U.S. public vehicle records

2006 Kia SORENTO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

242 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

81,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 208 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 242 complaints (27.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	71	29.3%
Braking behavior	70	28.9%
Electrical and battery issues	48	19.8%
Engine operation	30	12.4%
Fuel system concerns	9	3.7%
Transmission and shifting	6	2.5%

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.

Engine

Electrical System

Exterior Lighting

Steering

Power Train

Air Bags

Service Brakes

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine: 67; Electrical System: 52; Exterior Lighting: 49; Steering: 33; Power Train: 27; Air Bags: 18; Service Brakes: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 43; 75,000 to 99,999: 47; 100,000 to 149,999: 42; 150,000 and above: 23

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 34 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.

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2006: 5; 2007: 6; 2008: 10; 2009: 14; 2010: 9; 2011: 39; 2012: 15; 2013: 20; 2014: 43; 2015: 35; 2016: 17; 2017: 6; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 6; 2021: 1; 2022: 6

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 70 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 48 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 10220653 · 2008-03-10 (March 10, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE FRONT WINDOW CONTINUED TO DEVELOP FROST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED STRESS FRACTURES ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW DUE TO THE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL AUTHORIZE THAT THE WINDOW BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TWICE AND CHARGED THE CONTACT $50 PER VISIT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220653 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10226190 · 2008-04-23 (April 23, 2008)

2006 KIA SORENTO WITH UNEVEN AND ODD WEAR MARKS ON TIRES. CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO THE BAD WEAR OF THE MICHELIN TIRES, THE VEHICLE RIDES VERY ROUGH AND BADLY AFFECTS THE STEERING. *KB MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10226190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10173998 · 2006-11-21 (November 21, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10181040 · 2007-01-29 (January 29, 2007)

BRAND NEW 2006 KIA SORENTO - BRAKES STARTED SHAKING AFTER ABOUT 2,000 MILES. AT 8,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND ENTERING A TURN LANE. THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS ABOUT TO TURN RED. AS I BRAKED, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS A HEAVY CLANKING NOISE AND THEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED (WHILE I WAS HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION.) WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I GENTLY APPLIED THE GAS AND THE TIRES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SPINNING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR ABO…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181040 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10166075 · 2006-08-21 (August 21, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INOPERABLE AND ATTEMPTED REPAIR RESULTED TO THE SPLICING OF THE WRING HARNESS. THE REPAIR CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS ORDERED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - WHEN MAKING A U-TURN THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT CENTER CAPS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166075 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10256633 · 2009-01-28 (January 28, 2009)

IN FEBRUARY OF '06 WE BOUGHT A NEW KIA SORENTO. AFTER THE 1ST YEAR WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 HEADLIGHTS. 2 TAIL LIGHTS, 2 DOME LIGHTS AND 1 CLOCK. CLOCK AND DOME LIGHT WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT THE HEADLIGHTS. THE 3RD HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED LAST WEEK ON 1/19/09 (PASSENGER SIDE) AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED TODAY 1/28/09. ALSO WHILE ON VACATION IN THE SUMMER OF '08, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED. KIA HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT WITH FREE REPLACEMENTS. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE DEPT. DID TELL ME THAT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10256633 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10236387 · 2008-07-30 (July 30, 2008)

CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. IT HAS STALLED IN INTERSECTIONS AND JUST RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS IT JUST CUTS OFF AND MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE NO TIME TO PULL OVER. ALMOST REAR ENDED 3 TIMES IN A WEEK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,404 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236387 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10176507 · 2006-12-18 (December 18, 2006)

WE HAVE A 2006 KIA THE SUV TYPE AND THE PROBLE IS THAT WHEN WE FILLED THE GAS TANK THE GASA GAUGE WOULD WOULD GO TO EMPTY IN 32 MILES AND AL SO THE SHIFTER HANDEL POPED OUT THE HOLDER

Owner-reported narrative. 23,501 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176507 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10245624 · 2008-10-15 (October 15, 2008)

I OWN A 2006 KIA SORENTO. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO WE NOTICED AN ISSUE WITH GAS SPRAYING BACK WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE TANK. WE WENT TO THE KIA DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT OUR VEHICLE TO LEARN THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN SOLD. WE NOTIFIED THE NEW DEALER OF OUR NEED TO HAVE WARRANTY WORK DONE, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT NO WARRANTY WORK COULD BE DONE UNTIL THEY WERE GIVEN "CODES" FROM THE PARENT COMPANY. WE MADE MANY CALLS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS AND WAS FINALLY TOLD NOT TO CALL THE DEALER, THEY HAD OUR INFORMATION AND WOULD CALL US. THE SITUATION WITH…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245624 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10227902 · 2008-05-15 (May 15, 2008)

REPLACED FRONT ROTORS,18,000,26,000 MILES. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES. BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REPLACED REAR DRIVE SHAFT AND INSTALLED SHIELDED WIRE FROM TCM TO TRANSMISSION SENSOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,252 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227902 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10269689 · 2009-05-22 (May 22, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSES ITSELF AND STICKS TO THE FLOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A REMEDY AS TO WHY THE CLUTCH WAS STICKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 06/27/09 *BF UPDATED 06/23/09.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10269689 at NHTSA ↗