Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Kia Sorento problems

Owners filed 242 complaints about the 2006 Kia Sorento with NHTSA between Aug 2006 and Dec 2022. The most-cited component is engine (67).

Complaints
242
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine67
  2. Exterior lighting56
  3. Electrical system53
  4. Power train35
  5. Steering33
  6. Air bags19
  7. Engine and engine cooling19
  8. Service brakes16
  9. Suspension10
  10. Fuel/propulsion system8
  11. Vehicle speed control8
  12. Structure7
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic7
  14. Equipment6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20065
20076
200810
200914
20109
201139
201215
201320
201443
201535
201617
20176
20185
20195
20206
20211
20226

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine

67 reports3 crashes3 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2020EngineODI 11374308

Exterior lighting

56 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2022Exterior lightingODI 11462253

Electrical system

53 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN KIA OF MIDDLETOWN (4961 ROUTE 17M, NEW HAMPTON, NY 10958) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE AND ELECTRICAL BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2018Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11097032

Power train

35 reports
“I WAS DRIVING HEADED TO GET ON THE HI-WAY, HEARD A NOISE AND A WHINE AND THEN MY CAR BEGAN TO RUN BAD. SHAKING AND LIKE NO POWER STEERING OR SOMETHING. AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP AND PULL OVER THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND. I AM BEING TOLD 2 THINGS. BUT THEY ALL COME DOWN TO A BOLT THAT IS SAID TO HAVE COME LOOSE AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AND HARMONIC BALANCER. WHICH I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT AND YOUR COMPANY IS NOT OWNING THIS ISSUE OR ASSISTING TO HAVE THE ISSUE REPAIRED OR RECALLED AND RESEARCH SHOWS YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AS THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT YOU SETTLED ON IN 2017. HOWEVER, I DID NOT PURCHASE MY CAR OR HAVE ISSUES WITH THE BOLT UNTIL AFTER THEN. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR PPL WHO ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THIS? I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF BEING A PART OF THE SUIT. I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE CONTACTING ME CONCERNING THIS AND OPTIONS FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. I COULD HAVE DIED HAS I ALREADY GOTTEN ON THE HI-WAY OR BEEN GOING MUCH FASTER. ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD DID THAT NOT HAPPEN. I PRAY THAT YOUR COMPANY IS READY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2018Power train, EngineODI 11081363

Steering

33 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO COMMUNITY KIA (4221 EAST FWY, BAYTOWN, TX 77521, 832-612-3807). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2019Steering, EngineODI 11243587

Air bags

19 reports6 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2022Air bagsODI 11478112
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.