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2006 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Sportage do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 122.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

93 reports with mileage · 18 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

38 reports
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146,367 miles · Dec 28, 2020
Air BagsEngine

I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TWO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC THINKS IT IS A SENSOR FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVING TROUBLE WITH COVID-19 GETTING THE PART, BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A WEEK. MY MECHANIC HAS RECOMMENDED ME TAKING THE CAR TO A KIA DEALER SHIP WITH THE AIRBAG LIGH…

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I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TWO DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY MECHANIC THINKS IT IS A SENSOR FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVING TROUBLE WITH COVID-19 GETTING THE PART, BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A WEEK. MY MECHANIC HAS RECOMMENDED ME TAKING THE CAR TO A KIA DEALER SHIP WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON. HE THOUGH FOR SURE IT WOULD HAVE A RECALL BUT I DO NOT SEE ONE LISTED.

NHTSA ODI #11385351

88,993 miles · Nov 19, 2020
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I HIT THE SIDE OF A CAR I DIDN'T SEE WHILE PULLING OUT OF A CAR PARK ONTO THE ROAD, SO I WAS MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD. A CAR HAD APPEARED FROM BEHIND 2 TURNING CARS AND I HIT THE SIDE OF IT. NEITHER THE AIR BAG OR THE SEAT BELT IN MY CAR STOPPED MY HEAD FROM MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS VERY SHAKEN AT THE TIME AS ANYON…

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I HIT THE SIDE OF A CAR I DIDN'T SEE WHILE PULLING OUT OF A CAR PARK ONTO THE ROAD, SO I WAS MOVING SLOWLY FORWARD. A CAR HAD APPEARED FROM BEHIND 2 TURNING CARS AND I HIT THE SIDE OF IT. NEITHER THE AIR BAG OR THE SEAT BELT IN MY CAR STOPPED MY HEAD FROM MAKING CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS VERY SHAKEN AT THE TIME AS ANYONE WOULD BE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I NEEDED TO REST, AND 2 DAYS LATER WENT TO ER WHERE I HAD A SCAN AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION. OVER 2 WEEKS LATER, I AM MUCH BETTER BUT NOT YET FULLY RECOVERED. I RECEIVED A CITATION FROM THE ATTENDING POLICE OFFICER FOR CARELESS DRIVING. I HAVE CONTACTED CORPORATE KIA TO ASK WHY BOTH THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO HELP ME AVOID INJURY. I ATTACH A PHOTO OF THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE POLICE REPORT.

NHTSA ODI #11375451

72,000 miles · Sep 26, 2019
Air Bags

AIR BAG NOT ENGAGED LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ODI #11258287

70,000 miles · Jun 3, 2019
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control

I HAD THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO THEY ONLY DELETE THE ERROR. THE FIRS ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG (AIRBAG LIGHT ERROR) THE ERROR SEEMS TO BE THE SENSOR INSIDE THE SEAT.. AND THE SECOND ERROR THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT SHOWING THE CORRECT SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER IS READING ABOUT 5 MILE OF…

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I HAD THIS ISSUE MULTIPLE TIMES. AND THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO THEY ONLY DELETE THE ERROR. THE FIRS ISSUE IS THE PASSENGER AIR BAG (AIRBAG LIGHT ERROR) THE ERROR SEEMS TO BE THE SENSOR INSIDE THE SEAT.. AND THE SECOND ERROR THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT SHOWING THE CORRECT SPEED. THE SPEEDOMETER IS READING ABOUT 5 MILE OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11217471

110,623 miles · Jun 13, 2018
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes

DEALER DIAGNOSTICS CAME UP WITH CODES B1495 PODS, B1495 BTS & C1513 ABS AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN STARTING & STAYED ON. HAD BRAKE SWITCH REPLACED PER RECALL A FEW MONTHS AGO & KNOW HAVE A ABS CODE THAT COULD BE THE SWITCH AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11101671

130,000 miles · Mar 26, 2018
Air BagsElectrical System

TAKATA RECALL I JUST PURCHASED MY KIA SPORTAGE ON 3/15/2018 AT A DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE DEALER AND AM TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOESN'T MATTER. AS I'M READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS THE AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY, MY SAFETY IS AN IS…

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TAKATA RECALL I JUST PURCHASED MY KIA SPORTAGE ON 3/15/2018 AT A DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE DEALER AND AM TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOESN'T MATTER. AS I'M READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS THE AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY, MY SAFETY IS AN ISSUE HERE. I AM CERTAIN THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. IT WILL BE SENT TO THE DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT. ALSO, I HAVE GOOGLED AS TO WHY MY BLOWER MOTOR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THAT'S THE BLOWER RESISTOR THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THOSE COMPLAINTS ARE ON HERE ALSO, ALMOST CATCHING FIRE. I'VE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE BEING IN A VEHICLE. THESE 2 MAIN FACTORS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI #11081225

121,685 miles · Jan 16, 2018
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE FAILURE SOMETIMES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND OTHER TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE FAILURE SOMETIMES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND OTHER TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS JUST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXHIBITING THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,685.

NHTSA ODI #11063037

159,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL A CITY STREET AND BEGAN TO TURN RIGHT. AS I WAS SLOWLY TURNING GOING ABOUT 15-20MPH USING THE BRAKES, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-40MPH, HIT MINE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DAMAGING FROM THE HEADLIGHT TO THE DRIVERS DOOR. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #11020061

35,736 miles · Nov 12, 2016
Air Bags

SINCE 2010 I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS WELL WITHIN WARRANTY WHEN THIS BEGAN WITH MILEAGE AT 35,736. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED IT MULTIPLE TIMES; REPLACED BUCKLE TENSORS, REPLACED SEAT, HARNESS, RERAN THE CODES, ETC. TO DATE, IT IS STILL NOT CORRECTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A L…

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SINCE 2010 I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON. I WAS WELL WITHIN WARRANTY WHEN THIS BEGAN WITH MILEAGE AT 35,736. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED IT MULTIPLE TIMES; REPLACED BUCKLE TENSORS, REPLACED SEAT, HARNESS, RERAN THE CODES, ETC. TO DATE, IT IS STILL NOT CORRECTED AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA CORPORATION OFFERING A FINAL SETTLEMENT TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION IN WRITING ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS FINAL FIX WOULD WOULD WORK AND IF THEY WOULD WARRANTY THIS FIX. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP IF THE AIRBAGS WOULD DEPLOY UPON ACCIDENT. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE, BUT IT IS LIKELY THEY WILL NOT DEPLOY. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AFTER THE MOST RECENT REPAIR WHICH REPLACED THE SEAT. I HAVE PAID FOR A MAJORITY OF THESE FIXED. MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS OUR SAFETY. CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR AND WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON I AM AFRAID TRADE IN VALUE WOULD BE REDUCED. IN 2012 KIA RECALLED ALMOST 150,000 OPTIMAS AND RONDOS FOR AIRBAG ISSUES. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER THE KIA SPORTAGE AIRBAG FOR RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10925586

71,782 miles · Apr 25, 2015
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS DAMAGED AND THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712824

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Kia Sportage problems