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2006 Kia Sportage

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Sportage do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 122.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

93 reports with mileage · 18 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

111 reports
800 miles · Apr 4, 2006
Visibility

THE REAR WIPER ARM OF THE KIA SPORTAGE IS MADE OF WEAK PLASTIC AND CANNOT WITHSTAND GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE FIRST CAR WASH IT WENT THROUGH RIPPED OFF THE WIPER BLADE AND COVER OVER THE INSTALLATION NUT. THE SECOND CAR WASH THEN BROKE THE ARM. THIS RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO CLEAR THE REAR WINDOW OF DIRTY/SNOW/RAIN RESU…

Read full complaint

THE REAR WIPER ARM OF THE KIA SPORTAGE IS MADE OF WEAK PLASTIC AND CANNOT WITHSTAND GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. THE FIRST CAR WASH IT WENT THROUGH RIPPED OFF THE WIPER BLADE AND COVER OVER THE INSTALLATION NUT. THE SECOND CAR WASH THEN BROKE THE ARM. THIS RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO CLEAR THE REAR WINDOW OF DIRTY/SNOW/RAIN RESULTING IN REDUCED VISIBILITY AND POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT THERE PROBLEM AND REQUIRE THAT I PAY OVER $100 TO REPAIR AFTER WHICH I MUST HAND WASH THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154500

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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