AFTER STARTING THE CAR THEN MOVING THE SHIFTER IN TO DRIVE . AS I GET THE SHIFTER IN THE REVERSE POSITION GOING TO DRIVE .. THE CAR JERKS FORWARD LIKE I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS.. IT IS VERY STARTLING. GOES IN REVERSE FINE.. BUT WHEN I MOVE ONTO IT DRIVE IT STARTS TO MOVE SLOW AND RPMS GO UP BUT IT'S MOVING FORWARD. *TR
2009 Kia Borrego powertrain problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA BORREGO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EVERGREEN KIA (LOCATED AT 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 211-3116) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE AN…
WHEN LETTING CAR WARM UP FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES. PUT INTO REVERSE THE KIA JERKS HARD SO YOU PULL OUT PUT INTO DRIVE RPMS GO UP BUT BUT CAR NOT MOVING. THE PUT A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IN BUT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. KIA DID AN UPDATE ,BUT STILL DOING THE SAME THING. BUT KIA WANTS ME TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FREE AND TOLD THEM IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IT'S VERY DANGEREST NOT SHIFTI…
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS UP TO FOURTH GEAR AS I SLOWLY ACCELERATE TO UP TO 40 MPH REDUCING THE RPM TO AS LOW AS 1,300. THIS QUICK SHIFTING UP THROUGH THE GEARS DOES NOT MATCH VEHICLE SPEED RESULTING IN THE RPM BEING TOO LOW TO ACCELERATE WITH THE PACE OF TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSES VEHICLES BEHIND ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR DUE THE SLOWING RATE OF MY ACCELERATION CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSI…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2009 Kia Borrego?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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