2006 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Reliability

382 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Kia Sorento, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 17/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 60,000 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2006 Kia Sorento has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

382Complaints

17/100Trouble index

1Recalls

84,000Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 2006 sits among all Sorento years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 112 complaints (29%) · typically ~60,000 miles

“Head lights blow out every couple months and the brake lights to and it happens at all time driving day and night when driving and parked”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sorento

Engine 87 complaints (23%) · typically ~85,000 miles

“Went to leave house vehicle started. Felt like brakes were locked looked at dash red lights for check engine and brake light was on. Engine was running popped the hood seen fan belt wasn't turning. Called aaa”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sorento

Transmission & drivetrain 35 complaints (9%) · typically ~79,000 miles

“It doesnt shift parts of the transmission seems like fallling off. Loose power steering and brakes dont work”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sorento

Steering 33 complaints (9%) · typically ~92,348 miles

“I was driving on the highway and the brake light & battery light came on . The engine sounded rough , when i went to pull of the highway , i had no power steering”— owner report to NHTSA, 2006 Sorento

Brakes & stability 23 complaints (6%) · typically ~74,940 miles

Other 19 complaints (5%) · typically ~85,366 miles

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 327 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 84,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 109,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (1)

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.

Federal defect investigations

Throttle control system vulnerabilities DP21003 opened 2021, closed 2023

Complaint history for this model year

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

2006peak 80 in 20142022

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2006 Kia Sorento reliable?

The 2006 Kia Sorento drew 382 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 17/100, scored against the model's worst year (2011).

What are the most common 2006 Kia Sorento problems?

The top reported problems for the 2006 Kia Sorento are electrical (112 complaints), engine (87), and transmission & drivetrain (35).

At what mileage do 2006 Kia Sorento problems show up?

Owners most often report 2006 Kia Sorento problems around 84,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 109,000 miles.

Does the 2006 Kia Sorento have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2006 Kia Sorento. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2005 Sorento All Sorento years 2007 Sorento →

Data updated 2026-08-12 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.