The Used Car Index

2006 Kia Sorento problems

NHTSA lists 242 complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorento, 12 of them mention a crash and 8 mention a fire. 7 complaints mention an injury, with 14 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as KIA SORENTO.

At a glance

Complaints
242
With crash
12
With fire
8
With injury (complaints)
7
Injuries
14
Deaths
0
Recalls
1
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
139,844
Investigations
1
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
19

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. The available sales group does not match this vehicle variant.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
ENGINE6727.7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING5623.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5321.9%
POWER TRAIN3514.5%
STEERING3313.6%
AIR BAGS197.9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING197.9%
SERVICE BRAKES166.6%
SUSPENSION104.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER93.7%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
STRUCTUREBODY5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE4
EQUIPMENTAPPLIANCE3
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGBRAKE LIGHTS3
EXTERIOR LIGHTINGHEADLIGHTS3
POWER TRAINCLUTCH ASSEMBLY3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM2
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
POWER TRAINDRIVELINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICFOUNDATION COMPONENTS2

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

1 recalls.

09V130000

Date: 2009-04-17. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Defect: 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 MALFUNCTI (excerpt)

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. (excerpt)

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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

1 investigations; 0 open.

DP21003

Opened: 2021-11-12. Closed: 2023-06-20.

Throttle control system vulnerabilities

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003. Accordingly, Model Year (MY) 2005-2016 Kia Optima/K5, MY 2006-2015 Kia Sorento, MY 2007

Systems: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

19 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
POWER TRAIN4
EQUIPMENT3
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER2

10201529

Date: 2021-09-13. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to some Kia models tha

10133170

Date: 2018-03-02. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.

10109812

Date: 2017-01-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various Kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? Some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washe

10109777

Date: 2016-11-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.

TSB: MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF LOCKING/SECURITY HARDWARE - By design, certain fasteners utilized in various Kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. Though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other

10183431

Date: 2016-04-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides information regarding the use of USB ports and 12V power outlets to connect/charge mobile phones. Customers may experience issues with their head units that may be related to the use of aftermarket USB charging cab

10090606

Date: 2013-01-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

PITSTOP: UNUSUAL FUEL TRIM VALUES AND/OR MISFIRE CODES AFTER INCORRECT ENGINE REPAIR - THIS OUTLINES THE PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW IF AFTER AN ENGINE REPAIR YOU ENCOUNTER A COMPLAINT RELATING TO MIL ON (DTC P)#)X) WITH A MISFIRE DURING ACCELERATION AND/OR YOU FIND UNUSUAL FUEL TRIM VALUES OUTSIDE THE NORM

10060226

Date: 2013-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.

10037693

Date: 2011-01-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: POWER TRAIN.

KIA: THERE MAY BE ERRATIC SHIFTING, SHIFT SHOCK, AND A MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON WITH STORED TROUBLE CODES. THIS IS CAUSED BY A PROBLEM WITHIN THE TRANSFER MOTOR. *RM

10037420

Date: 2010-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER.

KIA: FUEL TANK AIR FILTER REMINDER. THE AIR FILTER CAN ACCUMULATE DIRT OVER TIME AND NEEDS TO BE MAINTAINED. *RM

10034246

Date: 2010-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

KIA: INTERMITTENT MIL ON WITH NO FAULT CODE STORED; INFORMATION ABOUT DTC P1330. PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATING TO CERTAIN VEHICLES. IN AFFECTED VEHICLES AN INTERMITTENT SHORT TO GROUND IN A CIRCUIT ONLY INTENDED FOR TESTING PURPOSES MAY CAUSE THE MIL TO ILLUMINATE AND A DTC P1330 (SPARK TIMING ADJ

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
SORENTO242

Same model, other years

All model years | All Kia models

Other Kia models, 2006

Sources

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