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2006 Kia Sorento

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorento do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 242.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

208 reports with mileage · 34 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

12 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

53 reports
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6,700 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

PANEL DASH LIGHTS INTERMEDIATELY DIM, LOW HEADLIGHTS AND BACK RUNNING LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BULBS BURNT OUT AND MELTED IN CASING, PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED STATING IT IS OFF. POWERED DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME - PUSH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR BY KE…

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PANEL DASH LIGHTS INTERMEDIATELY DIM, LOW HEADLIGHTS AND BACK RUNNING LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BULBS BURNT OUT AND MELTED IN CASING, PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED STATING IT IS OFF. POWERED DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME - PUSH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR BY KEY AND STILL WON'T LOCK, KEYLESS REMOTES DON'T WORK EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF NEW BATTERIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664449

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2014
Electrical System

LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS, JUST GO OUT WITH OUT WARNING . REPLACED 100S OF TIME S JUST VERY COSTLY . KIA WANTS 100. EVERY TIME TO REPLACE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10661393

83,000 miles · Aug 12, 2014
Electrical System

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON- BROUGHT TO DEALER- TOLD LEAK IN PRESSURE LINE TO POWER STEERING. THEY FIXED BUT STILL FAULTY SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON FOR CHECK ENGINE- TOLD 230$ TO FIX FAULTY SENSOR ON GAS/AIR MIXTURE OR MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WOULD WEAR OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10621873

105,000 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

VEHICLE'S BATTERY, BRAKE, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE PARKED AT HOME, OPENED HOOD, NOTICED BELT WAS SLIPPING, AND CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS SPINNING ALMOST FREE. CONTACTED MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE, HE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR WORK UNDER ASSUMPTION WAS FAULTY. PROBLEM REOCCURRED 3 MONTHS LATER, MECHANIC N…

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VEHICLE'S BATTERY, BRAKE, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE PARKED AT HOME, OPENED HOOD, NOTICED BELT WAS SLIPPING, AND CRANKSHAFT PULLEY WAS SPINNING ALMOST FREE. CONTACTED MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE, HE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR WORK UNDER ASSUMPTION WAS FAULTY. PROBLEM REOCCURRED 3 MONTHS LATER, MECHANIC NOW CONVINCED HE IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THIS. RESEARCH SHOWS COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. CRANKSHAFT BOLT APPEARS TO BREAK FREE OF PULLEY. WILL REQUIRE ENGINE BLOCK DISASSEMBLY TO DETERMINE IF CRANKSHAFT HAS BEEN DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10608124

100,123 miles · May 17, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

COMING HOME FROM WORK ABOUT 2MILES AWAY FROM HOME, I LOST POWER, MY POWER STEERING, AND ELECTRICAL AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET TOWED TO MY HOME. NOT HAPPY CAUSE KIA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE!!!! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592094

168,000 miles · May 2, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 55MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BREAK AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN 2006 KIA SORENTO. AT THAT VERY MOMENT, I REALIZED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, MY ONLY COMPLAINT WITH MY SUV WAS THAT I HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS IN BOTH THE FRONT…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING 55MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BREAK AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON IN 2006 KIA SORENTO. AT THAT VERY MOMENT, I REALIZED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, MY ONLY COMPLAINT WITH MY SUV WAS THAT I HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS IN BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE CAR. ALSO, MY DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING AND SOME OF THE PANEL LIGHTS AS WELL. ALTHOUGH, THAT WAS ANNOYING, I NEVER COMPLAINED BECAUSE IT DID NOT PUT ME IN ANY SERIOUS DANGER. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING COULD HAVE KILLED ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I KNOW MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THESE CARS SHOULD BE BUILT TO LAST AND NOT PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG I KEEP IT. SHEESH, IF KIA WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THAT ONCE MY CAR GETS AT A CERTAIN AGE IT WOULD PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER I WOULD HAVE HAD SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PURCHASE. I THINK IT IS SAD THAT THESE BIG COMPANIES ONLY CARE ABOUT MAKING MONEY THAN HUMAN MORTALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586104

52,380 miles · May 1, 2014
Electrical System

MY KIA SORENTO SUDDENLY BEGAN DYING AS I WAS DRIVING. WHEN IT HAPPENED, I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF MY STEERING WHEEL OR MY BRAKES. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE I COULD PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE I PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND IT STARTED BACK UP WITHO…

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MY KIA SORENTO SUDDENLY BEGAN DYING AS I WAS DRIVING. WHEN IT HAPPENED, I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF MY STEERING WHEEL OR MY BRAKES. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT EACH TIME IT HAS HAPPENED I HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE I COULD PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE I PULLED OVER, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL OR PARK AND IT STARTED BACK UP WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. THERE WERE NO ENGINE LIGHTS OF ANY TYPE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN LUBBOCK, TX (GENE MESSER KIA). THEY WERE UNABLE TO DISCOVER ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THEY DROVE IT AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THEY SCANNED FOR CODES, NOTHING SHOWED UP. I WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR TWO FULL DAYS. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH AN INVOICE FOR $143.00 FOR CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE AND A LIST OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED SOON. THE INCIDENT HAPPENS ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I AM GOING TO EITHER KILL ANOTHER DRIVER OR MYSELF OR HAVE A CRASH INTO ANOTHER OBJECT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. NOW, THE FOLLOWING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE KIA, ITSELF, HOWEVER, I JUST LOST MY HUSBAND, MOVED TO LUBBOCK A FEW MONTHS AGO, I DO NOT KNOW PEOPLE HERE. I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF JOB HUNTING SO I NEVER KNOW WHEN I AM GOING TO BE CALLED FOR AN INTERVIEW. IF I LEAVE MY CAR WITH GENE MESSER KIA, I AM TOTALLY WITHOUT ANY TRANSPORTATION. I AM ALONE, AND NEED TO GET THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THEY DO NOT LET CUSTOMERS HAVE LONER CARS SO MY LIFE IS JUST "ON HOLD". I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL SITUATION TO PAY OUT A LOT OF MONEY. I'M BARELY MAKING IT NOW UNTIL I FIND A JOB. I AM ASKING SOMEONE TO PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586002

50,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WE HAVE REPEATEDLY REPLACED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. HAVE TRIED VARIOUS BRANDS TO NO AVAIL. TRIED REPLACING ONE AT A TIME/ BOTH AT SAME TIME WITH NO LUCK. SAME RESULT IN THAT THEY BURN OUT WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS TO A COUPLE MONTHS. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT FOR THE DOOR DOES NOT WORK. DECIDED TO INVESTIGAT…

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WE HAVE REPEATEDLY REPLACED LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. HAVE TRIED VARIOUS BRANDS TO NO AVAIL. TRIED REPLACING ONE AT A TIME/ BOTH AT SAME TIME WITH NO LUCK. SAME RESULT IN THAT THEY BURN OUT WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS TO A COUPLE MONTHS. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, THE DOME LIGHT FOR THE DOOR DOES NOT WORK. DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE ON INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THESE ISSUES. SEEMS TO ME THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ONLY REPORTING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN TO THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHERS WHO OWN A KIA. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION AFTER MY WIFE WAS PULLED OVER FOR HAVING ONLY ONE HEADLIGHT. THE OFFICER WAS NICE AND ONLY GAVE HER A COURTESY WARNING. NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME. LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES NOT ALLOW IGNORANCE AS AN EXCUSE FOR THE LAW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578472

99,002 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I GOT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND 3 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I COULD SMELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS EXTREMELY STRONG, THEN A RUMBLE SOUND UNDER THE CAR FROM THE EXHAUST. A DAY LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR STARTED SQUEALING EXTREMELY LOUD AND THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER I GO…

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I GOT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND 3 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I COULD SMELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS EXTREMELY STRONG, THEN A RUMBLE SOUND UNDER THE CAR FROM THE EXHAUST. A DAY LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR STARTED SQUEALING EXTREMELY LOUD AND THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER I GOT IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR BELT, DEALER REPLACED BELT AND THERE IS STILL A NOISE OF TICKING AND A FAINT SCREECHING NOISE.. THEY ALSO SAID THEY FIXED THE EXHAUST BUT I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SMELL . THIS WEEKEND I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS AT 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE BOGGED DOWN AND SOUNDED LIKE IT DIED AND CAME BACK ON. I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT ANYMORE PROBLEMS. TODAY I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE MADE A NOISE AND THE CAR BOGGED AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND GOT UP TO 40 MPH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO SOMEBODY. MY CAR IS GOING INTO THE SHOP THURSDAY BUT AFTER READING ALL THE REVIEWS IT LOOKS LIKE I JUST WASTED ALL THIS MONEY ON A PIECE OF JUNK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. I'LL CONTACT HELP ME HANK AS WELL . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572767

73,100 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

2006 KIA SORENTO COMPLAINT: ENGINE , STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EXTERIOR LIGHTING ,THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR I AM CHANGING THE HEAD LIGHTS EVERY 4-5 MONTH AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO WARNING. AND JUST LAST WEEK 2/2/2014 THE ENGINE ST…

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2006 KIA SORENTO COMPLAINT: ENGINE , STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , EXTERIOR LIGHTING ,THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR I AM CHANGING THE HEAD LIGHTS EVERY 4-5 MONTH AND I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO WARNING. AND JUST LAST WEEK 2/2/2014 THE ENGINE STOPPED AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING AND ALSO NO BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE ROAD AND BARELY GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED AND HAD TO REPLACE A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND A MASS AIR FLOW METER AND AIR FILTER AND THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THIS IS CRAZY THESE PROBLEMS AND REQUIRES EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE ENGINE. THIS INDICATES TO US A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW AND PROBABLE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY KIA WORLDWIDE. IT'S DISTURBING WITH HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M READING ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING! IS THERE ANY HELP OUT THERE THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ALL THESE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,100. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563656

Official recalls

1

09V130000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 17, 2009

HUYNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 139,844 MY 2006-2007- SEDONA, SPORTAGE, SORENTO AND MY RONDO AND AMANTI VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA'S CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities

Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.

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