2009 Kia Sportage Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2009 Kia Sportage. Part of Generation 2 — 2005–2010.

20082010
Complaints
120
per 10K Sold
28.2
US Sales
42,509
Crashes
7
Fires
15
Injuries
11
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2009 Kia Sportage Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#116 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:70,800 mi
Crash-related:3
#216 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:81,151 mi
Fires:7
#314 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:80,707 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Kia Sportage.

Airbags
16
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
70,800
Electrical Faults
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
7
Avg Miles
81,151
Steering Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
80,707
Engine Problems
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
4
Avg Miles
74,200
Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
56,429
Hydraulic Brakes
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
48,572
Electronic Stability Control
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
71,614
Headlight/Taillight Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,641
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Traction Control System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Kia Sportage. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2009 Kia Sportage

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,123,785 vehicles.

22V800000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
~71,704 affected

Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2008-2009 Sportage vehicles previously recalled under recall 16V-815. An engine compartment fire originating from around the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may occur while parked or driving.

16V815000Electrical System:wiring
~71,704 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2008-2009 Kia Sportage vehicles manufactured August 9, 2007, to May 13, 2009. The wire harness cover on the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may be improperly sealed allowing water to get onto the HECU circuit board. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as could occur from melted snow, the wire harness connector pins may corrode and the circuit board may short circuit.

13V114000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
~980,377 affected

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Other Kia Sportage Years

2009 Kia Sportage — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2009 Kia Sportage reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2009 Kia Sportage has 120 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 16 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2009 Kia Sportage?
Top reported problems: Airbags (16 complaints, avg 70,800 mi); Electrical Faults (16 complaints, avg 81,151 mi); Steering Defects (14 complaints, avg 80,707 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Kia Sportage?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 70,262 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2009 Kia Sportage?
NHTSA complaints for the 2009 Kia Sportage include 7 crash-related reports, 15 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2009 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,123,785 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2009 Kia Sportage?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Sportage reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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