NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
242 reportsMileage unknown · Apr 8, 2011
Exterior LightingInterior Lighting
I HAVE A 2006 KIA SORENTO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TWICE (SO INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL IT HAS GONE THROUGH 3 BATTERIES SINCE 06), I HAVE HAD (AND CONTINUE) TO REPLACE THE BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE DOME LIGHT HAS CEASED TO WORK AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM BUT …
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I HAVE A 2006 KIA SORENTO. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TWICE (SO INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL IT HAS GONE THROUGH 3 BATTERIES SINCE 06), I HAVE HAD (AND CONTINUE) TO REPLACE THE BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE DOME LIGHT HAS CEASED TO WORK AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM BUT KIA IS NOT INTERESTED IN DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS LAST TIME, I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND ALL WAS WELL, THEN WHEN I CAME OUT TO DRIVE HOME..POOF, THE DRIVER LOW BEAM WAS OUT. ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395268
25,000 miles · Mar 18, 2011
Electrical System
ELECTRICAL ISSUES. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT WORK, HEADLIGHT CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT, SOMETHING IS WRONG ELECTRICALLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10392134
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats
2006 KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2006. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, TURN LIGHTS, ECT. MY DOME LIGHT IS NOW BROKEN AND WONT TURN ON WHEN I OPEN THE DOORS. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOTOR HAS NOW WENT OUT. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED ME THAT ITS ABOUT $1,300.00 TO FIX!…
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2006 KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2006. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, TURN LIGHTS, ECT. MY DOME LIGHT IS NOW BROKEN AND WONT TURN ON WHEN I OPEN THE DOORS. MOST IMPORTANTLY THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOTOR HAS NOW WENT OUT. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP THEY ADVISED ME THAT ITS ABOUT $1,300.00 TO FIX!!!!!!! MY 4-WHEEL DRIVE GOES IN O.K. BUT I HAVE TO PLAY WITH IT TO GET IT OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER HAD WATER DAMAGE OR BEEN RODE HARD. YET STILL PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM!!!!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386630
30,000 miles · Mar 4, 2011
Exterior LightingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10386504
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2011
Exterior Lighting
OUR 2006 KIA SORENTO BURNS OUT ALL LIGHTS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 10 TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE. WE KEEP EXTRA BRAKELIGHTS IN THE CAR BECAUSE THEY GO OUT AT LEAST EVERY 3 WEEKS. I WILL BURN THIS CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. I HAVE SEEN OVER 1000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME MODE…
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OUR 2006 KIA SORENTO BURNS OUT ALL LIGHTS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE CHANGE THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 10 TIMES THIS YEAR ALONE. WE KEEP EXTRA BRAKELIGHTS IN THE CAR BECAUSE THEY GO OUT AT LEAST EVERY 3 WEEKS. I WILL BURN THIS CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET! SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. I HAVE SEEN OVER 1000 COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME MODEL FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378504
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 5 TIMES AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES. THE 2006 KIA SORENTO WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS EVIDENT. I DO A GREAT DEAL OF DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING DEPENDABLE. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT TH…
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I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 5 TIMES AND TAIL LIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES. THE 2006 KIA SORENTO WAS PURCHASED NEW. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS EVIDENT. I DO A GREAT DEAL OF DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING DEPENDABLE. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT GETTING PULLED OVER BY LAW OFFICERS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10378399
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2011
Exterior Lighting
I REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS AT LEAST EVERY 3-6 MONTHS, I'VE EVEN REPLACE PARKING LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. I BOUGHT MY 2006 KIA BRAND NEW AND EVERY YEAR SINCE, ITS THE SAME THING... KIA REALLY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS, AS THESE SORENTOS CAN RUN FOREVER BUT IF WE CAN'T SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING, THAT'S A PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376406
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2011
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS AND REAR BRAKE LAMPS. THE REAR LAMPS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS DEFINATELY A DEFECT, AS LAMPS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10375347
8,000 miles · Dec 15, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I HAVE HAD TO HAVE EXTENSIVE WORK ON MY BRAKES EVERY 8000 MILES. I CAN SET MY ODOMETER BY THIS IT IS SO RELIABLE. WHEN I BOUGHT MY SORENTO IN 2006 WITHIN THE FIRST 8000 MILES THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO CHANGE THE ROTORS FOR ME. IN 8000 MILES THE SHOES, ROTORS EVERYTHING WAS BAD AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, …
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I HAVE HAD TO HAVE EXTENSIVE WORK ON MY BRAKES EVERY 8000 MILES. I CAN SET MY ODOMETER BY THIS IT IS SO RELIABLE. WHEN I BOUGHT MY SORENTO IN 2006 WITHIN THE FIRST 8000 MILES THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO CHANGE THE ROTORS FOR ME. IN 8000 MILES THE SHOES, ROTORS EVERYTHING WAS BAD AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. I WENT TO THEM AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE AN EXORBITANT PRICE SO I WENT TO MY USUAL CAR REPAIR SHOP. THEY CHANGED THE BRAKES AND AS USUAL WITHIN 8000 MILES AGAIN THE BRAKES. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THIS TIME IT WAS THE BACK BRAKES (THE FIRST TIME THE FRONT). THEY REPAIRED THEM AND ASSURED ME THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN BEFORE ABOUT 30K MILES. NOW AFTER 8000 MILES MY BRAKES ARE AGAIN BAD. I HAVE NOW REPAIRED MY BRAKES, INCLUDING NEW ROTORS AND CYLINDERS AT 8000, 16,000, 23,000, 27,000 AND NOW AGAIN AT 36,000. MY MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS THE WORST HE'S EVER SEEN, A VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES IS A DEADLY WEAPON, EVEN IF UNINTENDED. KIA FEELS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS. I HAVE COMPLAINED REPEATEDLY TO KIA, THEY DO NOTHING. THEIR CONSUMER PORTION OF KIA IS A JOKE. THEY ALWAYS SAY ITS THE CONSUMERS FAULT. MY CAR IS 3 YEARS, AND ALMOST 4 YEARS OLD AND I ONLY HAVE 29K MILES ON IT SO I AM NOT A ROUGH DRIVER, NOT A LONG DISTANCE DRIVER AND AM A 50 YEAR OLD WOMAN SO ITS NOT LIKE IM OUT HOTRODDING. PLEASE HOLD THIS COMPANY UP TO US STANDARDS. FROM NOW ON I WILL ONLY BUY AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES AS I FEEL THIS COMPANY HAS NO REGARD FOR RULES SET BY MY GOVERNMENT, THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED THAT SOMEONE MAY DIE, THEY DON'T CARE.
NHTSA ODI #10371529
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS 6 TIMES, REPLACED BRAKE LIGHTS 3 TIMES, THE DOME LIGHT HAD COMPLICATIONS WITH COMING ON WHEN OPENING DOORS, LICENSE PLATE LITE IS OUT AS WE SPEAK, ALSO THE LOCK ON REAR LEFT MAKES A STRANGE BUZZING NOISE WHEN YOU ENGAGE LOCKS, CAR HAS A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES GOING ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10366492
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.
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