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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

What owners actually said

242 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2009
Electrical System

IN FEBRUARY OF '06 WE BOUGHT A NEW KIA SORENTO. AFTER THE 1ST YEAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 HEADLIGHTS. 2 TAIL LIGHTS, 2 DOME LIGHTS AND 1 CLOCK. CLOCK AND DOME LIGHT WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE 3RD HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED LAST WEEK ON 1/19/09 (PASSENGER SIDE) AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED TODAY 1/28/…

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IN FEBRUARY OF '06 WE BOUGHT A NEW KIA SORENTO. AFTER THE 1ST YEAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 HEADLIGHTS. 2 TAIL LIGHTS, 2 DOME LIGHTS AND 1 CLOCK. CLOCK AND DOME LIGHT WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE 3RD HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED LAST WEEK ON 1/19/09 (PASSENGER SIDE) AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED TODAY 1/28/09. ALSO WHILE ON VACATION IN THE SUMMER OF '08, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. KIA HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT WITH FREE REPLACEMENTS. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEPT. DID TELL ME THAT IN THE PAST 2 YEARS HE HAS REPLACED MORE HEADLIGHT BULBS THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE. IF THIS IS INDEED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, HOW SAFE IS MY WIFE DRIVING THIS AUTOMOBILE. I HAVE CALLED THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE WITH MY CONCERN AND THEIR RESPONSE HAS BEEN, "WELL HEADLIGHTS DO BURN OUT" . I DO KNOW OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256633

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN JULY 2006 IT HAD 200 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED IT THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ON THE DRIVERS FRONT SIDE, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER THEY SAID I HAD DRIVEN OVER SOMETHING AND IT WAS SIMPLY BURNING OFF (YEAH RIGHT) A MONTH LATER THEY BRAKES STARTED GRINDING I TOOK IT IN T…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN JULY 2006 IT HAD 200 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED IT THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING ON THE DRIVERS FRONT SIDE, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER THEY SAID I HAD DRIVEN OVER SOMETHING AND IT WAS SIMPLY BURNING OFF (YEAH RIGHT) A MONTH LATER THEY BRAKES STARTED GRINDING I TOOK IT IN THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS, ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING AGAIN, THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS, ABOUT 4 MONTHS LATER THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AND GRINDING AGAIN AND I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT YET WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THEY BRAKES SEEMED FINE. IN DECEMBER 07 THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND MAKE A VERY LOUD THUNDEROUS NOISE AT TAKE OFF, I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE "PROPELLER" OR OTHERWISE DRIVE SHAFT WAS A RECALL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN UNTIL JANUARY 08 BECAUSE THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PART. NOW THE BRAKES ARE BAD AGAIN, AND THE DEALER NOW WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER 300.00 TO FIX THEM! OUTRAGEOUS AND TOTALLY UNBELIEVABLE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245795

40,000 miles · Oct 15, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

I OWN A 2006 KIA SORENTO. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH GAS SPRAYING BACK WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK. WE WENT TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE TO LEARN THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN SOLD. WE NOTIFIED THE NEW DEALER OF OUR NEED TO HAVE WARRANTY WORK DONE, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT NO WARRANTY …

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I OWN A 2006 KIA SORENTO. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH GAS SPRAYING BACK WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK. WE WENT TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE TO LEARN THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN SOLD. WE NOTIFIED THE NEW DEALER OF OUR NEED TO HAVE WARRANTY WORK DONE, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT NO WARRANTY WORK COULD BE DONE UNTIL THEY WERE GIVEN "CODES" FROM THE PARENT COMPANY. WE MADE MANY CALLS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AND WAS FINALLY TOLD NOT TO CALL THE DEALER, THEY HAD OUR INFORMATION AND WOULD CALL US. THE SITUATION WITH THE GAS TANK SEEMED TO SETTLE UNTIL TWO WEEK AGO WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONLY TO A GREATER DEGREE, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF SPRAY BACK, AND THE TANK CANNOT BE FILLED. WE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A VAPOR VALVE ISSUE AND SINCE OUR CAR NOW HAD 70000 MILES THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT APPLY. THERE IS NO RECORD OF OUR CALLS NOR IS THERE ANY RECORD OF THE "CODES". I HAVE INITIATED A COMPLAINT WITH THE PARENT COMPANY, TO NO AVAIL. AFTER REVIEWING SOME OF THE LITERATURE I HAVE NOTED THAT KIA HAS HAD ISSUES SIMILAR TO THIS SINCE 1999 WITH A NHTSA INVESTIGATION OF GAS TANK LEAKS IN MAY 2006. I BELIEVE THAT THE SAME DEFECT THAT WAS IN THE KIA SPORTAGE IS IN THE KIA SORENTO. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GROWING POPULATION OF KIA OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. SINCE MY ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME AS MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD GAS TANK PROBLEMS, I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY IN EXCESS OF 500 DOLLARS TO CORRECT A PROBLEM THAT KIA KNEW THEY HAD. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PARENT COMPANY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DOCUMENTATION OF THIS EXACT ISSUE BEING INVESTIGATED OVER TIME. THANK YOU PAUL LEBLANC *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245624

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2008
Air BagsCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AGAIN. PRIOR TO THIS CRASH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY ORDERED A PART RELATED TO THE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI #10244105

26,404 miles · Jul 30, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS AND JUST RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS IT JUST CUTS OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE NO TIME TO PULL OVER. ALMOST REAR ENDED 3 TIMES IN A WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236387

30,000 miles · May 30, 2008
Tires

4-TIRES AT 44 PSI, 1-TIRE AT 35 PSI. ALL 5-TIRES SHOULD BE AT 44 PSI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229306

26,252 miles · May 15, 2008
Power TrainService Brakes, Electric

REPLACED FRONT ROTORS,18,000,26,000 MILES. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES. BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REPLACED REAR DRIVE SHAFT AND INSTALLED SHIELDED WIRE FROM TCM TO TRANSMISSION SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227902

9,000 miles · May 13, 2008
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF 2 BRAND NEW KIA SORRENTOS, A 2004 AND A 2006. WITH BOTH VEHICLES I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES SHAKING (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY) AFTER ONLY 6,000 TO 8,000 MILES. WHEN TAKEN TO BE LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT MY OWN COST BECAUSE "BRAKES ARE A WEAR ITE…

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I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF 2 BRAND NEW KIA SORRENTOS, A 2004 AND A 2006. WITH BOTH VEHICLES I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES SHAKING (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY) AFTER ONLY 6,000 TO 8,000 MILES. WHEN TAKEN TO BE LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT MY OWN COST BECAUSE "BRAKES ARE A WEAR ITEM". I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2005 SORRENTO THAT HAS DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE SORRENTO LINE AND YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD TRY TO MAKE CUSTOMERS HAPPIER AND MAKE STRONG PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227675

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2008
Tires

2006 KIA SORENTO WITH UNEVEN AND ODD WEAR MARKS ON TIRES. CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO THE BAD WEAR OF THE MICHELIN TIRES, THE VEHICLE RIDES VERY ROUGH AND BADLY AFFECTS THE STEERING. *KB MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10226190

18,800 miles · Mar 10, 2008
SteeringVisibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE FRONT WINDOW CONTINUED TO DEVELOP FROST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED STRESS FRACTURES ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE FRONT WINDOW CONTINUED TO DEVELOP FROST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED STRESS FRACTURES ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW DUE TO THE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL AUTHORIZE THAT THE WINDOW BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TWICE AND CHARGED THE CONTACT $50 PER VISIT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE HER RESEARCH PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LIVES IN A STATE WHERE IT SNOWS FREQUENTLY. SHE IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SNOWS DUE TO THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING AND REAR END OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH PREVENTS PROPER TRACTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,893. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10220653

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