IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE MOTOR PULLEY FAILED ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
2006 Kia Sorento
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorento do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 242.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sorento years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
250–25K
2825–50K
4350–75K
4775–100K
42100–150K
23150K+
208 reports with mileage · 34 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports8 fire reports7 injury reports
Engine complaints
67 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR, BRAKE AND TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAN BELT AND THE WATE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR, BRAKE AND TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAN BELT AND THE WATER PUMP TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,500. UPDATED 3/20/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ALTERNATOR AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE AND CAUSED THE STEERING DAMPER TO SHIFT SIDEWAYS, WHICH CAUSED THE TWO BELTS ON THE DAMPER PULLEY TO BE THROWN OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE; HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH THE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE CONTACT MERGED ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE; HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO HIS DESTINATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE BOLT TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 59,800. UPDATED 10/02/12*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT WAS FRACTURED, AS WELL AS THE PUSH RODS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,400.
DRIVING 65MPH ON TURNPIKE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND DASH BOARD LITE UP PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE. AT 60000 MILES WE DID THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF 663.65 AND HAD THE TIMING …
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DRIVING 65MPH ON TURNPIKE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY STEERING WAS DIFFICULT AND DASH BOARD LITE UP PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP TO BE TOLD THAT CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE. AT 60000 MILES WE DID THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE TO THE TUNE OF 663.65 AND HAD THE TIMING BELT REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A MEMO TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO REPLACE THE BOLT WHEN REPLACING THE TIMING BELT. ACCORDING TO MY ITEMIZED STATEMENT THE BOLT WAS NOT REPLACED. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE COVERED SINCE I FOLLOWED THE RULES AND GOT THE REQUIRED SERVICE THEY WERE NEGLIGENT NOT REPLACING THE BOLT. HOWEVER THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THERE MISTAKE. NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CONSIDERABLE BILL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING A FEW MOMENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
AT 60,000 MILES TOOK MY 2006 SORENTO IN FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE - CHANGE TIMING BELT AND NEW PLUGS, ETC., NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE THEN. GOT THE SUV BACK FROM MECHANIC AND THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BELTS CAME OFF, LOST POWER, OVERHEATED. CRANK SHAFT BOLT CAME LOOSE. NOW AT 82,290 MILES, BOLT BROKE, HARMONIC BAL…
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AT 60,000 MILES TOOK MY 2006 SORENTO IN FOR MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED SERVICE - CHANGE TIMING BELT AND NEW PLUGS, ETC., NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE THEN. GOT THE SUV BACK FROM MECHANIC AND THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE BELTS CAME OFF, LOST POWER, OVERHEATED. CRANK SHAFT BOLT CAME LOOSE. NOW AT 82,290 MILES, BOLT BROKE, HARMONIC BALANCER CAME LOOSE AND CHEWED UP THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT. $3200 FIX. SUV HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 5 WEEKS AND WILL REMAIN THERE FOR AT LEAST 5 MORE UNTIL I CAN GET THE MONEY TO FIX IT. KIA SHOULD RECALL THIS MODEL AS WELL, THEY ALREADY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM IN 2003 AND 2004 MODELS. I AM A SINGLE MOM, RAISING BOYS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF CHILD SUPPORT OR ANY OTHER HELP. KIA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR WORKMANSHIP!
Official recalls
109V130000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Apr 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP21003 · Throttle Control System Vulnerabilities
Opened Nov 12, 2021 · Closed Jun 20, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle
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 2007-2016 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2007-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe, MY 2006-2015 Hyundai Sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (ODI) number 11439675.On November 12, 2021, ODI opened Defect Petition DP21-003 to evaluate the petitioner?s request. ODI performed trend analyses of the VOQs related to vehicle speed control issues for all the subject vehicles and found that none of the 52 Model/Model Year Hyundai/Kia vehicles demonstrated any actionable trend that warranted an investigation.Petitioners submitted 1119 VOQs and non-VOQ cases in which sudden uncommanded acceleration (SUA) or loss of motive power (LOMP) incidents were alleged.For the 1119 reports, 220 were incidents involving crashes, from which 69 subject Hyundai-Kia vehicles were inspected by Hyundai/Kia dealer technicians, Hyundai/Kia engineers, and/or third-party representatives.ODI found the inspections identified no vehicle defects related to the ETC system.Of the 220 crash-involved reports, 13 Event Data Recorder (EDR) records were downloaded successfully and 11 of those indicated driver error: (i.e.) pedal misapplication.A condition where the accelerator pedal is mistakenly applied instead of the brake pedal when the driver wants to stop the vehicle.In addition, ODI reviewed a scientific journal paper published in Forensic Science International in 2016 by Mr. Park et al ., as well as related test videos. ODI does not believe there is any evidence of uncontrollable SUA occurrences in any of the tests reviewed. NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (OVSC) reviewed the allegations regarding the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 124.Based on the information provided, the Agency concludes there is insufficient information for us to determine if a possible non-compliance exists.Finally, both Hyundai and Kia informed ODI that all their vehicles manufactured after 2012 were equipped with an ETC management system, in which the engine speed will go to idle when the system sees signals from both the brake pedal and accelerator pedal at the same time; this is commonly known as the brake-throttle override system.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in NHTSA's possession, information submitted by Hyundai and Kia in response to an Information Request letter, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner's allegation, NHTSA does not believe that a formal investigation is warranted. After full consideration of appropriate factors, the petition is denied. A Federal Register Notice (FRN) further detailing NHTSA?s reasons for denial of the petition will be published.