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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

6 reports
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68,000 miles · Dec 6, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND SHUTTING OFF THE LIGHTS. HAVE TO TURN LIGHTS ON OFF DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, TURN ON AND OFF THE LIGHTS AND KEEP DOING IT UNTIL THEY GO OFF.. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. READ ONLINE THAT THERE'S A HISTORY OF THIS BUT NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11287543

240,000 miles · Nov 5, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND STATIONARY. IN ADDITION, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND STATIONARY. IN ADDITION, THE ESC WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGHTS, HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240,000.

NHTSA ODI #11278272

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ESC WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10669170

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2014
Exterior Lighting

I BELIEVE THIS TOPIC HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED AND THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF VISIBILITY. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO ALL VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS. THEY BECOME VERY CLOUDY AND DIMINISH THE BRIGHTNESS TO THE POINT WHERE VISIBILITY IS GREATLY IMPAIRED. IN THE PAST THEY WERE MADE OF GLASS …

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I BELIEVE THIS TOPIC HAS NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED AND THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED MANY ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF VISIBILITY. THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO ALL VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVERS. THEY BECOME VERY CLOUDY AND DIMINISH THE BRIGHTNESS TO THE POINT WHERE VISIBILITY IS GREATLY IMPAIRED. IN THE PAST THEY WERE MADE OF GLASS AND WERE ALWAYS BRIGHT AND CLEAR. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE BRIGHT AND CLEAR FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THERE ARE AFTER MARKET CLEANERS AND POLISHES THAT DON'T REALLY WORK. THEY NEED TO BE MADE OF GLASS OR PLASTIC THAT DOESN'T GET CLOUDY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576295

71,000 miles · Apr 28, 2011
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ESC OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SPORTAGE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ESC OFF WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10398154

33,000 miles · Oct 3, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

2006 KIA SPORTAGE EX WITH V-6 HAS A HABIT OF COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN ELECTRICALLY, KILLING THE ENGINE AND THUS ALL LIGHTS, POWER ASSIST TO STEERING/BRAKES, ETC. PREVIOUSLY THIS OCCURRED ONLY WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP (PREVIOUSLY REPORTED). THIS TIME OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF UTAH WHE…

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2006 KIA SPORTAGE EX WITH V-6 HAS A HABIT OF COMPLETELY SHUTTING DOWN ELECTRICALLY, KILLING THE ENGINE AND THUS ALL LIGHTS, POWER ASSIST TO STEERING/BRAKES, ETC. PREVIOUSLY THIS OCCURRED ONLY WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP (PREVIOUSLY REPORTED). THIS TIME OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF UTAH WHEN THIS OCCURRED AGAIN. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY WITHOUT INCIDENT IN COMPLETE DARKNESS AND NO POWER ASSISTS. CAR WAS RUNNING ON CRUISE CONTROL SO NO DRIVER FUNCTION COULD HAVE CAUSED THE INCIDENT. NO WARNING SUCH AS ENGINE STUMBLE, FLICKERING LIGHTS, ETC,, IT JUST SHUT OFF!!! ONCE SAFELY STOPPED, OUR DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND GET TO THE DESTINATION WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT IS UNABLE TO FIX IT. ONLY HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358922

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.

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