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2007 Kia Rondo Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2007 Kia Rondo has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Stop lamp switch failure disabling brake lights and ESC.” Kia uses Hyundai Motor Group's powertrains, so service intervals mirror Hyundai's. Kia Promise covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. Kia owners with the Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Optima, Sorento, Sportage 2011-2019) should adhere strictly to oil intervals due to known oil-consumption issues in Kia TSBs.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2007 Kia Rondo.

Reported to NHTSA

Stop lamp switch failure disabling brake lights and ESC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SERVICE BRAKES

22 NHTSA complaints · 2008-12 → 2022-09

“I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 KIA RONDO AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED REVVED UP DRAMATICALLY-AS IF THE TRANSMISSION HAD DISENGAGED. STEPPED ON THE BRAKES, CRUISE DISENGAGED AND ENGINE SLOWED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10502727
“I HAVE A 2007 KIA RONDO WITH A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH WHICH CAUSES THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY DEACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN IT IS DEPRESSED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10490363
“ON APPROXIMATELY, SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014, I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 KIA RONDO AND A MAN HIT MY BUMPER DUE TO THE FACT HE COULD NOT SEE MY BRAKE LIGHTS (DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALLED PARTS; NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V114000 AND 09V130000)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10680519

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Front subframe corrosion and suspension component failure

STRUCTURE

10 NHTSA complaints · 2013-12 → 2021-04

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SLANTED TO THE LEFT WHEN STEERING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS RUSTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11141456
“THIS E-MAIL IS TO REPORT THAT BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FOUND CRACKED ON MY 2007 KIA RONDO”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10744908
“THE A/C LINE DRAINES ONTO THE FRONT SUBFRAME. DOING THIS I BELIEVE HAS CAUSED IT TO RUST OVER THE YEARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11413028

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Seat belt latch and buckle failure

SEAT BELTS

6 NHTSA complaints · 2009-04 → 2014-07

“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DIFFICULT TO LATCH AND ONCE IT LATCHED IT WOULD COME UNDONE INDEPENDENTLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10611017
“IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR MY REAR SEAT BELT BROKE IN HALF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10434201
“ONCE FORCE WAS APPLIED, A SEAM OF STITCHING ON THE SEATBELT WEBBING RIPPED APART RESULTING IN THE TWO SIDES OF THE WEBBING NO LONGER BEING ATTACHED TO ONE ANOTHER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10267218

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and failure including spun rod bearing

ENGINE

12 NHTSA complaints · 2012-08 → 2021-06

“2.4L Theta engine has developed a knocking sound at 155,600 miles. Oil consumption is excessive”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11419589
“OUR ENGINE BLEW UP- SPECIFICALLY, THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE THROUGH THE 3RD CYLINDER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10510306
“THEY THEN TELL ME THAT SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IF LIGHT COMES BACK ON TO BRING IT BACK IN. I LEFT EXCITED THE LIGHT WAS OFF, AND THEN I AM NOT KIDDING - 1.3 MILES LATER ON THE FREEWAY HOME, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE IN MY ENGINE! IT THREW A ROD AND OIL SPEWED OUT EVERYWHERE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10485240

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel pump and fuel system stalling

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

11 NHTSA complaints · 2009-04 → 2016-08

“I HAVE 2007 KIA RONDO. I PURCHASED THIS USED IN 2010. IN THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES. IT JUST STOPS WORKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10895826
“WHILE DRIVING CAR STARTED JERKING FORWARD AND BACK. WHILE COMING TO A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND DECELERATING(LETTING YOUR FOOT OFF THE THE GAS PEDAL) THE ENGINE WOULD STALL, THEN YOU COULD START THE ENGINE RIGHT BACK UP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10758728
“THE KIA RONDO HAS A RATHER UNUSUAL FUEL TANK THAT IS ALSO A SUSPENSION PART. MY CAR HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, I HAD NOT RUN OVER ANY DEBRIS, THERE WAS NO CORROSION--BUT THE FUEL TANK FAILED AT ABOUT 112,000 MILES AND AT 7 YEARS OF AGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10681637

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in frontal and side impact crashes

AIR BAGS

8 NHTSA complaints · 2007-05 → 2018-01

“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11062013
“RAN OFF THE ROAD BY A TRUCK AND WENT INTO A DITCH. NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH KNEE AIRBAGS, FRONT AIRBAGS, SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. TOTALED THE CAR, WAS LIFEFLIGHTED TO VANDERBILT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10318571
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. THE OTHER DRIVER RAN A RED LIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH STRIKING MY VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVERS DOOR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10267311

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illumination from sensor faults

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2013-11 → 2022-11

“NEVER INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, CHECKED WITH A MECHANIC AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR MAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF 2.000 DOLLARS, CAR IS ONLY 59000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11071664
“PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" LIGHT COMES ON EVEN THOUGH A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT WITH SEAT BELT FASTENED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11056198
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE MAT SENSOR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10553819

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loss of power steering in wet conditions

STEERING

6 NHTSA complaints · 2009-08 → 2019-10

“I WENT THROUGH ONE AND I LOST ALL STEERING POWER. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SQUICK REALLY LOUDLY AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME AN IN THE DASHBOARD AND THE A/C STOP BLOWING COLD AIR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11277008
“MY RONDO, WHICH DROVE FINE THE DAY BEFORE AND THE DAY AFTER, STARTED MAKING A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AND THE STEERING BECAME VERY "TIGHT" FEELING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10461719
“KIA RONDO YEAR 07 POWER STEERING FREEZES IN WET WEATHER DUE TO MOISTURE SPRAYING ON THE POWER STEERING BELT CAUSING SLIPPAGE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10294251

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L on Optima, Sorento, Sportage (2011-2019): full synthetic only, never extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Telluride and Sorento AWD owners benefit from rotation every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads and rotors every 7,500 miles. Forte and Soul front pads typically last 40,000-55,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required for ABS and ESC pump longevity.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Kia SP-IV — same as Hyundai.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped plugs rated 105,000 miles on most Kia engines. 1.6T (Forte GT, Soul Turbo): 60,000 miles. 3.5L Lambda II V6 (Telluride, Sorento): 105,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Kia Long-Life Coolant (pink, same as Hyundai): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Optima, Forte, and Sportage; behind the dashboard panel on Telluride.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

26 crashes 1990–2024

How the 26 occupant deaths break down

23

driver deaths

3

passenger deaths

26

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2009 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

13

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2007 Kia Rondo reflects Kia's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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