KIA BORREGO · model year

2010 KIA BORREGO

4 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010KIABORREGO carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2010 BORREGO is power train:automatic transmission with 1 filings, followed by electrical system (1) and equipment (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2010 BORREGO, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

4 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
EQUIPMENT1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (2)

23V65200025/09/2023

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

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

23V69200013/10/2023

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

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.

Recent Complaints

20171111POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 9

20100908POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

Mileage: 7,000

20100908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 7,000

20100908EQUIPMENT

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

Mileage: 7,000

Compare 2010KIABORREGO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 KIA BORREGO have?
The 2010 KIA BORREGO has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 KIA BORREGO?
Yes, the 2010 KIA BORREGO has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 KIA BORREGO?
The most-complained component for the 2010 KIA BORREGO is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and EQUIPMENT.
Is the 2010 KIA BORREGO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.