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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 And Engine Cooling complaints

19 reports
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75,000 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED AT 30 MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECAME LOOSE AND THE BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A STRANGE NOISE. HE PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED AT 30 MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BECAME LOOSE AND THE BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10610261

79,000 miles · Jun 8, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

25 MINUTE DRIVE TO TOWN. SQUEALING SOUND. PULLED OVER, THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS SO LOOSE THAT THE BOLT COULD BE HAND TIGHTENED. MECHANIC SAID PIN FELL OUT AND BOLT SHEERED. MAY NEED NEW ENGINE. COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CRANK SHAFT. ALSO HAVE TRANSMISSION HESITATION, THE 4X4 LOW LIGHT ON DASH GOES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION KICKS …

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25 MINUTE DRIVE TO TOWN. SQUEALING SOUND. PULLED OVER, THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS SO LOOSE THAT THE BOLT COULD BE HAND TIGHTENED. MECHANIC SAID PIN FELL OUT AND BOLT SHEERED. MAY NEED NEW ENGINE. COULD HAVE DESTROYED THE CRANK SHAFT. ALSO HAVE TRANSMISSION HESITATION, THE 4X4 LOW LIGHT ON DASH GOES ON AND THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN LOW . HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT FOR IT TO GO OFF. THIS HAPPENS WITH OUT THE BUTTON BEING TURNED ON. THIS KIA ONLY HAS 79,000 HIGHWAY MILES. ITS AMESS. THIS CRANK SHAFT HARMONIC BALANCER SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OFF THE VEHICLE. SOME ONE IS GOING TO DIE OR GET SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED YOU COULD NOT STEER THE KIA OR USE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10596893

99,440 miles · Jul 26, 2013
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART MOMENTS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT A BOLT IN THE CRANK SHAFT WAS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE WO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART MOMENTS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT A BOLT IN THE CRANK SHAFT WAS FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,440. 8/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BELTS AND CRANK PULLEY BROKER

NHTSA ODI #10531964

118,000 miles · Apr 24, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE BRAKE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL THEN BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE BRAKE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT FRACTURED, CAUSING THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING BELT ALSO BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE 2004-2005 KIA SORENTO ADDRESSING THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE 2006 MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10456374

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A MINIMUM OF ONE TIME PER YEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE LIGHTS BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE RECURRING FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND REAR LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A MINIMUM OF ONE TIME PER YEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE THE BULBS FOR THE LIGHTS BUT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE RECURRING FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10448167

60,300 miles · Nov 21, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING BELT TO SPIN ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS STRIPPED AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING BELT TO SPIN ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER ALSO ADVISED THAT THE BOLT COULD NOT BE REPLACED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,300.

NHTSA ODI #10436583

60,300 miles · Nov 21, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TEC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECTIVE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,300.

NHTSA ODI #10436555

43,621 miles · Nov 12, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 230 MILES FROM HOME, 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OFF ROAD LOSS OF STEERING POWER. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND BELTS OFF. TOWED TO NEAREST TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CRANKSHAFT (HARMONIC BALANCER) BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF AND BROKEN PIECE …

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DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 230 MILES FROM HOME, 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OFF ROAD LOSS OF STEERING POWER. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND BELTS OFF. TOWED TO NEAREST TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CRANKSHAFT (HARMONIC BALANCER) BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF AND BROKEN PIECE STILL IN CRANKSHAFT. TOWED TO NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP 150 MILES AWAY AND WAS TOLD POSSIBLE CRANKSHAFT/ENGINE DAMAGE. COULD NOT DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS DUE TO WEEKEND (SATURDAY) AND WILL NEED TO STAY IN TOWN UNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED (NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION). NO LOANER CAR OFFERED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH KIA SORENTO OWNERS THAT THE COMPANY SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS OR COVER COST OF REPAIRS. RECALL ON BOLT FOR 2003 MODELS DOES NOT COVER LATER MODELS BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION STILL EXISTS WITH THOSE LATER MODELS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AFTER IT IS REPAIRED KNOWING THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435357

82,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

CRANKSHAFT HARMONIC BALANCE BOLT KEEPS BREAKING. BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES NOW. SAW ON SOME OTHER WEBSITES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM ARE GETTING LAWYERS BECAUSE KIA IS REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY WARRANTY RAN OUT SO THEY WON'T FIX . ALL OF MY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428363

65,830 miles · Sep 29, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

UNDER NORMAL OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND ALLOWED THE HARMONIC BALANCER/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ASSEMBLY TO COME FREE OF THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS RESULTED IN A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND TIMING BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED PART …

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UNDER NORMAL OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE AND ALLOWED THE HARMONIC BALANCER/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY ASSEMBLY TO COME FREE OF THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS RESULTED IN A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET, CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND TIMING BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTEE BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED PART OF KIA'S DRIVETRAIN BECAUSE IT IS NOT A LUBRICATED PART. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 14 DAYS. ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 THE SAME BOLT CAME LOOSE AND SNAPPED THE SPRING PIN ALIGNING THE BALANCER WITH THE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. THIS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND CHARGING SYSTEM WHILE MY WIFE AND DAUGHTERS WERE TRAVELING IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UP TO SPEED YET SO THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. THE BOLT HAD TO BE REMOVED AS WELL AS THE BALANCER. THE SPRING PIN HAD TO BE DRILLED OUT OF THE CRANK SPROCKET AND REPLACED.THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR 7 DAYS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427834

Official recalls

1

09V130000 · 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

1

DP21003 · 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.

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