressed to increase speed while in motion on a highway.
While driving step on brakes to slow and all warning lights related to brakes lite up and car shifter was stuck in drive or neutral. This has happened many times the lights come on and off . Had car checked and nothing could be found as no check engine light has come on. This is very dangerous as this car is used by wife and children daily. With all things considered we have researched this issue and found that many people have had similar issues and includes abs module,transmission module speed sensor, or the main module which is troubling what do we do take a guess what to replace. Any help would be appreciated. As all of the parts listed have a heavy price to have changed.
The brake pedal and brake and brake switch was once a recall part had it replaced now it gone bad again causing me to have no brake lights and the esc off and a decline truck symbol in lit up red
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to control. The contact also stated that the brake lights on the passenger's side rear failed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the tire pressure need to be adjusted and the stop lamp switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 13v114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic).the vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,452.
This will be the second time an incident of this nature occurred. We have owned this vehicle for less than 2 years. Both times, while driving, multiple lights including abs, esc off, emergency brakes, and downhill braking assist come on. Mileage, gear, and speedometer stop working so you have no idea what speed you are traveling suddenly. Vehicle speeds were at about 40 and 45 mph on clear roads. Once the vehicle is stopped, you can only shift to neutral gear or drive and the key can not be removed from the ignition, although the engine can be turned off. The brakes appear to continue working, although both times, i was able to slow the vehicle significantly once i noticed all of the lights on and lack of speedometer. There is no way to reverse the vehicle once this occurs. After the first time this occurred, we were told it was the abs module. Kia service was unable to diagnose the light codes and had to work directly with kia over a period of several days to diagnose the vehicle the first time this occurred. It was replaced 1 year and 20 days ago by a kia dealership and failed again today. Kia service is not able to tell us if the abs module should fail repeatedly or what would cause it to fail repeatedly.
Seat Belts 11 Read
I absolutely love my kia borrego and have been trying to find a way to give the car back and end payments on it because I can't afford to put parts on it anymore. I'm on disability and can't seem to find the real issue after thousands of dollars in failed attempts. My transmission has not been shifting and if it does shift, it's sudden and aggressive. 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. Not only is it scary, it is aggressive and could cause whiplash or harm to my children. On 3 occasions I have been driving and my seat belt has randomly popped off on the driver seat and twice in the passenger seat. It's awful I have to plan where I will park or my route because my car randomly shuts off while driving which is dangerous on the curvy roads where I live and the car mostly doesn't shift at all while driving after all the money I've wasted trying to have it fixed. This car was the best thing that I have ever owned until it became a dangerous, unreliable nightmare.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Borrego. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the front passenger’s and the front driver’s 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. On another occasion while turning off the vehicle, the contact noticed that the key and the ignition were hot, but no warning light was illumined. The dealer was contacted and stated that there was no recall for the failure. On another occasion, the contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shifted into neutral independently without warning. The dealer was contacted and stated there was no recall for the failure. Additionally, while attempting to unlock the driver’s side door, several attempts were needed before the door unlocked. The contact also stated that the failure also occurred while exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 160,000.
The driver's side seat belt unfastens while driving and the right rear and center seat belts will not fasten whether driving or sitting still. The vehicle will not propel forward fully when the gas pedal is pressed to increase speed while in motion on a highway.
My drivers side seatbelt does not latch all of the time. It will pop off while driving. This seems very dangerous and unsafe. I am also have trouble with my antenna around my ignition switch. It doesn't detect my key all of the time which means that my car does not start every time i put the key in it. It might take a few attempts. I just put about $5000 into this car over the last couple of years and was hoping to be done for a little while. The technicians have shared that neither of these issues are of my doing. The car is simply not reading my key and my seatbelt is defective.
My seat belt pops out all the time. The front drivers seat and middle row middle seat seat belt both do it.
Drivers seatbelt does not stay latched. Pops open driving down road without touching it. It happens driving straight on highways city streets going straight and turning. It has been an ongoing problem for at least a year now.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that some of the seat belts in the vehicle would not latch properly without first depressing the release button on the seat belt. Once the seat belt was latched, it became unlatched again when the contact moved slightly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Driver's seat belt randomly discharges and disconnects. We began to be able to feel the difference when putting it on when it would latch vs when it wouldn't properly and securely latch. Sometimes it would take 3-5 attempts to make the belt feel secure. Often times, it would later unlatch and completely disconnect. This happened randomly; at stop lights, parking lots, on the highway, etc. It would also discharge and disconnect if tugged on. For example, leaning from driver's side over to passenger's side to reach something.
Driver's seat belt does not latch properly. It will disengage at any time, with or without pressure. *tr
The locking mechanism releases under moderate pressure (pull). Occurs at any speed, including while parked. *tr
Steering 9 Read
The steering wheel, since nearly brand new, will not raise or lower at times. This is dangerous, especially for shorter drivers. If the airbag were to be deployed this would result in possibly fatal head/neck injuries. The steering wheel stays in the fully tilted position, even when driving.
My mother and i purchased this vehicle 6/27/20 and it was in the afternoon. Well i drove it home and in the way home the engine light came on. And the light for the tires. I didn't realize that first of all that all the tires were different tires. And all different kinds of treads. But then the vehicle kept getting worse and worse. The more i drove it the harder it was to hold in the road. Then it started raining. I thought seriously that i could die with this as bad as it was. And to top that off i tried to turn on the wipers and they started falling about from being dry rotted. I was scared to drive . For myself and for others. So then i tried to contact the dealer and his daughter answered the phone and i asked to talk to who she referred to as her father. And she said he may not be in all day and i told her that there was serious issues with the vehicle. She said someone would call me back. I waited till when they almost close and no one called . I tried to call back and they would not answer. At which time my mother got on the phone with her credit card people and asked them to stop the payment on the vehicle and they agreed. And told us to make sure the vehicle got back up there to them. Honestly that was the scared as i ever been driving something. But i got it back to them. It's only been the 3 day when all this unfolded. Now they are saying that they are gonna treat it like a repossession. And threatening my 77 year mother. And the vehicle was sitting right there in front of their business. My mother told them the vehicle was an environmental hazzard leaking antifreeze and it was dangerous to my life cause it was a wonder that i didn't get killed the little i drove it. She drove behind me in the vehicle on the way back and seen how the vehicle was all over the road.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to control. The contact also stated that the brake lights on the passenger's side rear failed intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the tire pressure need to be adjusted and the stop lamp switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 13v114000 (exterior lighting, service brakes, hydraulic).the vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,452.
Our kia borrego has been nothing but problems since we purchased it. A rough ride and difficult to steer. Doesn't stay aligned and tires wear excessively. When ever we had vehicle serviced dealership would say"vehicle drives as designed, or tire pressure out of spec, once they even had the nerve to tell us the manager drives one and again drives as designed. Funny thing is thou on work order they wrote test drive. Found vehicle drives as designed. But mileage is the same when brought in 'exactly'. We have had to buy 2 and 1/2 full sets of tires. And still vehicle is hard to steer and rough ride to say the least. It is very uncomfortable to ride in ,my 4yr old protests every time we have to drive anywhere other then corner market. Door actuators on front driver side and passenger side have broke 2x. Had to wait for parts they said they would call and never did. Instead we called to find out parts had been there. Notified dealership power outlets do not work dealer could not resolve issue. Driver seat belt unexpectedly unlatches while driver intermittently. Clear coat finish is peeling. Inside door handles metallic peeling leaving sharp edges.we get terrible customer service from kia had car towed there 2x and were not offered rent-a-car either time. This vehicle is defective and i'm sure their are many more with these same issues. However kia motors does not want to except responsibility on any level. 2 recalls already.i'm hoping other borrego owners will make complaints in order to get investigation opened. We would like kia motors to buy back our vehicle, so we can purchase something other then a kia. *tr
The steering column does not telescope either in or out. The first time it happened the outside temperature was above 90 degrees. Temperatures less than 90 used to allow normal operation. Now it does not telescope at all. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated while driving various speeds the steering wheel became difficult to control. The faster he drove, the more difficult it became to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer four to five times but was told the steering wheel functioned normally. On a previous occasion, the dealer replaced the tie rod ends and then the steering wheel began to malfunction. The manufacturer was notified and stated the dealer would replace the steering wheel at the contacts expense. The failure mileage was 28,000 and the current mileage was 48,000. Updated 05/08/12*lj
I was driving on a four lane 35mph straight road and the steering became difficult to impossible--the wheel seemed to almost lock up. I slowed down considerably and managed to gt off on the right side of the road. I came to a stop, and tried to start up again because i was close to home. It began to steer again and i took it home. The vehicle was taken into the local kia dealership and they could not find anything wrong with it. My concern is that the power steering pump had an intermittent failure and may do so again. If this had occurred on a curve it would have caused an accident. *tr
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
Exterior Lighting 8 Read
After recall for brake light switch was performed at dealership on 7-12-2022 brake light switch sticks causing brake lights to be illuminated randomly. Brake lights stay lit after being parked and may also be lit during operation. This may cause a safety issue if following drivers cannot determine when brakes are applied. Dealership has not rectified this problem. Problem never existed before the recall was performed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that the brake lights burned out more than five times without warning. The vehicle was taken to nissan of lake charles (337-439-9955, located at 1700 siebarth dr, lake charles, la 70615) where it was diagnosed that the exterior lighting/brake light switch on the rear driver side needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.
On friday, 14 november 2014 i was driving to the va hospital at great naval base, illinois in my 2009 kia borrego when the esc light came on. At that time,l i was driving in the i-294 (highway) at the 55 miles speed with the cruise control on, suddenly the vehicle in front of me reduced the speed and when i applied the brakes to reduce the cruise control did not disengaged almost causing me to have an accident. I called the same date the kia dealer at ed napleton kia in elmhurst, il, make an appointment and brought it in on 18 nov 14 at 10:30 supposedly the vehicle was fixed and i was charged $320.94 for a switch assy- brake and labor. Today, 24 november 2014 i was driving again in the same highway before mentioned and almost had another accident due to the same issue. I went to the dealer to talk to the maintenance personnel and i asked for the manager. The manager came out i explained him the situation and he send a mechanic to test drive with me the vehicle and i showed him the esc light on and explained him that the vehicle continue with the same issues that had before. He replied that first they had to change the brake switch to see if that will fixed the issue but now i must change the brake module which is $1,500 dollars the part and about $800 dollars in labor. The dealer personnel and the manager never let me that this issue was a recall and i was charged for it. In addition, the mechanical/safety issue was not fixed. *tr
Low beams don't work. It isn't the bulbs.i'm not car savvy i figured since there was light it was my headlights, later i found out the light was from my fog lights.contacted family friend whom is a certified mechanic and just by what i told him he said it was a bad headlamp switch. *tr
I have a problem with one head light going out, had the bulb replaced twice. I was told the bulb wasn't blown, but headlight would not work. Unfortunately both low beam lights stop working, even after replacing bulbs in both. I am only able to drive at night with high beams on. This is very frustrating, took vehicle to shop awaiting diagnosis. I found out there was a recall on the back stop lamp switch, affecting vehicle's brake lights. I'm wondering if this has caused problems with front head lights??? *tr
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. This situation renders a possible fire hazard situation and over-costs in replacing a simple part by having to purchase an entire section of the vehicle not pertains to the isolated issue. *tr
Electronic Stability Control (esc) 7 Read
The brake pedal and brake and brake switch was once a recall part had it replaced now it gone bad again causing me to have no brake lights and the esc off and a decline truck symbol in lit up red
I had just stopped at a red light when all the lights on my dashboard came on. Ecs, abs, break, engine, 4 wheel drive and cruise control error, and the speedometer, odometer, and temperature gauge doesn't work. I pulled into the nearest auto parts place and then discovered i couldn't put the vehicle into park. I had to manually use the shift lock. They ran the computer and it showed a speed sensor error. This has been going on for a year. Sometimes it lasts a week, then acts normal for months or a few hours, then goes off again. This makes it really hard to figure out what's going on. Every time we try to take it in, it seems to work just fine and they can't diagnose the problem. When i called kia they told me there is nothing they can do.
This will be the second time an incident of this nature occurred. We have owned this vehicle for less than 2 years. Both times, while driving, multiple lights including abs, esc off, emergency brakes, and downhill braking assist come on. Mileage, gear, and speedometer stop working so you have no idea what speed you are traveling suddenly. Vehicle speeds were at about 40 and 45 mph on clear roads. Once the vehicle is stopped, you can only shift to neutral gear or drive and the key can not be removed from the ignition, although the engine can be turned off. The brakes appear to continue working, although both times, i was able to slow the vehicle significantly once i noticed all of the lights on and lack of speedometer. There is no way to reverse the vehicle once this occurs. After the first time this occurred, we were told it was the abs module. Kia service was unable to diagnose the light codes and had to work directly with kia over a period of several days to diagnose the vehicle the first time this occurred. It was replaced 1 year and 20 days ago by a kia dealership and failed again today. Kia service is not able to tell us if the abs module should fail repeatedly or what would cause it to fail repeatedly.
Our kia borrego has been nothing but problems since we purchased it. A rough ride and difficult to steer. Doesn't stay aligned and tires wear excessively. When ever we had vehicle serviced dealership would say"vehicle drives as designed, or tire pressure out of spec, once they even had the nerve to tell us the manager drives one and again drives as designed. Funny thing is thou on work order they wrote test drive. Found vehicle drives as designed. But mileage is the same when brought in 'exactly'. We have had to buy 2 and 1/2 full sets of tires. And still vehicle is hard to steer and rough ride to say the least. It is very uncomfortable to ride in ,my 4yr old protests every time we have to drive anywhere other then corner market. Door actuators on front driver side and passenger side have broke 2x. Had to wait for parts they said they would call and never did. Instead we called to find out parts had been there. Notified dealership power outlets do not work dealer could not resolve issue. Driver seat belt unexpectedly unlatches while driver intermittently. Clear coat finish is peeling. Inside door handles metallic peeling leaving sharp edges.we get terrible customer service from kia had car towed there 2x and were not offered rent-a-car either time. This vehicle is defective and i'm sure their are many more with these same issues. However kia motors does not want to except responsibility on any level. 2 recalls already.i'm hoping other borrego owners will make complaints in order to get investigation opened. We would like kia motors to buy back our vehicle, so we can purchase something other then a kia. *tr
On the 23 of february i noticed all the lights on in dash, check engine, esc, brake light ect. Was not able to put the car in park to shut it off. I did notice when driving, coming to a complete stop applying the brake, all the lights go off except the check engine light and it also acknowledge what gear i was in,therefore i was able to put the car into park and shut down the engine. Multiple times i have to unlock the shift manually. Took it to the dealership and was told it was the abs module needing replaced.. I don't believe i should be paying 2000 for a part that i don't believe it needs. I believe it is the brake light stop switch which was replaced after a recall. This should be again recalled as a default, if it is the abs module, then it should be recalled as well, this is a safety issue as much as this is happening. Im very frustrated with all we have to go through to get a solid answerer . And would appreciate a reply. *tr
On friday, 14 november 2014 i was driving to the va hospital at great naval base, illinois in my 2009 kia borrego when the esc light came on. At that time,l i was driving in the i-294 (highway) at the 55 miles speed with the cruise control on, suddenly the vehicle in front of me reduced the speed and when i applied the brakes to reduce the cruise control did not disengaged almost causing me to have an accident. I called the same date the kia dealer at ed napleton kia in elmhurst, il, make an appointment and brought it in on 18 nov 14 at 10:30 supposedly the vehicle was fixed and i was charged $320.94 for a switch assy- brake and labor. Today, 24 november 2014 i was driving again in the same highway before mentioned and almost had another accident due to the same issue. I went to the dealer to talk to the maintenance personnel and i asked for the manager. The manager came out i explained him the situation and he send a mechanic to test drive with me the vehicle and i showed him the esc light on and explained him that the vehicle continue with the same issues that had before. He replied that first they had to change the brake switch to see if that will fixed the issue but now i must change the brake module which is $1,500 dollars the part and about $800 dollars in labor. The dealer personnel and the manager never let me that this issue was a recall and i was charged for it. In addition, the mechanical/safety issue was not fixed. *tr
While driving at 60 miles an hour suddenly abs,vehicle stability icon,break icon,engine icon,cruise control turned on and speedometer failed and showed speed of zero while i am still going at same speed of 60. Few seconds later all icons disappeared as i prepared to stop so i kept driving till destination. Once car was turned on again at destination, above icons came on, had car towed to kia dealership. Main electronic control module failed and was replaced without charge by kia. Not clear what might have caused total failure of main ecm. *tr
Air Bags 6 Read
I hit a parked car on passenger front side. No passengers were in the vehicle. Side and window air bags deployed on driver side and passenger side. Steering wheel airbag did not deploy and i slammed into the steering wheel causing injury. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 kia borrego. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle hydro-planed and crashed into a concrete pillar. 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 approximate failure mileage was 73,000. Updated 12/17/13*lj
Air bag - During a bad rain storm a couple years ago I had an accident and hit the center divider after entering the freeway going 50 mph instead of 65 mph and none of my airbags deployed. I let my insurance know as well as the repair shop but it is UNKNOWN if they actually checked. The light on my dash showed my airbags were on. 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 so I can no longer take it in for that issue but my normal mechanic states that is not normal and it should not be making that noise. There were no lights or warning signs of any sort.
I was driving my car home from church when the airbag light suddenly came on. I have not had an accident or anything, it just came on with no reason
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 (never told us this, until we picked it up and read it on the service ticket). At 11,900, and only 200 miles after the replacement, it started slipping again. It was jerking very hard between park and reverse.at this point, the service engine light was also on. I called and was told to wait for several days (the service department was too busy to get the vehicle in) and on the day of the appointment, went to leave home and the borrego wouldn't go over 20mph. By the time i made it around the block to return home, it wouldn't go over 15mph. When i pulled out on the street where the speed limit was 45, i had cars ready to plow into me because i couldn't get the vehicle to go!!!! It is now back to the dealership (via flatbed tow truck). Since the vehicle has had gas tank issues (replaced tank and now the co inside the vehicle is at lethal levels), 4 attempts to get the airbag light off, chipping paint, seatbacks falling off, etc. We are now asking for kia to repurchase the suv and we will buy a car that's non kia!!!!! *tr
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Kia Borrego specifications & dimensions
The 2011 Kia Borrego. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Kia Borrego window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Kia Borrego cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Borrego holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Kia Borrego tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Kia Borrego get?
The Kia Borrego returns up to 18 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $3,450/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2011 Kia Borrego (3.8L 6-cyl) gets 18 mpg combined and costs about $3,450/yr to fuel, emitting 494 g/mi CO₂ (smog 5/10) — about $6,250 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Borrego | 17 | 21 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 3.8L 6-cyl | |
| 2010 Borrego | 17 | 21 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 3.8L 6-cyl | |
| 2009 Borrego | 17 | 21 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 3.8L 6-cyl |
The 2011 Kia Borrego (4.6L 8-cyl) gets 18 mpg combined and costs about $3,450/yr to fuel, emitting 494 g/mi CO₂ (smog 5/10) — about $6,250 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Borrego | 15 | 22 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 4.6L 8-cyl | |
| 2010 Borrego | 15 | 22 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 4.6L 8-cyl | |
| 2009 Borrego | 15 | 22 | $3,450 | 494 | 5/10 | 4.6L 8-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Borrego stacks up against the most fuel-efficient SUVs, or calculate this Borrego's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Kia Borrego have? Power & range
The Kia Borrego is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.8L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.8L · 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
| V8 | 4.6L · 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Kia Borrego cost to own?
A Kia Borrego depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Borrego loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $17,250 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Borrego ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Kia Borrego safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Borrego yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Kia Borrego last?
A well-maintained Kia Borrego typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Kia Borrego’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Borrego’s VIN free →All Kia Borrego model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Kia Borrego — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Borrego | 2 recalls | — | |
| 2010 Borrego | 2 recalls | — | |
| 2009 Borrego | 3 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Borrego?
By owner-complaint volume, 2009, 2010, 2011 drew the most reports. 2011, 2010, 2009 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Borrego have?
7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2009–2011. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
What MPG does the Borrego get?
Up to 18 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Borrego last?
A well-maintained Borrego typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Borrego reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Borrego is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Kia Borrego warranty?
New Kia models carry a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Kia dealer.
Where is the Kia Borrego made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Borrego's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Kia may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Borrego have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.