2006 Kia Sorento
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 242 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 23 Sorento model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 12 involved a crash and 8 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 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.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 09V130000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Aug 8, 2022
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that he purchased the vehicle with the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger's side seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
Air bags, Jun 24, 2021, crash, fire
The contact owned a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 15 - 20 mph, the steering wheel seized and the brakes failed when depressed which caused the vehicle to fall over a 25 ft. cliff and flip 3 times after hitting the ground. All of the air bags failed to deploy. The contact saw that there was smoke coming from under the hood and exited the vehicle. The contact was taken to the hospital by a family member and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. No police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.
Air bags, May 23, 2018, crash
TAKARA RECALL I WAS IS A WREAK AND GOT HIT ON THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND NONE OF MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF. I WAS TURNING ON THE THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH.
Steering, Air bags, Mar 30, 2016
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
Air bags, Sep 20, 2015, crash
WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLE RIVING AT APPROXIMATELY SAME SPEED. HAD A PASSENGER IN VEHICLE. NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. ALTHOUGH INJURIES WERE MINIMAL THIS IS VERY CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY AS I JUST PURCHASED ANOTHER KIA VEHICLE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Dec 15, 2014
PANEL DASH LIGHTS INTERMEDIATELY DIM, LOW HEADLIGHTS AND BACK RUNNING LIGHT BULBS BURN OUT CONSTANTLY, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT BULBS BURNT OUT AND MELTED IN CASING, PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN PASSENGER IS SEATED STATING IT IS OFF. POWERED DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME - PUSH POWER LOCK BUTTON OR BY KEY AND STILL WON'T LOCK, KEYLESS REMOTES DON'T WORK EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF NEW BATTERIES. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Dec 8, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,280.
Air bags, Service brakes, Dec 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD SPORADICALLY ILLUMINATE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHTS. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Air bags, Nov 14, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 12/19/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THEREFORE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 5/29/2015 *JS
Air bags, Nov 14, 2014
"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON 06 AND 07 SORENTOS MADE AFTER JUNE 06 BUT MY KIA WAS MADE PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF ANY PASSENGER IN THIS SEAT AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS BUT NOW I FIND OUT THERE CERTAINLY IS BUT THEY STILL ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Air bags, Oct 17, 2014
"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO THE RED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM ON 06 AND 07 SORENTOS MADE AFTER JUNE 06 BUT MY KIA WAS MADE PRIOR TO THIS DATE AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I AM AFRAID FOR THE SAFETY OF ANY PASSENGER IN THIS SEAT AND FEEL IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR
Air bags, May 14, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V473000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/21/2013 *JS
Air bags, May 11, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE OPEN SOUND CONTROL (OSC) SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,882 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,882.
Air bags, May 7, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OCCUPIED WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE SEAT PACK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Air bags, Nov 22, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V473000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL ONLY INCLUDED 2007 AND 2008 KIA SORENTOS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Sep 5, 2011
ALL MY LIGHTS BOTH INTERNAL & EXTERNAL ARE BURNING OUT EVERY FEW MONTHS. AND I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY TIMES ALSO. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE REPLACED EVERY 4-5 MONTHS NOW, FIRST STARTING OUT EVERY YEAR HAS NOW DROPPED TO MONTHS. THE BATTERY LASTS FROM 10-13 MONTHS BEFORE HAVING TO BE REPLACED. NOW PARKING & BRAKE LIGHTS ARE BURNING OUT AT A RATE OF ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS. CALLED MY LOCAL KIA SERVICE REP AND HE SAYS MY DASH AND CONSOLE WOULD HAVE TO BE RIPPED OUT TO REPAIR, AND OF COURSE IT IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.ALSO MY INTERIOR LIGHTS ON DASH,CONSOLE AND INSIDE ON THE HEADER NO LONGER WORK. HAVE CHECKED ALL FUSES AND CAN FIND NOTHING UNUSUAL. *TR
Air bags, Seats, Feb 26, 2010, crash
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN JUNE 2009, IN A 2006 KIA SORENTO. I WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60-70MPH. THE IMPACT WAS SO SEVERE, THAT I ENDED UP IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS PUSHED INTO. THE RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT WAS TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THAT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK BROKE. DOCTORS SAID THAT HAD MY SEAT BACK NOT BROKE, I WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED SUCH DEBILITATING INJURIES THAT I AM NOT GOING TO HEAL FROM. *TR
Air bags, Oct 1, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT BOTH VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HER VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AGAIN. PRIOR TO THIS CRASH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY ORDERED A PART RELATED TO THE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
Air bags, Feb 15, 2007, crash
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 KIA SORENTO LX WAS IN A CRASH ON 02/12/07 WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH, AN D MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET WITH THE STREET CONDITION CLEAR IN THE EVENING HOURS ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG MANUFACTURING. HE FELT THAT AIRBAGS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY UNDER THESE TYPES OF CONDITIONS. *AK