KIA Rondo Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used KIA Rondo options? We analyzed 10 model years (2007–2016) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the KIA Rondo has 297 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls across model years 2007–2016. The most reported issue area is STEERING. 2007 drew the most complaints; 2010 drew the fewest.
- Make
- KIA
- Model
- Rondo
- Model years analyzed
- 2007–2016 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 297
- Safety recall campaigns
- 11
- Crash-related complaints
- 33
- Fire-related complaints
- 2
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2007 (117 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2010 (9 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- STEERING
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
KIA Rondo: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe KIA RONDO has 297 NHTSA complaints and 11 recalls on record. 33 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 297 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 11 federal recall campaigns
- 33 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
11 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2007–2016. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 297 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
297 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
BRAKING WITHOUT TOUCHING PEDAL MESSAGE: MON 6/5/17 AS WE WERE DRIVING IT FELT LIKE THE RONDO APPLIED THE BRAKES WITHOUT US TOUCHING THE PEDAL AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL.AFTER A FEW HOURS IT STOPPED.TODAY FRI 06/09 IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR 15 MINS IT WAS NORMAL
I HAVE A 2011 KIA RONDO (148,000 KMS). FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WHEN DRIVING ON WET ROADS, I LOSE CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING - IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS PERIOD FOR BETWEEN 5-30 SECONDS AS YOU LOOSE ALMOST ALL CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE'S STEERING. JUST AS YOUR VEHICLE GAINS POWER STEERING AGAIN, A SCREECHING SOUNDS COMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (MAYBE BELTS RE-ENGAGING). IT HAS BEEN RAINING HERE THE PAST WEEK AND THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES. SOMETIMES DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, AND SOMETIMES JUST WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURS THOUGH WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!! *TR
FIRST PROBLEM, WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THE ECS LIGHT TURNS ON AND WHEN WHILE DRIVING MY KIA RONDO FEELS UNSTABLE LIKE I AM GOING TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STIRRING WHEEL. SECOND PROBLEM, WHEN EVER IT RAINS MY KIA WILL STALL WHILE IN MOTION, LOOSE POWER, ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON AND STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF ANY STREETS, HIGHWAYS OR FREEWAYS AND THE STEERING WHEEL GET SO HARD TO TURN THE CAR TO A SAFETY PLACE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS, THE BATTERY, ESC, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE STEERING LOST POWER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,900.
DURING RAIN, I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY UP TO A STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. ABOUT A MINUTE LATER, A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND THEN THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP FOR A FEW SECONDS. I REGAINED THE ABILITY TO TURN THE CAR, PULLED IT OFF THE ROAD AND THE SCREECHING CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER MINUTE OR TWO. IT STOPPED WHEN I PARKED MY CAR. IT IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AFTER I HAD IT TOWED.
LOCKS WORK VERY SPORADICALLY WITH BOTH THE REMOTE AND LOCK BUTTON IN THE CAR. IT AFFECTS ALL DOORS EXCEPT THE TAILGATE. DRIVER WINDOW ALSO HAS DIFFICULTY GOING DOWN SPORADICALLY.
Read 14 more owner reports
WE CANNOT MOVE THE SHIFTER FROM PARK TO DRIVE. AND WE HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ! THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: SC098UN THE RECALL # 13V114000 RECALL CAMPAIGN # SC098 THEY SAYS ITS A STOP LAMP SWITCH ?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT SLIGHTLY CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,312.
DURING WET WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKING ABILITY AND THE BATTERY INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES. MY WIFE, SON, AND DAUGHTER HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME WHILE I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A LEFT TURN, GOOD THING I THOUGHT QUICK AND GRABBED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR I WOULD HAVE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF (POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY). EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY IS AFRAID TO USE THE VEHICLE IN ANY WEATHER CONDITION SINCE THEY EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT AND THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE DISPLAY. POWER STEERING FAILED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER TO SAFETY. THE HEADLIGHTS AND DASHLIGHT POWER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. AFTER COMING TO A STOP WITHOUT STEERING POWER, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED WITHOUT A CHANGE IN THE ILLUMINATOR LIGHT. THE CAR WAS HESITANT TO MOVE - GRINDING NOISE AND MAJOR DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DURING SIMILAR WEATHER/ROAD CONDITIONS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE SPECIFICS OF THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Rondo. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the exterior brake lights remained illuminated. Additionally, the ESC warning light was illuminated while driving. The contact had to depress the brake pedal three times to turn off the exterior brake lights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
No compression in cylinder 3 due to oil drainage in spark plug panel caused Loss of motive power and Almost a wreck so to vehicle shutting down on the interstate . As I look I see that this is in investigation already and needs to be took into consideration as soon as possible if our lives really matter to Kia as your customers . So very sad how the engines and fuel systems are on kias
I had to replace the tires on this car several times in 3 years. They alarm had a glitch that the car would not start and you had to take it specifically to a Kia dealer to have they alarm reprogrammed. Even upon repairs to your local mechanic. Costing them more money and me more money because they could not get in the car by pass they alarm without using kia first to reprogram it. The brakes locked up. The lights woukd go off for airbag and stay on. The anti lick brake light would stay on .. Very dangerous. I had to spend more money to because of they alarm. Even just replacing the battery in the alarm remote cost more money for the remote and the programming of the remote . You could not just replace the battery. The tires and brakes gave me several issues in 3 years To the tube of close 3000. And that's being fair.
I am reporting premature sub frame corrosion. The corroded area would cause a safety hazard if the corroded part of the frame broke all the way off as a result of hitting a large bump or perhaps a big pothole. Fortunately i discovered the problem when I was getting the tires balanced. I will no longer drive the vehicle until it is repaired safely.
Engine Star making very loud noise. Will driving. Mechanic told me engine is damaged and need replacement
MY HUSBAND WAS SITTING IN OUR KIA, IN PARK AND CAR TURNED OFF, WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND. CAR TOWED TO SHOP RESULTED IN MECHANIC STATING OUR FRONT DRIVER STRUT "EXPLODED" INTO SEVERAL PIECES. LUCKY WE WERE NOT DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED, HE STATED. NEVER HAD A CAR DO THIS BEFORE, EVER!
EVERY TIME I GO THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE I LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS HAPPENED BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY NUMEROUS TIMES, LASTS A FEW MINUTES AND THEN I REGAIN CONTROL OF STEERING. FORTUNATELY, IT'S HAPPENED ON MY STREET FOR THE MOST PART. LAST WEEK, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020, I WAS ON A VERY BUSY MAIN ROAD WHEN I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER. I TURNED RIGHT, WENT THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE, AND LOST CONTROL OF STEERING. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME SO I SHIFTED BACKWARDS AND TRIED TO FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL WITH NO LUCK. I REPEATED GOING BACKWARDS AND AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS THE STEERING FUNCTION CAME BACK. I'VE HAD THE DRIVE BELT REPLACED SO THAT CAN'T BE THE PROBLEM. I'VE RECENTLY HAD AN ALIGNMENT, TWO NEW TIRES INSTALLED, AND TIRES ROTATED. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT ANY ISSUES. I TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE SAME REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE HAD EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. I KNOW THE VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE FUNCTIONING WELL. I WAS ON-LINE SEARCHING TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS BUT I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS ENOUGH PROBLEM THAT KIA SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND CORRECT.
WHEN I DRIVE IN WET CONDITIONS, SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL IS INOPERABLE FOR A FEW SECONDS. I'VE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE SAY THEY'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLE AND KIA CLAIMS THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THEY NEED TO BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMETHING VERY BAD HAPPENS.
WHEN IT IS RAINING OR AFTER RAIN IF THERE ARE STILL PUDDLES IN THE ROAD, WHEN THE CAR GOES THROUGH ANY PUDDLES THE STEERING LOCKS UP FOR AT LEAST 45 SECONDS. I HAD MY DAUGHTER LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE AND THIS HAPPENED TO HER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PUTTING MY CHILD AT RISK LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY WITH THE PRICE OF THIS CAR. I'VE HAD THE POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED AND IT STILL DOES THIS. MY ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. SO ANY TIME I HIT THE SMALLEST BUMP OR WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON A BUMPY ROAD OR ON SNOW OR ICE, THE CAR LOCKS UP. THE BRAKES GO OUT AND ITS LIKE EVERYTHING IN THE CAR LOCKS UP FOR A FEW SECONDS. IT IS TERRIFYING ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A LIGHT. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE EXPERIENCED SO MANY ISSUES IN A VEHICLE BEFORE OWNING A KIA RONDO. I HAVE HAD THE WHOLE FRONT END SUSPENSION REPLACED, NEW TIRES AND RIMS AND A MONTH LATER THE CAR IS WOBBLING AGAIN.
Showing 20 of 297 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact KIA Rondo
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used KIA Rondo, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The KIA Rondo has 297 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The KIA Rondo has 11 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 33 of the KIA Rondo's 297 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all KIA Rondo vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two KIA Rondo vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The KIA Rondo has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used KIA Rondo.
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KIA Rondo reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the KIA Rondo reliable?
Poor. The KIA Rondo has 297 NHTSA owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is STEERING. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which KIA Rondo years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2007 (117 complaints), 2008 (97 complaints), 2009 (72 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common KIA Rondo problems?
Top reported issues: STEERING (50 complaints); AIR BAGS (50 complaints); ENGINE (42 complaints).
Does the KIA Rondo have recalls?
Yes — 11 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the KIA Rondo. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.