RoadVitals

2009 Kia Rondo Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Jan 1, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 72 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Kia Rondo submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 1, 2023

I had to replace the tires on this car several times in 3 years. They alarm had a glitch that the car would not start and you had to take it specifically to a Kia dealer to have they alarm reprogrammed. Even upon repairs to your local mechanic. Costing them more money and me more money because they could not get in the car by pass they alarm without using kia first to reprogram it. The brakes locked up. The lights woukd go off for airbag and stay on. The anti lick brake light would stay on .. Very dangerous. I had to spend more money to because of they alarm. Even just replacing the battery in the alarm remote cost more money for the remote and the programming of the remote . You could not just replace the battery. The tires and brakes gave me several issues in 3 years To the tube of close 3000. And that's being fair.

NHTSA ID
11499666
Incident
Sep 8, 2022
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 14, 2017

HEAD LAMPS, FOG LAMPS, AND BLINKERS WON'T TURN ON. WE CHANGED THE BULBS THINKING THEY HAD BLOWN. THE LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON WHEN CAR WAS RESTARTED.

NHTSA ID
10995147
Incident
Jun 12, 2017
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 2016

WHEN DRIVING THE CARE IN WET CONDITIONS, CAR EITHER LOOSES POWER OR DIES WHEN RIGHT FRONT WHEEL HITS A WATER PUDDLE. EVEN SMALL PUDDLES CAUSE CAR TO LOOSE POWER. PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THAT WATER GETS ON THE BELT VERY EASILY. HAVING THE BELTS TENSIONERS TIGHTENED HELPS SOME, BUT DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. I LIVE IN OREGON AND THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY. 2009 KIA RONDO LX WITH 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. EITHER ROAD, HIGHWAY OR BACK ROADS, WATER PUDDLES RESULT IN PROBLEMS. NOTE: THIS IS NOT DRIVING THROUGH HIGH WATER ERRORS, EVEN 1 TO 2 INCH PUDDLES WILL DO IT. CONTINUOUS PROBLEM OVER THE 5 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR. ALSO SPEED DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE.

NHTSA ID
10927818
Incident
Nov 24, 2016
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 18, 2015

THE ENGINE FAN KEEPS RUNNING WHEN THE CAR IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN, IT DRAINS THE BATTERY.

NHTSA ID
10794772
Incident
Oct 27, 2015
Mileage
79,576 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Apr 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE DRIVES THROUGH WATER AND HAS A SPLASH, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE POWER STEERING FAILS FOR A FEW MINUTES. INITIALLY, THE CONTACT THOUGHT THE FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY HEAVY RAIN AND LARGE BODIES OF WATER; HOWEVER, THEY OCCURRED ANY TIME THE VEHICLE WENT THROUGH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10705618
Incident
Apr 4, 2015
Driver assistanceElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 6, 2015

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THROUGH A PUDDLE, THE CAR LOST ALL ABILITY TO STEER. POWER FELT AS IF IT SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE. NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE OR DO RECALL FOR WHATEVER PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED??? *TR

NHTSA ID
10692564
Incident
Feb 18, 2015
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Nov 16, 2014

WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I HIT WATER OR SLUSH ON THE ROAD WAY AT TIMES MY CAR WILL LOSS ALL POWER STEERING AND BREAKING AND THE LIGHTS FOR THE BATTERY AND OTHER SYSTEMS LIGHTS COME ON. IT SOMETIMES LAST FOR 10 SECOND TO 20 SECONDS. THIS CAUSE MY CAR TO BE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING BECAUSE ALL AT ONE TIME YOU LOSE SO MUCH CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10655294
Incident
Jun 26, 2014
Mileage
83,000 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Jun 21, 2014

2009 KIA RONDO HAS POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR FAILURE DURING RAIN STORMS. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOSES POWER STEERING, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD, AND CAR SOMETIMES SHUTS OFF. THE CAR WILL RESTART, BUT MAKES A HIGH-PITCHED SCREECHING NOISE TEMPORARILY. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS TURNING. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IT WORRIES ME TO DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN (IT EVEN DOES IT SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A PUDDLE). I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON DIFFERENT FORUMS, INCLUDING KIA.COM FORUMS. A COUPLE LINKS ARE LISTED BELOW: WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/KIA/RONDO/ HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/KIA-CARENS-RONDO-FORUM/82332-POWER-STEERING-FAILURE-WET-CONDITIONS-KIA.HTML IT IS SURPRISING THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OF ANY TYPE ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10604973
Incident
Apr 2, 2014
Mileage
92,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2014

WHEN KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH, INDICATES THAT THE KEY IS STILL ON. HAVE TO RESTART AND REMOVE THE KEY TO DISABLE THEM. NAVIGATION UNIT FREEZES. HAVE TO EJECT THE CD AND CLOSE THEM TO ENABLE USE THE NAVIGATION UNIT TOOK THE VEHICLE 3 OR 4 TIMES, DEALER RESPONDING BACK THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10583242
Incident
Sep 2, 2013
Electrical
Filed Oct 22, 2009

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 PROBLEMS, INCLUDING FIRE, IN THE FUTURE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO TALK TO THE FACTORY REP, WHICH I DID ON OR ABOUT 7/30/09. THE REPS REPLY WAS A STANDARD 'DON'T WORRY ABOUT'. HE SAID ALL SHIELDS WHERE IN PLACE, AND HE WOULD HAVE THE SERVICE DEPT CLEAN IT UP FOR ME AND APPLY A HEAVY COAT OF SILICONE SPRAY TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I SEE THIS AS A BAND-AID TO A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS FIRE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10289397
Incident
Jul 20, 2009

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .