IllustrationREAR END RUSTED TO WERE IT COULD OF CALLED A WRECK THIS IS UNSAFE AND THEY SHOULD HAVE KIA RECALL THESE AT ONCE THERE ARE GOING THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THIS THIS JUST ABOUT CAUSED MY WIFE TO WRECK IT IS THE FEDERAL PLACE TO RECALL THESE AT ONCE
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sorento years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
250–25K
2825–50K
4350–75K
4775–100K
42100–150K
23150K+
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
Suspension complaints
10 reportsHELLO, I PURCHASED A CAR FROM GEORGE TAYLOR AKA MICHEAL BOOKER. WHEN I BROUGHT. THE CAR TO TGE MECHANIC HE SAID THAT THE AXCEL STRUTS AND HUBS WERE GLUED TOGTEHER AND IT WAS MELTING I CALLED MR BOOKER TO LET HIM KNOW TO PLEASE GIVE ME MY MINEY BACK HE REFUSED TO. HE SAID HE WOULD GET IT FIXED IF I PAID FOR THE PARTS I PAUD FOR T…
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HELLO, I PURCHASED A CAR FROM GEORGE TAYLOR AKA MICHEAL BOOKER. WHEN I BROUGHT. THE CAR TO TGE MECHANIC HE SAID THAT THE AXCEL STRUTS AND HUBS WERE GLUED TOGTEHER AND IT WAS MELTING I CALLED MR BOOKER TO LET HIM KNOW TO PLEASE GIVE ME MY MINEY BACK HE REFUSED TO. HE SAID HE WOULD GET IT FIXED IF I PAID FOR THE PARTS I PAUD FOR THE PARTS AND THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXXED I TOOK HIM TO COURT AND WON HE WONT PAY ME IS PAST THIRTY DAY AND IM STILL OUT OF A CAR AND MY MONEY..PLEASE HELP ME
THE REAR MOUNT ARM BRACKETS RUSTED IN HALF ON BOTH SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE.CAUSING MYSELF TO ALMOST WRECK.I HAVE HUGE RECORDS FOR MAINTENANCE AND UP KEEP ON THIS VEHICLE THAT WITH ALL THE MONEY I HAD THAT I KEPT THIS VEHICLE WELL TAKING CARE OF AND ONLY VAN BE LEAD TO A DESIGN FLAW THE THE MANUFACTURING
WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A CLUNK. SOON AFTER MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION WHILE ACCELERATING/BRAKING. I FIGURED IT WAS SNOW IN THE WHEEL WHEELS CAUSING THE IMBALANCE. AFTER WASHING MY CAR AND ENSURING ALL THE SNOW WAS REMOVED, I STILL FELT VIBRATIONS WHILE BRAKING/ACCELERATING. I FIGURED MAYBE MY BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED WHICH …
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WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A CLUNK. SOON AFTER MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED A VIBRATION WHILE ACCELERATING/BRAKING. I FIGURED IT WAS SNOW IN THE WHEEL WHEELS CAUSING THE IMBALANCE. AFTER WASHING MY CAR AND ENSURING ALL THE SNOW WAS REMOVED, I STILL FELT VIBRATIONS WHILE BRAKING/ACCELERATING. I FIGURED MAYBE MY BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED WHICH MAKES NO SENSE AS I REPLACED BOTH BRAKES AND ROTORS LAST YEAR. I WENT TO CHANGE THEM AND WHEN I LIFTED MY VEHICLE I SAW THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE BRACKET WAS BROKEN. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE IN THE UK BUT NOT IN THE US. I CURRENTLY CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS THE HANDLING IS UNSTABLE. THE REAR AXLE BRACKET RUSTED OUT AND BROKE DUE TO POOR DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES WATER TO POOL AND CORRODE THE STEEL DUE TO LACK OF DRAIN HOLES. HTTP://WWW.PRACTICALCARAVAN.COM/FORUM/TOWCARS/48287-KIA-SORENTO-1ST-GENERATION-REAR-AXLE-BRACKET-RUST-IMPORTANT?START=10 HTTP://WWW.KIAOWNERSCLUB.CO.UK/FORUM/RECALL-ON-REAR-SUBFRAME-CORROSION_TOPIC13285_PAGE2.HTML
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, IT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION OF BRACKETS ON THE AXLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIANS THAT THE BRACKET ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, IT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION OF BRACKETS ON THE AXLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIANS THAT THE BRACKET ON THE DRIVER SIDE HAD BEEN COMPLETELY RUSTED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
I HAVE A 2006 KIA SORENTO THE REAR HOUSING AXLE HAS RUSTED ALL THE WAY . AND THERE IS LARGE HOLE FROM THE RUST AND OIL DRIPPING OUT. AND THE BODY HAS IS ALREADY STARTING TO RUST. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I'VE HAVE WASHED AND WAXED AND KEPT IT . BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANY GOOD. KIA NEEDS TO WORK TO IMPROVE. *TR
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WHEN BRAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME AXLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILIZER REAR MOUN…
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TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WHEN BRAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME AXLE WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILIZER REAR MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. KMJ
DURING A TURN IN A MALL PARKING LOT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE LEFT FRONT SIDE, IT TURNED OUT TO BE A RUSTED THROUGH LOWER CONTROL ARM FOR THE LEFT WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS, AND BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A NORTHERN STATE, WHERE ROAD SALT IS A CONCERN, THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT KIA ADDRESSES. *TR
FRONT END BEGAN EXCESSIVE SHAKING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. ALMOST LOST CONTROL, BUT MANAGED TO AVOID A CRASH. THE SAME SHAKING HAPPENS ANYTIME I DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE NOW, BUT FIRST PROBLEM HAPPENED AT INTERSTATE SPEED. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND STOP MOVING TO STOP THE SHAKING. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS…
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FRONT END BEGAN EXCESSIVE SHAKING ON INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. ALMOST LOST CONTROL, BUT MANAGED TO AVOID A CRASH. THE SAME SHAKING HAPPENS ANYTIME I DRIVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE NOW, BUT FIRST PROBLEM HAPPENED AT INTERSTATE SPEED. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND STOP MOVING TO STOP THE SHAKING. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS NOW. CAR IS AT KIA DEALER TO REPLACE SWAY BAR LINK. VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. I CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER DEPARTMENT. THEY WERE NOT RECEPTIVE TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
109V130000 · 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
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.