NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
33 reportsClear category filter74,000 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
154,000 miles · Jan 14, 2019
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE BATTERY AND EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO ROA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE BATTERY AND EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
NHTSA ODI #11169873
160,000 miles · Apr 26, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT AN IMPACT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTICED A PIECE OF METAL HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT AN IMPACT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER NOTICED A PIECE OF METAL HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. A DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REPAIR BECAUSE THE MILEAGE WAS OVER 100,000. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10980952
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringWheels
OUR 2006 KIA SORENTO ALL THE SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY IN CITY HIGHWAY, STARTED SOUNDING LIKE IT KEPT TRYING TO TURN OVER AND WE PULLED OVER. WE NOTICED IT STARTED SMELLING HOT BUT WOULDN'T TURN OFF SO MY HUSBAND TRIED TAKING OFF THE BATTERY BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT IT BURNED HIM AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM…
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OUR 2006 KIA SORENTO ALL THE SUDDEN WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY IN CITY HIGHWAY, STARTED SOUNDING LIKE IT KEPT TRYING TO TURN OVER AND WE PULLED OVER. WE NOTICED IT STARTED SMELLING HOT BUT WOULDN'T TURN OFF SO MY HUSBAND TRIED TAKING OFF THE BATTERY BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT IT BURNED HIM AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. WE FINALLY GOT IT OFF SO WE TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT THE BATTERY WAS TOTALLY DEAD. THE SHOP SAID THE ENGINE IS GONE.
NHTSA ODI #10910860
89,000 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Air BagsSteering
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT & BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON . THE ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH , WHEN I WENT TO PULL OF THE HIGHWAY , I HAD NO POWER STEERING
NHTSA ODI #10852437
145,000 miles · Feb 13, 2016
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash
LESS THAN A YEAR PRIOR, TIMING BELT NEEDED REPLACED. A COSTLY FIX. ONLY MONTHS LATER DUE TO PROBLEM(COMMON ISSUE KIA IS AWARE OF) WITH CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, VEHICAL STALLED AND DIED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING FOR THIS AND WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I LOST ALL CONTROL OF POWER STEARING, S…
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LESS THAN A YEAR PRIOR, TIMING BELT NEEDED REPLACED. A COSTLY FIX. ONLY MONTHS LATER DUE TO PROBLEM(COMMON ISSUE KIA IS AWARE OF) WITH CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, VEHICAL STALLED AND DIED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING FOR THIS AND WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I LOST ALL CONTROL OF POWER STEARING, SPEED, BRAKES AND OTHER MAIN ELECRICAL COMPONETS. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CURVE OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURED. THIS THREW ME INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, I ONLY HIT A HWY TRAFFIC SIGN. THE RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED AND ADDED TO. THIS VEHICAL SHOULD NOT BE ALOUD ON THE ROAD! ITS DANGEROUS FOR EVERYONE ON THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #10825925
92,000 miles · Feb 5, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN SLUSHY SNOW AND THE BRAKE LIGHT & BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THE ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH. WHEN I WENT TO PULL OF THE HIGHWAY, I HAD NO POWER STEERING.
NHTSA ODI #10824385
167,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Power TrainService BrakesSteering
IT DOESNT SHIFT PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS LIKE FALLLING OFF. LOOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES DONT WORK
NHTSA ODI #10806148
130,000 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH RESET THE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHICH RESET THE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN EXTREMELY LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT A BOLT FRACTURED INTO THE CRANK SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #10747637
92,000 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN HEARD A POP AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INTO THE ENGINE. AUTO REPAIR SHOP UNABLE TO GET BOLT OUT SINCE IT BROKE OFF INTO ENGINE. ONLY WAY TO REPAIR WAS A NEW ENGINE WHICH WAS AROUN…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN HEARD A POP AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT TOWED TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INTO THE ENGINE. AUTO REPAIR SHOP UNABLE TO GET BOLT OUT SINCE IT BROKE OFF INTO ENGINE. ONLY WAY TO REPAIR WAS A NEW ENGINE WHICH WAS AROUND $5000.
NHTSA ODI #10735665
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · 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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