NHTSA vehicle safety data

2006 Kia Sorento Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2006 Kia Sorento has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 242 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2006 Kia Sorento, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2006 Kia Sorento owner complaints

Owners have filed 242 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Kia Sorento, describing incidents dated March 25, 2006 to August 8, 2022.

Most-cited components

Engine 85 complaints
Exterior Lighting 56 complaints
Electrical System 53 complaints
Power Train 35 complaints
Steering 33 complaints
Service Brakes 26 complaints

Of the 242 complaints on file, 12 report a crash and 8 a fire; across all 242 complaints, owners report 14 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11496559 · Filed December 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle would move, but shortly afterwards the vehicle would lose motive power and stall. The contact stated that after restarting the…
ODI #11490228 · Filed October 20, 2022
When fueling I am unable to put the fuel hose in all the way and lock in place. I have to hold the fuel hose and pump very slowly. If I pump too fast the fuel will not go in tank. I was told it’s the ball in the fuel tank that is screwed up. I was also told there was a recall but I never received…
ODI #11478112 · Filed August 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that he purchased the vehicle with the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger's side seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired…

Read all 242 complaints

Owner-reported

2006 Kia Sorento mileage at failure

207 of the 242 complaints on file for the 2006 Kia Sorento give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Engine	Median 85,000 miles	Middle half 65,000–110,000 miles	Based on 80 complaints
Exterior Lighting	Median 50,000 miles	Middle half 30,000–90,000 miles	Based on 37 complaints
Electrical System	Median 75,000 miles	Middle half 30,000–100,000 miles	Based on 42 complaints
Power Train	Median 80,000 miles	Middle half 45,000–105,000 miles	Based on 35 complaints
Steering	Median 90,000 miles	Middle half 75,000–120,000 miles	Based on 31 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2006 Kia Sorento in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP21-003: Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Closed June 20, 2023

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT

NHTSA #09V130000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 17, 2009 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 139,844 vehicles

Kia campaign SC077 · Owners notified June 17, 2009 · Vehicles built June 1, 2006 – November 20, 2006 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HYUNDAI-KIA RECALL NO. SC077.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2006 Kia Sorento 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

20% rollover risk

Safety Technology

1 investigation

242 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Kia Sorento.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #11496559

Incident: December 8, 2018 · Filed: December 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle would move, but shortly afterwards the vehicle would lose motive power and stall. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle several times, the vehicle operated as needed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the fuel pump sensor. The sensor had been replaced three times; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11490228

Incident: October 20, 2020 · Filed: October 20, 2022

When fueling I am unable to put the fuel hose in all the way and lock in place. I have to hold the fuel hose and pump very slowly. If I pump too fast the fuel will not go in tank. I was told it’s the ball in the fuel tank that is screwed up. I was also told there was a recall but I never received knowledge to that. It’s been doing this for a while. Do not have exact date but it happens every time I fuel.

Air Bags

ODI #11478112

Incident: August 8, 2022 · Filed: August 8, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that he purchased the vehicle with the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger's side seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11462253

Incident: April 22, 2022 · Filed: April 26, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to illuminate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V130000 (Exterior Lighting) and associated the recall with the failure. The contact contacted an unknown dealer and was awaiting a call back. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V130000 (Exterior Lighting) because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11451140

Fire

Incident: February 1, 2022 · Filed: February 9, 2022

The contact owned a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, an unknown person alerted the contact that her vehicle had caught fire. The fire started in the engine compartment. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The insurance company referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately over 100,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11449644

Fire

Incident: January 29, 2022 · Filed: January 31, 2022

My vehicle was sitting for 4 hours and suddenly caught on fire…drivers side.

Air Bags

ODI #11422194

Crash Fire 1 injury

Incident: June 22, 2021 · Filed: June 24, 2021

The contact owned a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 15 - 20 mph, the steering wheel seized and the brakes failed when depressed which caused the vehicle to fall over a 25 ft. cliff and flip 3 times after hitting the ground. All of the air bags failed to deploy. The contact saw that there was smoke coming from under the hood and exited the vehicle. The contact was taken to the hospital by a family member and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. No police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.

Engine

ODI #11374308

Incident: September 2, 2020 · Filed: November 12, 2020

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 BOLT AND CRANK PULLEY HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE CRANK PULLEY PIN AND CRANK BOLT WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

Suspension

ODI #11354492

Incident: September 10, 2020 · Filed: September 11, 2020

REAR END RUSTED TO WERE IT COULD OF CALLED A WRECK THIS IS UNSAFE AND THEY SHOULD HAVE KIA RECALL THESE AT ONCE THERE ARE GOING THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THIS THIS JUST ABOUT CAUSED MY WIFE TO WRECK IT IS THE FEDERAL PLACE TO RECALL THESE AT ONCE

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11328723

Incident: June 10, 2020 · Filed: June 14, 2020

SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM VEHICLE AROUND THE FILLER NECK

Other Kia Sorento model years

Check your 2006 Kia Sorento VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Sorento at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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