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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
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

105,000 miles · Feb 2, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME OVER BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEELS WERE CORRODED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE FIRST DEALER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME OVER BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEELS WERE CORRODED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE FIRST DEALER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI #10823708

80,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
StructureInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER EXITED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HANDLE CUT HER HAND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE'S CHROME PAINT PEELED OFF WHERE THE SEAMS MET AND CAUSED THE DOOR HANDLE TO SPLIT, LEAVING SHARDS OF CHROME EXPOSED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A PASSENGER EXITED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HANDLE CUT HER HAND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE'S CHROME PAINT PEELED OFF WHERE THE SEAMS MET AND CAUSED THE DOOR HANDLE TO SPLIT, LEAVING SHARDS OF CHROME EXPOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AND, ON ANOTHER OCCASION, CAUSED HER TO CUT HER HAND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10823592

174,000 miles · Jan 31, 2016
Engine

WHILE MOVING AT 70 MPH INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT, MY DAUGHTER HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE ENGINE MADE POPPING NOISES AS SHE BROUGHT THE SUV TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE ULTIMATELY RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AT 30 MPH WITH FLASHING HAZARD LIGHTS ON UNTIL REACHING THE NEXT EXIT (2-3 MILES MAX.) TO A SAFE LOCATION B…

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WHILE MOVING AT 70 MPH INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT, MY DAUGHTER HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE ENGINE MADE POPPING NOISES AS SHE BROUGHT THE SUV TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE ULTIMATELY RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AT 30 MPH WITH FLASHING HAZARD LIGHTS ON UNTIL REACHING THE NEXT EXIT (2-3 MILES MAX.) TO A SAFE LOCATION BEING AROUND 9:00 PM IN THE EVENING. THE SUV WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE MASTERCARE STORE IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. AFTER REMOVING THE ENGINE COVER, THE MECHANIC FOUND PART OF THE SPARK PLUG AND IGNITION PART, INDICATED THAT THE LOCATION WHERE THE SPARK PLUG WAS INSERTED HAD BEEN STRIPPED OUT BY THE PARTS BLOWING OUT OF THEIR NORMAL LOCATION WITH EXTREME PRESSURE. THE SUV HAS BEEN TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT IS SITTING PENDING WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10823353

159,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
EngineCrashFire

BELT SPROCKET AND HARMONIC BALANCER WITH BOLT. THE BOLT IS MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL AND BROKE CAUSING THE AUTOMOBILE TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND OTHER VITAL CAR FEATURES. NO WARNING, IT JUST BROKE WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING ALL OF THE BELTS TO SEIZE. I WAS ON A HILLY MOUNTAINOUS ROAD IN MY HOME AREA OF HIGH RIDGE MISSOURI, ACUTA…

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BELT SPROCKET AND HARMONIC BALANCER WITH BOLT. THE BOLT IS MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL AND BROKE CAUSING THE AUTOMOBILE TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND OTHER VITAL CAR FEATURES. NO WARNING, IT JUST BROKE WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING ALL OF THE BELTS TO SEIZE. I WAS ON A HILLY MOUNTAINOUS ROAD IN MY HOME AREA OF HIGH RIDGE MISSOURI, ACUTALLY ON THE HIGH RIDGE.I AM LUCKY THAT I AM SMART ENOUGH TO DRIVE DEFENSIVELY AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE SIDE ROAD. TWO MECHANICS CAME TO MY RESCUE AND EASILY SAW THAT THE PROBLEM STATING THAT I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.I HAVE A TEMPORARY FIX ESTIMATE FROM MY MECHANIC BUT HE SAYS THE CAR REALLY NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.....

NHTSA ODI #10821774

140,000 miles · Jan 21, 2016
Engine

6/2015 VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. LOCAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRANKCASE BOLT HAD SNAPPED AND THE PULLEY AND BALANCER MOUNTING SCREW HAD SHEARED OFF. SHOP CONFIRMED A KIA KIT TO FIX THE ISSUE ($1200.00 + 1007.00 FOR TIMING GEAR KIT AND WATER PUMP) 1/15/2016 WHILE DRIVING INTO THE ROUNDABOUT ON PORTAL WAY (15 MPH) THERE WAS A LOUD …

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6/2015 VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. LOCAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRANKCASE BOLT HAD SNAPPED AND THE PULLEY AND BALANCER MOUNTING SCREW HAD SHEARED OFF. SHOP CONFIRMED A KIA KIT TO FIX THE ISSUE ($1200.00 + 1007.00 FOR TIMING GEAR KIT AND WATER PUMP) 1/15/2016 WHILE DRIVING INTO THE ROUNDABOUT ON PORTAL WAY (15 MPH) THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ASB BRAKING AND VOLTMETER WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANICS SHOP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW CRANKCASE BOLT HAS BROKEN AGAIN DAMAGING THE NEW PULLEY AND BALANCER ALSO. THE SHOP CONTACTED THE LOCAL KIA DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE 2003-2006 V6 3.5L MISABISHI ENGINES USED HAVE A LONG RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH NO PERMANENT FIX. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS EMAILED TO ME FROM THE OWNER OF AXTON AUTOMOTIVE, FERNDALE WA AN ASE CERTIFIED SHOP, "ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016, AXTON AUTOMOTIVE <AXTONAUTOMOTIVE@GMAIL.COM> WROTE: HELLO, ON YOU KIA. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY FIX IS PERMANENT ON THE VEHICLE. EVEN THEIR OWN RECALL/FIX IS FAILING. I RECOMMEND FILING A COMPLAINT AT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.. I WILL COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS TOMORROW AND GET BACK TO YOU. BUT WHATEVER WE DECIDE I RECOMMEND NOT USING THIS VEHICLE. JIM" THE VEHICLE IS DISABLED AT THIS TIME WITH NO RESPONSE FROM KIA.

NHTSA ODI #10821350

60,000 miles · Dec 15, 2015
Engine

KIA SORENTO - I HAVE A 2006 SORENTO THAT JUST TURNED 60,000 MILES IN OCTOBER. I HAD DRIVEN IT AT LUNCH ONE DAY, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE OFFICE AT 5, THE CAR WAS MAKING AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS NOT ON. THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN B…

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KIA SORENTO - I HAVE A 2006 SORENTO THAT JUST TURNED 60,000 MILES IN OCTOBER. I HAD DRIVEN IT AT LUNCH ONE DAY, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE OFFICE AT 5, THE CAR WAS MAKING AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS NOT ON. THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT ALONG WITH ALL THE BELTS AND PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK 5 WEEKS FOR THE REPAIR, AND NOW IT HAS TO GO BACK BECAUSE ONE OF THE NEW BELTS IS SCREECHING. I PAID $1,300 FOR THE REPAIR AND KIA ONLY PAID PART OF THE REPAIR. WHY WOULD THEY PAY FOR PART AND NOT ALL, IF IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON?

NHTSA ODI #10810513

30,000 miles · Dec 15, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WAS CAUSING THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL PREMATURELY. THE LOW BEAM BULBS WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WAS CAUSING THE LOW BEAMS TO FAIL PREMATURELY. THE LOW BEAM BULBS WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10810219

177,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Power TrainStructureUnknown Or Other

ON 11/23/15 I WAS DRIVING DOWN 85S WHEN I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. HAD TO PULL OVER CAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR FELL OUT. AFTER WAITING 2HRS FOR HELP WE NTICED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT (2PART SHAFT) BROKE OFF, PUNCTURED MY GAS TANK, MY CABLE THAT RUNS TO MY TRANSMISSION AND PUT A GOOD SIZE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF MY BA…

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ON 11/23/15 I WAS DRIVING DOWN 85S WHEN I HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. HAD TO PULL OVER CAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR FELL OUT. AFTER WAITING 2HRS FOR HELP WE NTICED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT (2PART SHAFT) BROKE OFF, PUNCTURED MY GAS TANK, MY CABLE THAT RUNS TO MY TRANSMISSION AND PUT A GOOD SIZE HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF MY BACK SEAT. THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT THIS A REOCCURING PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AFTER LOOKING MORE CLOSELY WE NOTICED A LOT MORE DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THIS. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE SHOP AS OF TODAY SINCE WE ARE WAITING ON INSURANCE. BUT, THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME MORE TROUBLE THAN ANYTHING IN MY LIFE! I WILL NEVER GET A KIA AGAIN! AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS KIA WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS! IN THE PAST MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE ONCE I GOT OVER 30MPH, MY DASH LIGHTS AND ENGINE LIGHTS DON'T WORK (AND YES WE'VE CHECKED FUSES, THE SHOP HAS LOOKED AND WE DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DON'T WORK.) GUESS THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR BUYING A CAR FROM A CROOK OF A USED CAR LOT!

NHTSA ODI #10809564

155,000 miles · Nov 23, 2015
Suspension

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.

NHTSA ODI #10806159

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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