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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

Steering complaints

33 reports
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180,000 miles · Jun 18, 2015
EnginePower TrainSteering

I WAS TURNING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I LOSS POWER STEERING AND NEARLY CRASHED.I WAS ABLE TO GET IT PULLED OVER.I RAISED THE HOOD AND SAW THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY LYING ON THE THE BOTTOM SKID PLATE.I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THERE ARE PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR CASES WORLDWIDE.I CALLED KIA .THEY BASICALLY BLEW ME OFF!

NHTSA ODI #10726095

91,991 miles · May 20, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 KIA SORENTO ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014, A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT LOOSENED UP. UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FROM THE ENGINE THE STEEL PULLEY BENT SKEWING ALL BELTED DRIVING SYSTEMS: POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICITY TO ENGINE, A/C, WIPERS, HEATING AND DEFROSTING …

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 KIA SORENTO ON WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2014, A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT LOOSENED UP. UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FROM THE ENGINE THE STEEL PULLEY BENT SKEWING ALL BELTED DRIVING SYSTEMS: POWER STEERING, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICITY TO ENGINE, A/C, WIPERS, HEATING AND DEFROSTING SYSTEMS, AND ETC CAUSING ME TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF CAR WHILE TURNING CORNER AT BUSY INTERSECTION; LOOSING STEERING, COMPLETE ENGINE SHUTDOWN, PANIC, AND PUTTING ME IN 'HARM'S WAY'! MY WIFE AND I HAD SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT THIS SUV BECAUSE WE CARE AND DRIVE OUR 3 BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN TO SCHOOL/BACK AND TO ALL ACTIVITIES AND SO MANY OTHER CHILDREN (THEIR FRIENDS) GOING TO THE SAME PLACES AND ACTIVITIES. I THANK GOD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH ANY CHILDREN OR MY WIFE IN THE CAR AND EVEN UNDER WORSE SITUATIONS; EX: EXPRESSWAY DRIVING OR SO MANY OTHER LIFE THREATENING DRIVING SITUATIONS! I HAVE PAID MANY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIRS AND MUCH TIME AND WORRYING ABOUT THAT TERRIBLE INCIDENT I HAVE SUFFERED! ALSO MY IMMEDIATE CHILDREN PUT MUCH PRESSURE ON ME TO GET RID OF THIS UNSAFE CAR CONCERNED FOR THEIR CHILDREN (MY GRANDCHILDREN) AND THEIR FRIENDS!

NHTSA ODI #10717559

106,575 miles · Mar 5, 2015
EngineSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REUQIRED IN ORDER TO TURN T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE AND THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REUQIRED IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A BOLT FRACTURED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,575. UPDATED 4/15/15*CN UPDATED 9/27/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10692351

61,000 miles · Feb 17, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemSteering

ON JANUARY 17, 2015, I RETRIEVED MY 2006 KIA SORENTO LX FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP AND HEATER HOSES REPLACED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD CLOSE TO 60K MILES ON IT THAT ACCORDING THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE TIMING BELT BE REPLACED. IT COST ME A LITTLE OVER $1,200. TWO WEEKS LATER I WAS AT A ST…

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ON JANUARY 17, 2015, I RETRIEVED MY 2006 KIA SORENTO LX FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAD TO HAVE THE WATER PUMP AND HEATER HOSES REPLACED. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SINCE MY VEHICLE HAD CLOSE TO 60K MILES ON IT THAT ACCORDING THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE TIMING BELT BE REPLACED. IT COST ME A LITTLE OVER $1,200. TWO WEEKS LATER I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS I PROCEEDED TO MAKE MY LEFT, FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE BOGGED, STALLED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL CAME ON FOR AN INSTANT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND ATTEMPTED TO RE-START MY CAR AND IT DID. NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL A WEEK LATER AND IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I TOOK IT THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS CHEAP GAS. MY HUSBAND, ON SATURDAY 02/14/2015, MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND PARKED IT. AT 4 P.M. WE WENT TO LEAVE AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. I GOOGLED SOME INFORMATION AND HAD TO RE-SET THE FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. LAST NIGHT, 02/16/2015, THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AND AGAIN WE HAD TO RE-SET THE FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. TODAY, 02/17/2015, WE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSORS AND THE CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR NEED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME ANOTHER $1,100. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE. I ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN NJ FOR THE SAME THING. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT KIA MOTORS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND JUST TURNING A BLIND EYE. THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUE AFTER REPAIRS ARE MADE ACCORDING TO THE COMPLAINTS I FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683904

73,000 miles · Jan 31, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. I SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. NO OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED UNTIL TODAY (3 WEEKS LATER). THI…

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WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. I SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEMS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. NO OTHER ISSUES OCCURRED UNTIL TODAY (3 WEEKS LATER). THIS TIME I STARTED MY CAR AND WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT WITH NO SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. AFTER I STOPPED, TO LET A CAR OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO PROCEED. IMMEDIATELY AS I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE DASH ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I TRIED RESTARTING IT A FEW TIMES, BUT IT WOULDN'T BUDGE AT ALL. I SHUT OFF ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES, SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, AND HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN. THIS TIME IT STARTED AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. I DROVE AROUND STOPPING AND GOING FOR ANOTHER 45 MINS TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, AND NOTHING. BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN READING, IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T THIS GETTING THE SAME ATTENTION TOYOTA AND GMC CARS RECEIVED WHEN THEIR CARS EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS MALFUNCTIONS IN SEVERAL OF THEIR CARS? PERHAPS THE MEDIA NEEDS TO BE ALERTED TO THIS TO ACTUALLY BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THE MATTER. APPARENTLY KIA IS WAITING FOR A FEW DEATHS FIRST BEFORE THEY PART WITH MONEY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680108

109,000 miles · Jan 10, 2015
EngineService BrakesSteering

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF WALGREENS PARKING LOT ON 6/2/2013 IN ALSIP, ILLINOIS. AS I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT THE PARKING SPACE THEN I PLACED IT IN DRIVE IT WAS FINE. THEN I GOT READY TO TURN THE WHEEL TO COME OUT THE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THEN MY LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BRAKE LIGHT & ENGINE…

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I WAS DRIVING OUT OF WALGREENS PARKING LOT ON 6/2/2013 IN ALSIP, ILLINOIS. AS I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT THE PARKING SPACE THEN I PLACED IT IN DRIVE IT WAS FINE. THEN I GOT READY TO TURN THE WHEEL TO COME OUT THE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN. THEN MY LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BRAKE LIGHT & ENGINE LIGHT. I THEN PLACED MY FEET ON THE BRAKES AND PLACED IT BACK IN P (PARK) AND TIRED TO PUT IN DRIVE AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO GET IT OUT OF THE WAY. I ENDED UP GOING UP THE STREET TO AUTOZONE TO SEE IF THEY CAN PUT IN ON THE MACHINE OR EVEN LOOK AT IT TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME IT LOOKS LIKE MY PULLEY BELT IS CRACKED / BREAKING / BROKE. SO I PARK IT IN A RESIDUAL AREA, AND I CALLED KIA DEALERSHIP IN OAKLAWN, IL TO ORDER THE PART AS AUTOZONE TOLD ME THEY DID NOT HAVE THAT PART I WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE DEALER. SO I CALLED KIA TO GET THE PART AND THEY SAID I HAD TO ORDER IT. I DID JUST THAT PICKED IT UP HAD THE TOW TRUCK TO TAKE TO THE AUTOSHOP FOR REPAIR. ONCE THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT HE STARTED THE BOLT WAS HARD TO GET OFF TO GET TO THE PULLEY. HE STATED IT IS A 50/50 CHANCE THAT IT MAY BREAK. IF IT DOES THEN I WOULD NEED A ENGINE. I THEN TOLD HIM DON'T TOUCH IT OR WORRY ABOUT IT I WILL HAVE IT TOWED TO KIA IN RIVER OAKS WHICH I DID. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND STATED THE SAME THING. I SAID WELL LETS PRAY THEY IT DOES NOT BREAK HE LAUGHED AND SAID OK. THE MECHANIC CALLED ME BACK A HOUR LATER AN SAID IT BROKE I'M GONNA NEED A ENGINE. HE TOLD ME THE PRICE, AND I COULD NOT AFFORD IT SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671565

113,000 miles · Jan 7, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

I WENT TO THE BANK IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. I SHUT MY CAR OFF BECAUSE ITS STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE . I TRIED TO START IT WHEN I WAS DONE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP TO START IT BACK UP BUT IT KEEP ON DYING. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT STARTED ENOUGH TO GET IT HOME . IT DIED RIGHT BEFORE MY HOUSE SO WE HAD T…

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I WENT TO THE BANK IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. I SHUT MY CAR OFF BECAUSE ITS STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE . I TRIED TO START IT WHEN I WAS DONE AND IT WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO GET A JUMP TO START IT BACK UP BUT IT KEEP ON DYING. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT STARTED ENOUGH TO GET IT HOME . IT DIED RIGHT BEFORE MY HOUSE SO WE HAD TO PUSH IT INTO THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT HOME THE ELECTRICAL KEPT CUTTING IN AND OUT AND IT WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. COME TO FIND OUT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF INTO THE ENGINE.I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 8 MONTHS AND PAID $8700.00 FOR THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10670791

121,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Power TrainSteering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE INSIDE THE CRANKSHAFT CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS, AND THE CAR SHUTDOWN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE DEATH BY LOSING STEERING CONTROL OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH OTHERS DUE TO LOST OF POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667001

47,840 miles · Aug 14, 2014
EngineService BrakesSteering

CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. LATER CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER AT NEXT FAILURE. DRIVER LOSES ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE CODE FINALLY APPEARS AFTER 3RD INCIDENT AND IS P0337 - CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY LEAD TO A CRASH OR…

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CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. LATER CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER AT NEXT FAILURE. DRIVER LOSES ENGINE, POWER STEERING, AND POWER BRAKES. ENGINE CODE FINALLY APPEARS AFTER 3RD INCIDENT AND IS P0337 - CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY LEAD TO A CRASH OR DEATH SINCE DRIVER LOOSES ALL FUNCTIONS OF VEHICLE. DEALER AT KIA CERRITOS, CALIF. SEEMED UNCONCERNED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE UNDER WARRANTY, SINCE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, EVEN WITH LOW MILEAGE. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS A RECALL. INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP GROUP DATA BASES SHOW 100'S OF INCIDENCES OF SAME PART FAILURE AND ENGINE CODE WITH KIA SORENTO AND LOW VEHICLE MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10622361

29,000 miles · Jun 14, 2014
Power TrainService BrakesSteering

REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NOT SMALL PROBLEMS. LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING? WHY NOTHING, NO QUESTIONS, NO NOTHING. THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH NO HELP FROM THIS PUBLIC AGENCY. WHY? BRAKE PROBLEMS, WIDELY KNOWN. KIA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK ON THEIR VEHICLES, THE …

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REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NOT SMALL PROBLEMS. LIFE THREATENING PROBLEMS. WHAT IS THE NHTSA DOING? WHY NOTHING, NO QUESTIONS, NO NOTHING. THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH NO HELP FROM THIS PUBLIC AGENCY. WHY? BRAKE PROBLEMS, WIDELY KNOWN. KIA REFUSES TO ADMIT THAT THE BRAKES DON'T WORK ON THEIR VEHICLES, THE ROTORS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 3 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS THINKING MY BRAKES WERE FINE AND THEN BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE ROTORS ARE GONE, THE GUYS ARE SAYING YOU ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. NOW AFTER REPEATED REPAIRS, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 6/13/14 I WAS ALMOST KILLED WHEN MY CAR NEARLY FLEW OUT OF A HIGH RISE PARKING GARAGE BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING MY HARMONIC BALANCER TO COME OFF. THE RESULT NO BRAKES, NO STEERING WHILE IN A HIGH RISE PARKING GARAGE. WHAT WILL IT TAKE? SOMEONE NEEDS TO DIE? WHY? WHY NO ENFORCEMENT OF KIA? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. WHY WOULDN'T YOU? IF YOU JUST TAKE 5 MINUTES TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET, DON'T SEARCH REALLY HARD, JUST PUT IN KIA SORENTO OR ANY KIA AND YOU WILL SEE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS LIKE THIS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS AGENCY, THE AGENCY TASKED WITH LOOKING INTO THESE THINGS IS NOT LOOKING INTO THIS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS ON YOUR OWN SITE BUT STILL NOTHING. DO THESE COMPANIES HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES OF THE USA OR NOT BECAUSE THIS IS A FOREIGN CAR MANUFACTURER. APPARENTLY NOT. AGAIN, THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY, I AM AFRAID OF MY CAR. MY GRANDCHILDREN RIDE IN THIS CAR WITH ME. I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER REPAIR. IN JANUARY IT WAS A REPAIR OVER 1200.00. I WAS LAID OFF IN MAY AND NOW ANOTHER REPAIR OF AT LEAST 3000.00 TO 4000.00. I HAVE ONLY 53000 MILES ON MY CAR. WHAT WILL IT TAKE NHTSA? IS IT NOT WORTH YOUR ATTENTION YET? HOW MANY LIVES BEFORE IT IS WORTHY OF YOUR ATTENTION? *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598322

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.

Go deeper into Kia Sorento problems