2006 Kia Sedona Problems, Recalls & Reliability

579 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Kia Sedona, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 81,750 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2006 Kia Sedona sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2009–2011, 2014, 2018–2019.

579Complaints
100/100Trouble index
7Recalls
80,000Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2006 sits among all Sedona years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 115 complaints (20%) · typically ~81,750 miles
“My key is stuck in the ignition and i cannot remove the key. The car will start and is drivable, but when i stop the car and put in park then turn off, i cannot remove the key. I have to leave the key in the ignition.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sedona
Suspension 85 complaints (15%) · typically ~114,000 miles
“Left rear lower control arm had rusted and broke while backing up in a parking lot.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sedona
Airbags 81 complaints (14%) · typically ~85,500 miles
“Airbag light came on and lookes like the sterring wheel airbag almost came out.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sedona
Brakes & stability 44 complaints (8%) · typically ~58,345 miles
“In march2016 brakes replace with new pads/rotor due to screech sound. Today when brake pressed steering wheel vibrates. Abs/esc off light came on the other day. Front wheels still vibrate on the highway. Transmission sometimes jerks and stalls the car. A/c not work, but heater always working.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sedona
Body & structure 41 complaints (7%) · typically ~61,750 miles
“The clear coat is pealing from the hood and rear of vehicle. I have seen this on many of these gold colored kia sedona's including mine thus i thought i should report.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sedona
Other 38 complaints (7%) · typically ~67,000 miles
“Interim recall notice. Can't get any info from kia they advise parking it outside & nowhere other vehicles due to /fire hazard. It's our only car & we can't get any information from them. Help,no idea when it will get fixed/ can't even make phone contact w/ kia. Help”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sedona

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 444 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 80,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 44,000 and 125,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (7)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20V088000 2020

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge.…

SUSPENSION 16V387000 2016

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 and originally sold in, or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,…

Fix: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models. 2008-2012 models will either have their front lower control arms replaced or additional…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 16V389000 2016

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood…

Fix: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch or clean and lubricate the latch, depending on the vehicle's location and the condition of the latch. These repairs will be…

SUSPENSION 13V550000 2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 originally sold in, or currently registered in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York,…

Fix: Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on December 20,…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09V130000 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…

Fix: 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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 06V349000 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS, THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS COULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING COLUMN.…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR CHAFING AND, REPAIR IF NECESSARY. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER WILL SECURE THE WIRING HARNESS TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 06V265000 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSES MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND OVER TIME BREACH THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOSE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIONING OF THE REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSES AND ADJUST OR REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Technical service bulletins

40 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2006 Kia Sedona. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2006 Sedona TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2006peak 58 in 20072026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2006 Kia Sedona reliable?

The 2006 Kia Sedona drew 579 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).

What are the most common 2006 Kia Sedona problems?

The top reported problems for the 2006 Kia Sedona are electrical (115 complaints), suspension (85), and airbags (81).

At what mileage do 2006 Kia Sedona problems show up?

Owners most often report 2006 Kia Sedona problems around 80,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 44,000 and 125,000 miles.

Does the 2006 Kia Sedona have recalls?

7 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Kia Sedona. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.