2009 Kia Borrego Brakes Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11700707

Incident

Nov 5, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11526782

Incident

May 15, 2023

Mileage

172,534 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11479609

Incident

Jul 12, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11472241

Incident

Apr 14, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11406202

Incident

Mar 31, 2021

Mileage

195,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11400089

Incident

Mar 2, 2021

Mileage

136,350 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, HE EXITED THE VEHICLE, ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS OF ENTERING HIS HOME, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM HIS BACKYARD. THE CONTACT RAN OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE WITHOUT WARNING. 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 VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. *TR*JB

NHTSA ID

11230847

Incident

Jul 9, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11172839

Incident

Jan 22, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11124565

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

64,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10852923

Incident

Jan 16, 2012

Mileage

29,452 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10836705

Incident

Feb 17, 2016

Mileage

92,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10691685

Incident

Feb 24, 2015

Mileage

76,432 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10660589

Incident

Nov 14, 2014

Mileage

43,810 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10578542

Incident

Mar 11, 2014

Mileage

34,000 mi

FRONT ROTOR WARPED BEFORE 12,000 MILES, KIA DEALER REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON A SATURDAY MORNING, BUT THEY SAID THEY WERE VERY BUSY TO COMPLETE ALL THE ISSUES I HAD, A RECURRING VIBRATION AT 70-80, BRAKES VIBRATING AND AN OIL CHANGE, SO I RESCHEDULED. I MISSED THE RESCHEDULED DATE AND WHEN I DID FINALLY MAKE IT IN I WAS OVER 12000 MILES AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE BRAKES. I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AS I ALSO HAD TO ADDRESS THE VIBRATION BETWEEN 70 -80 MPH. KIA CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SEE IF A GOODWILL REPAIR OR EXCHANGE WOULD BE DONE, AND ARRANGE TEST DRIVE BY A REGIONAL MANAGER. THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER & REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER TEST DROVE MY VEHICLE. CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THE VIBRATION IS INHERENT TO THE BORREGO BECAUSE THE REGIONAL MANAGE DRIVES THE SAME SUV AND IT HAS THE SAME VIBRATION? IT SO ANNOYING, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE PASSENGER SEAT VIBRATE. AGAIN THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE BRAKE REPAIR STATING NOTHING WAS WRONG, EVEN THOUGH I HAD A WRITTEN ESTIMATE FROM THEM TO CUT THE ROTOR. THE NEXT DAY I SCHEDULED SERVICE TO HAVE THE BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED, AND THEY DID IT. HOW DO THEY EXPLAIN RESURFACING ROTORS THAT A REGION MANGER CLAIMS HAD NO BRAKE PROBLEM, AND I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE RESURFACED. AT 23800 MILES, THEY WARPED AGAIN, I PAID TO CUT THEM AGAIN. AT 33,000 THEY WARPED AGAIN, I PAID TO GET THEM REPLACED (KIA OEM). AT 41,000 THE ROTOR WARPED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, THE SAY TO PUT ON AFTERMARKET SLOTTED DRILLED ROTORS. I DISAGREE AS I DON'T WANT TO VOID ANY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10414934

Incident

Feb 2, 2010

Mileage

11,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MY 2009 KIA BORREGO FOR 1.5 YEARS AND ALL 4 ROTORS ARE WARPED NOW, BUT NO OTHER PROBLEMS. BRAKE PADS ARE FINE. DISK ARE FINE. IF YOU RESEARCH WARPED ROTORS YOU WILL FIND THAT BAD BRAKE PADS ARE USUALLY THE CAUSE FOR WARPAGE. I READ IN SEVERAL FORUMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2009 KIA BORREGO, WHICH TELLS ME THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I STRONGLY DO NOT FEEL THAT "HEAT" SHOULD CAUSE ALL 4 ROTORS TO WARP AT THE SAME TIME. THAT IS WHAT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THIS. I READ THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS TOLD THIS TOO. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, IF THAT WAS THE CASE EVERYONE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR ROTORS EVERY YEAR IN A HALF. *TT

NHTSA ID

10412437

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED CAUSING THE REAR END TO DRAG AND THE ROTORS TO OVER HEAT. THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS BUT THE REPAIR WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA ID

10378774

Incident

Jan 25, 2011

Mileage

11,000 mi

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 HEAVY LIKE I WAS DRAGGING A TRAIN BEHIND ME, AND THE ESC LIGHT KEPT FLASHING IN THE DASH BOARD. I HAD TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION HANDLE FROM THE AUTO MODE TO THE MANUAL MODE. WHEN I DID THAT, I FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK AND LOCKED ON THE 4TH SPEED . I HAD TO PULL THE TRANSMISSION HANDLE BACK TO THE 1ST SPEED THEN TO THE SECOND BEFORE THE CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN AGAIN, THEN I PUT THE TRANSMISSION ON AUTO AGAIN. DEALER SAID IT WAS A PAD BRAKE ROTORS AND HAD TO CHANGE ALL 4 OF THEM. THERE WAS BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE FRONT BRAKE SIDES AND A LOT OF BLACK DUST COVERING THE 4 WHILES REMS, DEALER SAID IT IS A BRAKE DUST. THEN THEY DID UPGRADE TO THE COMPUTER REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BUT THE SECOND TIME I HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348930

Incident

Aug 5, 2010

Mileage

6,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10332388

Incident

May 19, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi