2006 Kia SEDONA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
385 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
83,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 317 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 385 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 72 | 18.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 51 | 13.2% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 3.9% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 79 |
| Suspension | 77 |
| Electrical System | 76 |
| Exterior Lighting | 26 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
| Steering | 21 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 20 |
Air Bags: 79; Suspension: 77; Electrical System: 76; Exterior Lighting: 26; Service Brakes: 21; Steering: 21; Vehicle Speed Control: 21; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 58 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 40 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 47 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 43 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 85 |
| 150,000 and above | 44 |
Under 25,000: 58; 25,000 to 49,999: 40; 50,000 to 74,999: 47; 75,000 to 99,999: 43; 100,000 to 149,999: 85; 150,000 and above: 44
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (85). 68 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 33 |
| 2008 | 26 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 31 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 32 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 37 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2006: 4; 2007: 33; 2008: 26; 2009: 18; 2010: 25; 2011: 31; 2012: 14; 2013: 32; 2014: 32; 2015: 44; 2016: 37; 2017: 24; 2018: 10; 2019: 14; 2020: 27; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 72 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 51 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10182556 · 2007-02-14 (February 14, 2007)
TL- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 2006 KIA SEDONA HAS HAD SAFETY ISSUES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 04/2006. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PURCHASING HIS VEHICLE IN 04/2006 THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING STALLING PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEMS HE WAS HAVING SUCH AS STALLING, AND THE WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT THE GEAR TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE NOR WILL THE VEHICLE GO FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VHEICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE FRONT PUMP SEAL WAS RIPPED. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,431 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185809 · 2007-03-21 (March 21, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2006 KIA SEDONA VAN. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A KNOCKING SOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, UNDER THE HOOD. SHE WAS TOLD BY A TIRE MANUFACTURER AND A MECHANIC THAT THE CV JOINTS AND MOTOR MOUNTS WERE CAUSING THE KNOCKING SOUND. FROM 0 - 5 MPH, WHEN SHE TURNS OR BRAKES, OR WHEN THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS IT MAKES THE KNOCKING SOUND. THE WEATHER IS NOT A FACTOR. THE KNOCKING WAS CONSTANT AND GOT LOUDER UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 14,289 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,289 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189504 · 2007-05-02 (May 2, 2007)
I PURCHASED A 2006 KIA SEDONA IN AUGUST, 2006. ON 08-14-2006 IT WAS RETURNED FOR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, REPAIRS WERE MADE. I ALSO STATED TO THEM THAT IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT, WHICH TO THIS DAY THEY HAVE NOT CORRECTED. ON 11-13-2006 AT APPROX. 3,300 MILES THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE VAN BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND CUT OUT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER( MISFIRE IN CYCLINDER)AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE VAN WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON 01-03-2007(SCANNED SYSTEM, COULD NOT FIND CODE),01-18-2007(MULTIPLE MISFIRES),02-08-2007(RANDOM MISF…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172450 · 2006-11-02 (November 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AND WAS WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON MORE THAN 3 OCCASIONS, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE TREAD OF THE FRONT WHEELS HAD ABNORMAL WEAR. THE SERVICE DEALER HAD ROTATED THE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A TECHNICIAN WAS SENT TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL CONTINUED TO PULL TO THE LEFT.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190933 · 2007-05-16 (May 16, 2007)
FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A VERY ANNOYING AND VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THE KIA SEDONA PULLED TO THE LEFT. WHILE NOT TOO NOTICEABLE ON CITY STREETS IT I WAS VERY NOTICEABLE ON THE FREEWAY, AND IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EVER LET GO FOR A SECOND THE CAR PULLED TO THE LEFT ,RIGHT TOWARD THE FREEWAY MEDIAN. MY HANDS AND ARMS GET TIRED HOLDING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON LONG TRIPS. TO ME, THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.* THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN MARCH 2007, AND HAS GOTTEN INCRESINGLY WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY PRIVATE ME…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10190933 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182475 · 2007-02-13 (February 13, 2007)
JUST PURCHASED NEW 2006 KIA SEDONA VAN(CURRENT MILES 512) AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS(SAFETY CONCERN) VAN HAS POWER DOOR LOOKS. KIA CUST. SERVICE SAYS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ALONG WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. HYUNDAI(SISTER COMPANY)ON THEIR ENTOURAGE VAN DOES HAVE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOOKS. I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH MY HYUNDAI 2006 SONATA WHERE IN IT ALSO CAME WITHOUT AUTO DOOR LOOKS AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WITH IN 20 MIN. THEY DID A REPROGRAM OF THE COMPUTER AND NOW IT HAS AUO DOOR LOOKS. SINCE THE KIA & HYUNDAI ARE ON THE SAME PLATFORM, SAME ENGIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10182475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231654 · 2008-06-19 (June 19, 2008)
BOUGHT 2006 KIA SEDONA NEW IN 2007. NO ISSUES UNTIL EARLY 2008 WITH LESS THAN 15K MILES. ENGINE LIGHT ON AND SOMETIMES BLINKING. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN IN GEAR AND AT A STOP. VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN DRIVING, OFTEN JERKING VIOLENTLY. HAVE HAD IN FOR WARRANTY SERVICE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. MANY SENSORS REPLACED. SERVICE PROVIDER STATES KIA ADVISED VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE EVEN WHEN ENGINE LIGHT IN BLINKING. NO WAY FOR ME AS A CONSUMER TO TELL IF I AM DOING DAMAGE TO ENGINE OR OTHER COMPONENT. STALLING AND JERKING IS SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I DID NOT P…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,483 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158687 · 2006-05-31 (May 31, 2006)
FUEL LINE THAT RUNS UNDER THE VEHICLE BY THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING. NOTHING BROUGHT THIS ABOUT. DID NOT HIT ANY CURBS OR POT HOLES IN THE ROAD. JUST STARTED LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART. NOT SURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE ME YET. HAVE YET TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM MY HOUSE TO THE DEALER. FIRST HAD TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHECK FOR ANY HAZARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233844 · 2008-07-10 (July 10, 2008)
YESTERDAY WE NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL SURROUNDING OUR 2006 SEDONA VAN. TODAY, THE SMELL WAS NOTICEABLY STRONGER. THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO THE KIA DEALER WHO FOUND A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE TANK IS NOT CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE, AND WE ARE PAYING FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERS POSITION IS THAT THE TANK WAS HIT WITH SOMETHING TO CAUSE THE HOLE. I QUESTIONED HOW WE MIGHT HAVE HIT SOMETHING HARD ENOUGH TO PUNCTURE THE TANK WITHOUT NOTICING THE IMPACT. WITH THAT IN MIND, I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THAT KIA HAS HAD A NUMBER OF RECALLS FOR FUE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233844 at NHTSA ↗