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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

Engine complaints

67 reports
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39,000 miles · Nov 12, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND RATTLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER STERLING KIA LOCATED AT 125 S. CITY PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE LA 70503 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK BOLT AND CRANK PULLEY HAD FAILED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND RATTLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER STERLING KIA LOCATED AT 125 S. CITY PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE LA 70503 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK BOLT AND CRANK PULLEY HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE CRANK PULLEY PIN AND CRANK BOLT WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #11374308

74,000 miles · Aug 13, 2019
EngineSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO COMMUNITY KIA (4221 EAST FWY, BAYTOWN, TX 77521, 832-612-3807). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO COMMUNITY KIA (4221 EAST FWY, BAYTOWN, TX 77521, 832-612-3807). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ODI #11243587

115,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #11164543

105,999 miles · Mar 26, 2018
EnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING HEADED TO GET ON THE HI-WAY, HEARD A NOISE AND A WHINE AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN TO RUN BAD. SHAKING AND LIKE NO POWER STEERING OR SOMETHING. AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND PULL OVER THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND. I AM BEING TOLD 2 THINGS. BUT THEY ALL COME DOWN TO A BOLT THAT IS SAID TO HAVE COME LOOSE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO …

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I WAS DRIVING HEADED TO GET ON THE HI-WAY, HEARD A NOISE AND A WHINE AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN TO RUN BAD. SHAKING AND LIKE NO POWER STEERING OR SOMETHING. AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND PULL OVER THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND. I AM BEING TOLD 2 THINGS. BUT THEY ALL COME DOWN TO A BOLT THAT IS SAID TO HAVE COME LOOSE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AND HARMONIC BALANCER. WHICH I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT AND YOUR COMPANY IS NOT OWNING THIS ISSUE OR ASSISTING TO HAVE THE ISSUE REPAIRED OR RECALLED AND RESEARCH SHOWS YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AS THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT YOU SETTLED ON IN 2017. HOWEVER, I DID NOT PURCHASE MY CAR OR HAVE ISSUES WITH THE BOLT UNTIL AFTER THEN. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR PPL WHO ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THIS? I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF BEING A PART OF THE SUIT. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE CONTACTING ME CONCERNING THIS AND OPTIONS FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. I COULD HAVE DIED HAS I ALREADY GOTTEN ON THE HI-WAY OR BEEN GOING MUCH FASTER. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD DID THAT NOT HAPPEN. I PRAY THAT YOUR COMPANY IS READY TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND OFFER ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO BOUGHT AND CONTINUE TO USE YOUR PRODUCTS.

NHTSA ODI #11081363

111,000 miles · Mar 1, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLTS FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE PULLEY AND THE SERPENTINE BELTS TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ARAPAHOE KIA (9701 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112, (888) 236-7975). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11075592

177,000 miles · Aug 24, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

PARKED THE CAR ONE NIGHT, NEXT MORNING ONLY CLICKS, CLICKING COMING FROM FUSE BOX TOO. NEW BATTERY, BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON, CAR DIES AFTER SPUTTERING. THIS IS A NEW $5,000 ENGINE WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES DUE TO A CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BREAK RUINING THE ORIGINAL ONE. NOW, IT WON'T CRANK, OBDII RETURNS CODES P0763 AND P0101 W…

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PARKED THE CAR ONE NIGHT, NEXT MORNING ONLY CLICKS, CLICKING COMING FROM FUSE BOX TOO. NEW BATTERY, BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON, CAR DIES AFTER SPUTTERING. THIS IS A NEW $5,000 ENGINE WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES DUE TO A CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BREAK RUINING THE ORIGINAL ONE. NOW, IT WON'T CRANK, OBDII RETURNS CODES P0763 AND P0101 WHICH ARE SHIFT SOLENOID AND MASS AIR FLOW ELECTRICAL. THE COOLING FAN RELALY IS BURNED AS WELL AS THE FUSE BOX CIRCUIT BOARD IT GOES INTO. HAVE A MECHANIC COMING TO CHECK IT BUT NOT TOO OPTIMISTIC GIVEN THE CAR'S HISTORY. LUCKILY, I ONLY DROVE 3 MILES TO MY OTHER HOME WHEN THE SECOND TIME FOR QUITTING OCCURRED WHERE IT IS STILL, NOW I'M OUT OF A CAR AND LOTS OF OBLIGATIONS TO FULFILL AND WALKING.

NHTSA ODI #11019470

120,000 miles · May 2, 2017
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO REPOR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10982989

106,700 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Engine

BOUGHT CAR STARTED HAVING AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM. COMPRESSION TEST CAME BACK WITH COMPLETE PASS NOTHING ABNORMAL. CAR WAS NOT STARTING WITHOUT A JUMP SO BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR IT EVERYTHING SEEMED COMPLETELY FINE. DROVE A TOTAL OF MAYBE TEN MILES TO ACE HARDWARE TO GET SOME SUPPLIES AND CAR STARTED TO SMOKE ONCE I TURNED THE…

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BOUGHT CAR STARTED HAVING AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM. COMPRESSION TEST CAME BACK WITH COMPLETE PASS NOTHING ABNORMAL. CAR WAS NOT STARTING WITHOUT A JUMP SO BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR IT EVERYTHING SEEMED COMPLETELY FINE. DROVE A TOTAL OF MAYBE TEN MILES TO ACE HARDWARE TO GET SOME SUPPLIES AND CAR STARTED TO SMOKE ONCE I TURNED THE HEATER OFF.IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, PUDDLE OF FLUID IN PARKING SPOT, AND WATER BOILING SOUND UNDER HOOD. TOWED CAR HOME THEN TO MECHANIC WHERE IT IS SITTING NOW FOR AN ESTIMATE BEING TOLD IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL NEED A NEW MOTOR. THERE IS 106,661 PLUS OR MINUS A 100MILES I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE.WHEN SMOKING STARTED I WAS DRYING ON A HWY WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MILES/HR. IT IS AN AWD PASSED SMOG, AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER WHO BOUGHT IT FROM AN AUCTION. IT WAS A TRADE IN BY LESSEE TO THE LESSOR FOR A NEWER ONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10919200

139,500 miles · Oct 6, 2016
Engine

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET NEED A TOW TRUCK SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSE WAS CRANK SHIFT SENSOR $700.00. ABOUT 3 YRS LATER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY LOST ALL POWER LIGHT CAME ON GUIDE OF THE FREEWAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THE SAME PROBL…

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THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET NEED A TOW TRUCK SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSE WAS CRANK SHIFT SENSOR $700.00. ABOUT 3 YRS LATER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY LOST ALL POWER LIGHT CAME ON GUIDE OF THE FREEWAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN CRANK SHIFT SENSOR AGAIN $700.00. THE YR DRIVING FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY IT HAPPEN AGAIN NO POWER LIGHT CAME ON ANOTHER $ 700.00. [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10914199

168,504 miles · Aug 3, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

OVERHEATED ON HIGHWAY WOULDNT RUN NEVEMBER 2015 12/23/2015 $3,687.71 ENGINE REPLACEMENT 03/30/2016-05/23/2016 JEFF SMITH AUTO MULTI PT. INSPECTION REPLACE COILS WIRES PLUGS TIMING CRANK AND CAM SENSORS CLEAN TANK AND REPLACE FUEL PUMP $2,995 AND CAR STILL HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCATION IT SITS AT NOW

NHTSA ODI #10892709

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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