2009 Kia Rondo Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING BELT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I WAS ON THE TOLLWAY IN THE RIGHT LANE IT WAS RAINING OUT A TRUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF ME LOST CONTROL HIT INTO ME AND I RAN INTO THE LIGHT POLE HEAD ON NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED I HAD MY SEATBELT ON. *TR

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

EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR I GO OVER A PUDDLE MY POWER STEERING LOCKS UP ON ME AND I CANT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE READ SO MANY STORIES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER RONDOS LIKE MINE.. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET??? I ALMOST GET IN A WRECK EVERYTIME IT RAINS!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY THAT IT HAS NOT HAD A RECALL YET!!!! *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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

WHEN CONDITIONS ARE WET, POWER STEERING FREEZES UP. DANGEROUS. TOOK TO DEALER, EVERYTHING IS FINE, BUT IT IS STILL DOING IT. WHAT IS THE RESOLUTION? THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *JS

SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN NC - IT WAS RAINING AND I DROVER OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER, I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN IN THE PROCESS AND ALL LIGHTS TURNED ON ON DASH - IT SLOWED MY CAR DOWN ALMOST TURNED OFF. AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON (STILL ON). CAR TURNED BACK ON BUT EVERYTIME IT RAINS - I AM AFRAID BECAUSE MY CAR STALLS AND IT STOPS DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF WATER. THIS IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE KIA SHOP AND THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND I HAVE TO PAY TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT BREAK. SINCE I HAVE HAD MY CAR - IT HAS DONE THE ABOVE AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON.

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.

ANY TIME THERE IS WATER ON THE ROAD MY CAR LOSES STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. DOESN'T MATER IF IT IS A SMALL PUDDLE OR A LARGE ONE. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS COME ON AND A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE HAPPENS. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY SAID THE SHIELD IS IN PLACE AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2010 AND IT STARTED DOING THIS IN 2013.

IN JANUARY 2013 MY CARE BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINNING NOISE. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WENT OUT. I WAS IN DISBELIEF DUE TO MY CARE ONLY BEING FOUR YEARS OLD. I THEN PAID $650 FOR PARTS AFTER I LEARNED THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (MY CAR WAS OVER 60,000 MILES). MY MECHANIC THEN STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME MAKE/ MODEL WITH THE SAME ISSUE & THAT FROM HIS EXPERTISE THIS WAS GOING TO BE A DOMINO EFFECT OF PROBLEMS. HE ADV ME TO TAKE THE CARE TO KIA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DO MORE DUE TO THE CAR WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS YOUNG. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN CONORD, CA & THEY ADV ME THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR WAS THE ISSUE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1400 TO REPAIR. PARTS EMPLOYEE STATED THAT THERE WHERE NO RECALLS OR PROBLEMS WITH ANY OTHER CARS OTHER THAN MINE SO FAR (AFTER I ASKED HAS THIS EVER BEEN RECALLED). KIA PARTS EMPLOYEE ADV ME TO CALL AROUND TO GET THE PARTS ESTIMATES AFTER I TOLD HIM $1400 WAS TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT KIA SHOULD HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. I CALLED AROUND FOR PARTS & WAS ADV THAT BASED UPON THE AGE OF MY CAR THIS PAR SHOULD STILL BE WORKING. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA BASED OUT OF SACRAMENTO & WAS TOLD THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS ALOT OF PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER TO FILE A LAW SUIT. NEEDLESS TO SAY RIGHT NOW I'M AT LOSS OF WORDS WITH KIA AS A COMPANY, THEIR LACK OF EMPATHY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY I WOULD NEVER ADV ANYONE TO PURCHASE A KIA & I NEED TO BE REIMBURSED AS I'M CURRENTLY MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS IN ADDITION TO PAYING FOR REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. *TR

THIS STARTED ON 10/2012, AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING WHENEVER I TRIED TO DRIVE IN RAIN SINCE. IVE HAD TO WAIT TO TRY TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG BECAUSE I COULDNT AFFORD TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT . IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE AND I LEFT MY HOME TO GO TO THE STORE AND WENT TO TURN THE CORNER AND THERE WAS A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE, JUST COMPLETELY SEIZED ON ME AND I DROVE RIGHT INTO THE CURB OPPOSITE THE ROAD. I HAD A CHILD IN THE CAR WITH ME AND IT WAS TERRIFYING! NOW, I CANNOT DRIVE AT ALL IN THE RAIN OR EVEN IF THERE'S PUDDLES ON THE ROAD! I SEE THAT THERE'S OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE, EVEN SOME HAVING WRECKS ON THE FREEWAY! WHY ISNT THIS A RECALL ISSUE!? IT IS HURRICANE SEASON HERE, AND ITS BEEN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER WITH ALL THE RAIN EVERY DAY, NOR DO THEY ALLOW YOU TO JUST DROP OFF YOUR CAR AND LEAVE IT UNLESS ITS TOWED IN WHICH I CANNOT DO. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR AND DONT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT SINCE IM ON DISABILITY. PLEASE HELP *TR

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM - THE AC CLUCH HAS BEEN WINING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT 72,000. IT IS NOW OUT OF WARRENTY 60,000/5 YEARS. $715 TO REBUILD CLUTCH OR $1100 FOR NEW AC COMPRESSOR. *TR

THIS MODEL CAR HAS AT LEAST THREE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE REPLACED THE MAIN HEADLIGHTS NOW 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 - 7 MONTHS. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS LOCKED UP MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK OR PAST NEUTRAL. THE ESC OFF LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE 2007 MODEL OF THIS CAR. *TR

2009 KIA RONDO LX - 2 BROKEN SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN BACK SEAT - THE SEAT BELT CASING ON DRIVER SIDE BACK SEAT COMPLETELY CAME OFF; THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE CASING IS CRACKED AND INOPERABLE. *TR

FUEL SMELL IN VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, FUEL SEEPAGE FROM INJECTORS ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. THE DEALERS COULD NOT FIND A LEAK OR SMELL ANY GAS FUMES. AS OF TODAY, VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND SIDE REAR BUMPER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE LEVEL OF FORCE INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT AND REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND SUFFERED FROM WHIPLASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS/LUNGES WHEN IT SHIFTS AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 50 KM/HR. *TR

RESPONDING TO RECALL SUMMARY ON LINE . I CALLED KIA MOTORS TOLD THEM MY 2009 RONDO WAS LISTED WITH A RECALL . I GAVE THEM MY VIN # THEY LOOKUP ON THEIR SYSTEM . AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR. SO THERE NOTHING THEY DO . PLEASE HELP FIND OUT IF I'M STILL ABLE TO GET THIS RECALL SERVICE THANKS. *TR

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

MALFUNCTIONING TRANSMISSION SOLENOID THAT THE KIA FACTORY REP TOLD US "WHEN IT FAILS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL GO INTO SAFE MODE AND YOU CAN BRING IT BACK". MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN (FACTORY REP WORD, NOT MINE) IT FAILS, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF MY WIFE IS DOING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE SOLENOID EMITS A VERY LOUD BUZZ THAT CAN BE HEARD FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET THAT WAS NOT THERE WHEN WE TEST DROVE THE CAR, AND IT WAS NOT THERE FOR ABOUT THE FIRST THREE WEEKS WE OWNED IT. IT STARTED AS AN OCCASIONAL BUZZ, AND IS NOW THERE AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM BECAUSE WHEN WE TOOK IT IN, A MECHANIC CAME OUT AND SAID HE KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME I COULD TALK TO THE FACTORY REP ABOUT IT. THE FACTORY REP HAD NO ANSWER WHEN I ASKED WHY IT STARTED ONLY AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, NOR DID HE HAVE ANY ANSWER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH A HIGH-SPEED FAILURE. A COMPLAINT TO KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE LED THEM TO ASK THE FACTORY REP ABOUT IT, AND HE TOLD THEM THEY DO IT A FIRST START. OURS IS ALL THE TIME, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN (NOT IF) IT FAILS. *TR