2009 Kia Rondo
The Verdict
The 2009 Kia Rondo has 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (26 complaints) and electrical (20 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 81/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Kia Rondo, consider the 2011 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2011 has 97% fewer complaints
View the 2011 Kia Rondo dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
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Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Rondo. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the exterior brake lights remained illuminated. Additionally, the ESC warning light was illuminated while driving. The contact had to depress the brake pedal three times to turn off the exterior brake lights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
No compression in cylinder 3 due to oil drainage in spark plug panel caused Loss of motive power and Almost a wreck so to vehicle shutting down on the interstate . As I look I see that this is in investigation already and needs to be took into consideration as soon as possible if our lives really matter to Kia as your customers . So very sad how the engines and fuel systems are on kias
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.
I am reporting premature sub frame corrosion. The corroded area would cause a safety hazard if the corroded part of the frame broke all the way off as a result of hitting a large bump or perhaps a big pothole. Fortunately i discovered the problem when I was getting the tires balanced. I will no longer drive the vehicle until it is repaired safely.
Engine Star making very loud noise. Will driving. Mechanic told me engine is damaged and need replacement
MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING IN OUR KIA, IN PARK AND CAR TURNED OFF, WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND. CAR TOWED TO SHOP RESULTED IN MECHANIC STATING OUR FRONT DRIVER STRUT "EXPLODED" INTO SEVERAL PIECES. LUCKY WE WERE NOT DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED, HE STATED. NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS BEFORE, EVER!
EVERY TIME I GO THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE I LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS HAPPENED BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY NUMEROUS TIMES, LASTS A FEW MINUTES AND THEN I REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING. FORTUNATELY, IT'S HAPPENED ON MY STREET FOR THE MOST PART. LAST WEEK, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020, I WAS ON A VERY BUSY MAIN ROAD WHEN I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER. I TURNED RIGHT, WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE, AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME SO I SHIFTED BACKWARDS AND TRIED TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL WITH NO LUCK. I REPEATED GOING BACKWARDS AND AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS THE STEERING FUNCTION CAME BACK. I'VE HAD THE DRIVE BELT REPLACED SO THAT CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM. I'VE RECENTLY HAD AN ALIGNMENT, TWO NEW TIRES INSTALLED, AND TIRES ROTATED. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT ANY ISSUES. I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE FUNCTIONING WELL. I WAS ON-LINE SEARCHING TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS BUT I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT KIA SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT.
WHEN I DRIVE IN WET CONDITIONS, SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL IS INOPERABLE FOR A FEW SECONDS. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE SAY THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE AND KIA CLAIMS THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THEY NEED TO BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMETHING VERY BAD HAPPENS.
WHEN IT IS RAINING OR AFTER RAIN IF THERE ARE STILL PUDDLES IN THE ROAD, WHEN THE CAR GOES THROUGH ANY PUDDLES THE STEERING LOCKS UP FOR AT LEAST 45 SECONDS. I HAD MY DAUGHTER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE AND THIS HAPPENED TO HER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PUTTING MY CHILD AT RISK LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY WITH THE PRICE OF THIS CAR. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND IT STILL DOES THIS. MY ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. SO ANY TIME I HIT THE SMALLEST BUMP OR WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON A BUMPY ROAD OR ON SNOW OR ICE, THE CAR LOCKS UP. THE BRAKES GO OUT AND ITS LIKE EVERYTHING IN THE CAR LOCKS UP FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT IS TERRIFYING ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE EXPERIENCED SO MANY ISSUES IN A VEHICLE BEFORE OWNING A KIA RONDO. I HAVE HAD THE WHOLE FRONT END SUSPENSION REPLACED, NEW TIRES AND RIMS AND A MONTH LATER THE CAR IS WOBBLING AGAIN.
THE ESC LIGHT WENT TO ESC OFF STATUS. TRIED TO REPAIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE LIGHT PLUNGER STOPPER WAS BROKEN. CANNOT FIND REPLACEMENT STOPPER OF THIS TYPE. APPEARS THIS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY THAN ORIGINAL RONDO LX 2009. THERE WAS DEFINITELY A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED. NEED ASSISTANCE IN MAKING SAFETY ISSUE CORRECTED. PARK POSITION CAN ALSO SLIP OUT WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. BRAKE LIGHTS CAN STICK ON. NEED ASSISTANCE ASAP FROM KIA.
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT COME ON. THE CAR REMAINS ON. I COULD BE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR TRYING TO TURN. IT LASTS AT LEAST 10-30 SECONDS MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
TWICE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL, NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED. THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. AFTER 5-10 SECONDS, THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES WOULD WORK AGAIN. THE WORST INCIDENT OCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION; THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. THE OTHER INCIDENT WAS IN A SCHOOL CROSSING ZONE, WHILE CHILDREN WERE WALKING OR BICYCLING TO SCHOOL. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED.
TIENE PRENDIDO LA LUZ DE BAGAIR Y LO LLEVE A LA AGENCIA NO LO QUISIERON CHECAR POR MODELO ANTIGUO Y TODAVA SE BURL DE QUE YA NO EXISTE EL MODELO.
FRONT SPRINGS BREAKING AND IT IS NUMEROUS MODEL YEARS. KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND HAS DONE NOTHING. WHEN YOU TURN THE SPRINGS TWIST AND BREAK. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME FOR ME THAT MY FRONT SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN. FOUND DURING A INSPECTION.
SEVERAL TIMES WHEN IN RAINY CONDITIONS THE CAR HAVE LOST THE POWER STEERING, MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE, ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS TURN ON. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AT ALL. ONLY OPTION IS TO STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF AND WAIT TILL IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN. IT HAPPENED WHILE HITTING PUDDLES OF WATER OR IN HEAVY RAIN. I DID CONTACT KIA ABOUT IT AND THEY ONLY SAID THERE IS NOT A RECALL.
ANY TIME THERE IS WATER ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING MY CAR LOSES STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. DOESN'T MATER IF IT IS A SMALL PUDDLE OR A LARGE ONE, EVEN IF JUST DAMP ON ROAD. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS COME ON AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE HAPPENS. LIKE THE CAR IS STALLING. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THE SHIELD IS IN PLACE AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING THEY PLACED THE BELT TENSIONER AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK WHEN TRYING TO PUT IT ON; WHILE STATIONARY AND IN PARK. TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND LOTS OF JIGGLING, TO GET IT TO ENGAGE. IT SOMETIMES COMES UNHOOKED WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT BELT IS FROZEN AND UNUSABLE. WHEN I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH MY 1989 TOYOTA COROLLA YEARS BACK, THE DEALER TOLD ME FEDERAL LAW SPECIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING SEAT BELTS THAT WERE FAILING, EVEN WITHOUT A RECALL, FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. KIA HAS TOLD ME IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY. I WOULD THINK THEY WOULD NOT WANT TO RISK A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT IF I, OR MY FAMILY MEMBERS, WERE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, WATER MADE CONTACT WITH THE FUEL INTAKE VALVE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL INTAKE VALVE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE WHEEL AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
PASSING THROUGH WATER PUDDLES OR DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE STEERING LOCKS UP. I HAD THE POWER STEERING BELT REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HAD IT LOCK UP WHILE MAKING TURNS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A RAIN PUDDLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE GOING STRAIGHT AND TURNING.
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