2009 Kia Sportage Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Kia Sportage most often describe electrical trouble — warning lights, inoperative brake lights, window and lock faults, and in several cases smoke or fire near the ABS/HECU area under the hood. A second recurrent theme is a loss of power steering assist during low-speed turns and a brake light switch fault that also lights the ESC warning. Reported mileages range widely, from near-new vehicles to examples past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and passenger air bag sensor faults

   • 14 complaints (18%)
   • median 44,750 mi at 9.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2022

   Owners report the air bag warning light coming on and staying on, and the passenger air bag 'off' indicator lighting even with an adult seated. Dealers and independent shops commonly diagnosed the occupant classification sensor, a side air bag sensor, or the clock spring, which also disables the horn. Quoted repair costs were often high, and some owners said the warning returned after earlier air bag work. Reported from about 40,000 to 145,000 miles, with several cases in the 40,000-60,000 mile range.

   What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the air bag light self-tests and goes out, and that the passenger 'off' light behaves correctly with an adult in the seat. Ask whether any air bag sensor or clock spring has been replaced, and get the horn checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is complaint 1 of 2. Complaint 2 is under a separate category ESC . The passenger air bag off indicator light on the dash came on, with an adult passenger sitting in the seat (vehicle in motion or stationary). At first it was random, and then it started staying on all the time. Then the air bag warning light on the instrument panel came on. The passenger restraint will also lock, and not release as it is supposed to. At this point I took it to the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11113188, filed 2018-07, 42,500 miles

   “This is my 82 year old mother in law car she says the air bag light keeps coming on and staying on so she took it to the dealer they charged her $150.00 to look at it. This was on nov 4 2014 the car had only 57047 miles on it. So in march it started doing it again so on march 27 2015 she goes to the dealer this time they didn't charge her but told her it would cost $2,600.00 dollars to fix. The car only has 59312 miles on it. She is freaked out scared to drive her car and is on fixed income. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10703162, filed 2015-04, 57,047 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out during turns

   • 10 complaints (13%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2020

   Owners describe the steering becoming very heavy or locking during low-speed turns and curves, then returning once the accelerator is pressed or the road straightens. One owner was told the steering rack was leaking; others report no warning light and normal fluid level, and some dealers could not reproduce the problem. A separate complaint describes the vehicle pulling to one side that a dealer could not correct. Often reported from about 49,000 to 145,000 miles, typically during turns at lower speeds.

   What to check: On the test drive, make several slow full-lock turns and note any point where effort rises sharply. Check power steering fluid level and look for leaks at the rack, and ask whether the rack or pump has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving through some curve on hwy 50 into austin nv. The power steering failed, on a hard right curve, no assist until I came into a straight away, power steering worked fine, then again on a right curve it failed. No power assist with steering until I got back onto a straight away. Stopped in austin check power steering fluid level, it was within tolerances. Note: each failure lasted approximately 1000 feet. No dash warning indicators illuminated. I am the original owner. This has been an on going issue since about 100k miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10548675, filed 2013-10, 144,546 miles

   “The steering wheel freezes/locks up when decelerating in a turn. It's almost like the power steering goes completely out and you are unable to turn the wheel. However, when you push on the accelerator the steering releases. This makes it very difficult if not impossible to keep the vehicle in the proper lane when it occurs. Definitely a safety hazard that needs to be investigated before it cause an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10628597, filed 2014-08, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Random stalling, rough idle and surging

   • 12 complaints (15%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 6.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2019

   Complaints describe the engine stalling at random, including in traffic, along with rough idle and intermittent acceleration surging at stops or in park. Owners report repeated dealer visits, computer replacement, sensor checks, and a cruise control cable adjustment that did not resolve the surging. One complaint describes water splashing into the engine compartment on wet roads causing a stall. Reported mostly between about 55,000 and 120,000 miles, with some cases on much lower-mileage vehicles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Let the engine idle for several minutes and watch for a rough or hunting idle, and drive at steady low speed to check for surging. Ask for service records on throttle body, sensor or computer work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a new Kia Sportage & it has been in the shop 25 days in march, 22 days in april of 2010. The car dies as you are driving & when it begins to go it hops & does not want to go. I have has this car in the shop 6 times since the end of feb. 2010.”

   NHTSA complaint #10328170, filed 2010-04, 9,228 miles

   “2009 Kia Sportage lx complaint. We have recently been experiencing intermittent acceleration surging. The occurrences are random; hot or cold in d-gear at a stop-light or in park position. I've taken the car to the Kia dealer two times. On the second time, I was told that after a test-drive on the second day, the mechanic did notice the surging of the tachometer and the 'fix' was to re-route/loosen the cruise control cable. Two days later, the engine surging re-appeared. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10927631, filed 2016-11, 80,500 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Smoke or fire from ABS/HECU area under hood

   • 13 complaints (16%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Complaints describe smoke or fire starting in the engine compartment, often near the ABS module or hydraulic control unit on the passenger side, sometimes while the vehicle was parked and switched off and in one case about 45 minutes after parking. Owners reported that disconnecting the battery stopped the smoking in one instance, and several vehicles were totaled. Some owners said they had not been notified of an earlier recall covering this area, and one reported warning lights after recall repairs were completed. A related complaint describes a melted wire harness found by a dealer after traction control and check engine lights came on. Mostly reported between roughly 55,000 and 107,000 miles, sometimes while parked and off.

   Recall 22V800000Recall 16V815000

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 16V815 and 22V800 have been completed and check for any signs of water intrusion or corrosion around the ABS/HECU connector under the hood. Watch for a burning smell or smoke from the passenger-side engine bay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A fire started in the engine compartment on the passenger side approximately 45 minutes after parking the vehicle at my place of employment. While searching the internet I found there was a recall for this exact thing. I was never notified about the recall and now my vehicle is totaled from the lack of notice.”

   NHTSA complaint #11192437, filed 2019-03, 95,242 miles

   “Owner drove vehicle one hour prior to fire. Parked vehicle witness came by owners home reported fire. Fire in front engine compartment at location of ABS module. Other complaints noted for ABS module and fires.”

   NHTSA complaint #10761666, filed 2015-09, 107,914 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake lights not working / stop lamp switch fault with ESC

   • 12 complaints (15%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2013–2022

   Complaints describe the lower brake lights failing while the center high-mount light still works, sometimes together with the ESC or ESC OFF indicator and cruise control that will not engage. Diagnosis usually pointed to the stop lamp switch, and some owners said the problem returned after the switch or a related campaign repair was performed. Some owners were told their vehicle was not covered by a given campaign. Reported across a wide range, roughly 25,000 to 86,000 miles.

   Recall 13V1140001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With a helper, confirm all three brake lights illuminate when the pedal is pressed, and check whether campaign 13V114 was completed. Also test that cruise control sets and that the ESC light stays off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was getting my oil changed at valvoline oil change in liverpool, ny. During the routine light check, the tech said that my brake lights weren't coming on when I brake, only the top brake light strip in rear middle. I had seen the ESC off light come on without any reason in the last few weeks. I also noticed that when getting on an interstate highway, my cruise control would turn on, but not set/engage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10683798, filed 2015-02, 51,000 miles

   “This is complaint 2 of 2. The other complaint is in the category air bags . Will driving the vehicle the electronic stability control ESC off indicator lamp on the instrument panel came on. After shutting the vehicle off the indicator light would go off, only to come on again after driving a short distance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11113191, filed 2018-07, 42,000 miles

Buying note. Check that both the HECU wire harness and ABS-related recalls were completed and look for corrosion or water damage around those connectors. On the test drive, pay attention to steering effort in slow turns, brake light operation, the air bag and ESC warning lights, and whether the engine idles steadily.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.