2006 Kia SORENTO: complaints, problems and recalls
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: . 208 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 67 of 242 complaints (27.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 67 |
| Electrical System | 52 |
| Exterior Lighting | 49 |
| Steering | 33 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10172306 · 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)
2006 KIA SORENTO EX 4WD, CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR END WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN START AGAIN. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED IN AUG 2005, BUT THE CLUNK IN THE REAR END STILL REMAINS. AS OF OCT 2005 THERE IS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT SOUND IN THE REAR END THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE DIFFERENTIAL IS STICKING OR LOCKING INTO A POSITIVE TRACTION CAUSING ONE TIRE TO SOUND AND FEEL LIKE IT IS SLIDING ON GRAVEL. PREVIOUS OWNER REPORTED SAME PROBLEM "CLUNK" IN THE REAR END NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL. POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172306 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 10174204 · 2006-11-24 (November 24, 2006)
WHEN THE A/C TURNS ON, A BELT SLIPS NOTICEABLY AND THE POWER DIPS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174204 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 10178154 · 2007-01-09 (January 9, 2007)
2006 SORENTO WAS PURCHASED IN NOV 2005. JAN OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO POSSIBLE LOOSE GAS CAP. FIRST TIME TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT WAS IN JULY OF 2006. RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS REPLACED. IN OCTOBER OF 2006 A TAIL LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED DURING MY 15,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. IN NOVEMBER 2006 RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND KIA REPLACED BULB ONCE AGAIN. IN DECEMBER OF 2006 LEFT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BULB WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD MY SPARK PLUGS WERE MISFIRING AND WERE REPLACED…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,894 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178154 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 10182615 · 2007-02-15 (February 15, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 KIA SORENTO LX WAS IN A CRASH ON 02/12/07 WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, AN D MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WITH THE STREET CONDITION CLEAR IN THE EVENING HOURS ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURING. HE FELT THAT AIRBAGS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY UNDER THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182615 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V130000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2009-04-17 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗