no report yet
Brake lights: switch
Risk. ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
2006 Kia SorentoProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 242 owner complaints about the 2006 Kia Sorento, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through December 8, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2006 Kia Sorento has problems
242 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
67Engine5 crash/fire/injury
56Exterior lighting1 crash/fire/injury
53Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
35Power train
33Steering1 crash/fire/injury
19Air bags
19Engine and engine cooling
16Service brakes
10Suspension
6415 other systems7 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 67 | 5 |
| Exterior lighting | 56 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 53 | 2 |
| Power train | 35 | 0 |
| Steering | 33 | 1 |
| Air bags | 19 | 6 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 19 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 1 |
| Suspension | 10 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 64 | 7 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2006 Kia Sorento recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
93kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 65 engine complaints. 57% were reported before 100,000 miles.
1under 30k miles37under 100k miles28100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
11 owners mentioned a cost$3,200median
Middle half: $1,250 – $5,194
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2006 vs. every other Sorento year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sorento median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2006 Kia Sorento, and the recalls they led to.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
In owners' words
What Sorento owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND RATTLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER STERLING KIA LOCATED AT 125 S. CITY PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE LA 70503 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO COMMUNITY KIA (4221 EAST FWY, BAYTOWN, TX 77521, [PHONE]). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE A…
Own a 2006 Sorento?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.