Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.
Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Of the 13 lighting complaints filed for the 2007 Kia Rondo, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models that may exhibit fogging, condensation, and/or moisture inside a headlamp assembly. Generally, a fogging condition is considered normal and can be eliminated by turning on the headlamps with the engine running for up to 30 minutes or during normal driving conditions. Headlamp assembly replacement WILL NOT be necessary in most cases.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗KIA: ALL MODELS. ARTICLE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO THE IMPROVED DURABILITY OF BULB LIFE FOR REAR COMBINATION BULB; REAR STOP LAMP/TAIL LAMP BULB UTILIZED ON MULTIPLE KIA MODELS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The 2007 Rondo lighting complaints center on a single root cause: the stop lamp switch. Owners report brake lights that fail to illuminate when the pedal is pressed—sometimes from purchase, sometimes after thousands of miles, and critically, sometimes again after Kia's 2009 recall replacement (Campaign 09V130000).
One owner documents two rear-end collisions totaling $3,696 in damage, both occurring when brake lights did not work. A second owner's replacement switch failed in April 2014 while attempting to shift into Reverse, requiring use of the shift lock release tab to limp home. Kia charged $69.02 for the repair and declined warranty coverage, citing the vehicle had already been repaired under the recall.
Intermittent low-beam headlight failures are also reported, with one vehicle showing inadequate output at 70,000 miles despite repair under Campaign 13V114000. One early production vehicle at 2,200 miles had low beams that only reached 100 feet.
ESC warning lights illuminating are nearly always tied to the stop lamp switch failure—the switch triggers the interlock as a safety feature. One owner's switch failed at 42,222 miles, trapping the transmission in Drive. Owners denied recall coverage cite VINs not originally included in the campaign or being told the plant didn't build their vehicle.
Brake lights do not light up when brake pedal is depressed, creating a serious safety hazard as following vehicles cannot see braking. The issue is often intermittent and can persist even after recall repairs.
When: 63,000–100,000 miles; some cases present from purchase; some recur years after recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights do not illuminate when pedal pressed; Failure is intermittent; ESC malfunction light illuminates; Brake-transmission interlock prevents shifting without using shift lock release; Two rear-end collisions reported due to brake lights not working
Codes mentioned: ESC malfunction light
Repairs/costs cited: Stop lamp switch replacement; one owner paid $69.02 for parts and labor after initial recall repair failed; repair costs from accidents total $3,696 for two collisions ($2,461 covered by other driver's insurance, $1,235.30 out of pocket)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 09V130000 (KIA Recall SC077) issued in 2009; expanded April 2013; some owners denied coverage because VIN was not originally included in recall or because vehicle was said to be repaired under campaign already; manufacturer declined warranty assistance on failed replacement switches
Stop lamp switches replaced under the 2009 recall fail again, sometimes within years. Indicates the replacement parts may be defective or the underlying design issue was not fully resolved.
When: Occurs as soon as 4–5 years after initial 2009 recall repair (one documented case April 2014); also reported at 42,222 miles when current mileage was 42,506
Symptoms owners cite: Stop lamp switch fails after being replaced under recall; ESC warning light illuminates; Brake lights fail to illuminate again; Brake-transmission interlock engages
Codes mentioned: ESC malfunction light
Repairs/costs cited: Switch replacement under recall cost nothing initially; second replacement cost owner $69.02 in parts and labor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: KIA expanded recall in April 2013 but owner who experienced second failure in April 2014 was charged for repair; manufacturer stated it had already replaced the switch under warranty and would not cover second failure
Headlights on low beam fail to operate properly or produce insufficient light, creating visibility hazard. One case involved a passenger-side tail light failure as well.
When: 70,000 miles; early production at 300–2,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Low beam headlights fail intermittently; Low beam lights are very dim, only reaching 100 feet; Passenger side tail light failed; High beams operate correctly
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign 13V114000 but failure persisted; dealer in another case stated there was no failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 13V114000 (Exterior Lighting, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) addressed some cases; repair did not resolve intermittent failures in at least one vehicle
Brake lights stay on at all times, even when vehicle is parked and turned off, draining battery and creating confusion for other drivers.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Brake lights remain illuminated continuously; Lights stay on when vehicle is turned off; Fuse had to be removed to turn lights off
Repairs/costs cited: Owner removed fuse to turn off lights; cause not determined
ESC or electronic stability control warning light illuminates persistently or intermittently, often triggered by stop lamp switch failure but sometimes occurring independently.
When: 35,000–42,222 miles; can recur after recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: ESC warning light illuminates on instrument panel; ESC light blinks intermittently while driving; ESC malfunction light won't turn off; Light recurs when starting ignition
Codes mentioned: ESC malfunction light
Repairs/costs cited: Typically resolved by replacing stop lamp switch
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners were told the VIN was not included in recall 09V130000; vehicle in one case was repaired under 09V130000 but light recurred
Brake-transmission interlock prevents shifting from Neutral to Reverse or Park to Reverse without using shift lock release tab. Related to stop lamp switch failure, which triggers the interlock as a safety feature.
When: 90,000 miles; one case occurred at 42,222 miles (immediately after switch replacement failed)
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission will not shift from Drive; Transmission will not shift from Neutral to Reverse; Transmission will not shift from Park to Reverse; Shift lock release tab must be used to move vehicle
Codes mentioned: ESC malfunction light
Repairs/costs cited: Resolved by replacing stop lamp switch; owner paid $69.02 for parts and labor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised one owner that vehicle was previously repaired under recall 09V130000 and would not provide further assistance
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Kia rondo. The contact stated that while parked the ESC and check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated the stop lamp switch would have to be replaced. Additionally, the brake lights fail to illuminate. The failure occurs intermittently. There was a recall under…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Kia rondo. The contact stated that after having an oil change the ESC warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the brake switch was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v130000…
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Kia rondo. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed intermittently. The contact also stated that the passenger side tail light failed. In addition, the contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the engine. The failures occurred on numerous occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 13v114000…
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 35,000 and 79,190 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 79,190. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover lighting issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.