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
2009 Kia Rondo steering problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
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.
EVERY TIME I WENT THROUGH A PUDDLE TODAY THE PARKING BRAKE/BRAKE FLUID LIGHT AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON. IT ALSO LOST POWER STEERING WHILE THIS HAPPENED. IT LASTED ONLY A FEW MOMENTS BUT WITH TRAFFIC AND KIDS IN THE BACK, A FEW MOMENTS IS LONG ENOUGH. THIS HAPPENED WITH EVERY PUDDLE AND EVEN ON THE FREEWAY WHEN WATER SPLASHED UNDERNEATH!! *TR
LOST POWER STEERING AFTER GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE TODAY DURING A RAINSTORM. I WAS GOING ABOUT 25MPH WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THE ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT ONTO A CURVED RIGHT UPHILL. IT LASTED A FEW SECONDS A CHARGER LIGHT WENT ON BUT THAT ALSO LASTED A FEW SECONDS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIM…
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
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 OTHE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…
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.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2009 Kia Rondo?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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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