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: exterior lighting
56 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 23, 2012
2006 SORENTO EX WAS BOUGHT IN 2009, WITH 56,000 MILES. CURRENTLY HAS 103,000 MILES AND IS A CONSTANT ELECTRICAL BATTLE. HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT ONLY WORKS WHEN MANUALLY SWITCHED "ON," AND THE "A/C" SETTING CONTROL DIAL ONLY LIGHTS UP AFTER YOU FIDDLE WITH IT. THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOTOR HAS PARTIALLY DIED SO THAT THE SEAT RECLINES BACK BUT WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT UP AGAIN. THE FRONT TWO WINDOW MOTORS SEEM TO BE ON THEIR LAST LEGS. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR MECHANISM DIED LAST YEAR AND WOULD MAKE AN AWFUL, LOUD BUZZING SOUND WHENEVER THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON WOULD BE PRESSED. THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS ARE STARTING TO INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. IT'S QUITE SCARY TO BE DRIVING ALONG AT NIGHT AND EVERYTHING ON THE PANEL GOES BLACK. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY ONCE SINCE BUYING IT WHEN IT DIED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 31, 2011
HEADLIGHTS BOTH SIDES WILL GO OUT ON REGULAR BASIS WITHOUT WARNING -DASH LIGHTS GO OUT ON REGULAR BASIS-A/C UNIT WILL SHORT OUT CAUSING BURN SMELL -WINDOW SWITCHES AND TAIL LIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING ON REGULAR BASIS I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. *KB
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 3, 2011
MY 2006 KIA SORENTO HAS 96000 MILES ON IT AND IT SEEMS THAT THE HEAD LIGHT OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS A SHORT IN IT. THE HEAD LIGHT WILL GO OFF BUT YOU IF YOU TAP THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY IT WILL COME BACK ON AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON IF YOU TURN IT TO THE ON POSITION BUT IF YOU PUT IT ON THE DOOR POSITION IT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. AGAIN THAT WOULD BE A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE KIA WILL NOT START AFTER REPLACING A HEADLIGHT BULB. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE NOT RELATED BUT THE HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT SO I REPLACED IT AND THEN I WOULDN'T START RIGHT AFTER CHANGING THE LIGHT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Sep 11, 2011
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST A HEAD LIGHT AND/OR TAIL LIGHT ABOUT ONCE EVERY THREE MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE BUT NONE TO BE FOUND; PLEASE HELP! *TR
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
Exterior lighting, Aug 17, 2011
THE HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 LIGHTS AT LEAST 6 - 10 TIMES EACH, SINCE BUYING THE 2006 SORENTO BRAND NEW. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM NUMEROUS OTHERS THAT THIS IS A NORM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. YOU CAN REPLACE ONE LIGHT AND IT WILL BE OKAY FOR AWHILE, BUT THEN ANOTHER ONE WILL GO OUT, I HAVE ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THIS IS NORMAL, SEEING I HAVE NOT REPLACED THE LIGHTS IN MY 1996 CHEVY A FRACTION OF THE TIMES I HAVE THE SORENTO. THE REPLAY WAS, NO THIS IS NOT NORMAL THAT THEIR MUST BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. IT WILL NOT RESUME, OR ACCELERATE. THE OTHER TWO BUTTONS WORK AS DESIGNED. *KB
Exterior lighting, Aug 11, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND HE CONSTANTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE LIGHT BULBS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DID NOT PROVIDE AN ACTUAL DIAGNOSIS AS TO WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ONLY USE THE LIGHT BULBS SOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER, NOT AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Exterior lighting, Jun 4, 2011
I PURCHASED A 2006 KIA SORENTO BACK IN FEBRUARY 2011. SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS. 3 TIMES. EVERY FAILURE OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 64. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO HAVE THEM CHANGED WHERE THEY HAVE NOT TOUCHED THE LAMPS AND HAVE COMPLETED A PROPER INSTALL. IT APPEARS THAT FOR A SECOND THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH OFF THEN ON. THE HEADLIGHTS GOING ON THEN BACK ON IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THE LAST OCCURRENCE YESTERDAY 6/3/2011 HAPPENED ABOUT 2 AM WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST AND MADE THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE UNTIL DAYTIME HOURS WHEN IT COULD BE SAFELY DRIVEN TO A SHOP FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNABLE TO SEE TO DRIVE HOME FOR APPROXIMATELY SOME 45 MILES FROM OUR HOME. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 26, 2011
HAD THE CAR 2 YEARS AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 3 TIMES. REPLACED WITHIN LAST 5 MONTHS AND NOW ARE OUT AGAIN. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 25, 2011
HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM), TAIL LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT EVERY TWO TO THREE MONTHS CONSISTENTLY. ALWAYS HAVE TO REPLACE WHICH IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. CAR IS A 2006 KIA SORENTO EX. *TR
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, May 19, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED OFTEN, ALSO DOME LIGHT INSIDE VEHICLE. *TR
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, May 16, 2011
WHEN I TURN ON MY HEADLIGHTS, MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE OUT THE FUSE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH MY INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND I CANNOT SEEM TO GET IT RESOLVED. *TR
Exterior lighting, Visibility, Apr 20, 2011
HEADLIGHTS BLOWING ALL THE TIME. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE LOST THERE PARK POSITION AND WHEN THEY ARE TURNED OFF THEY STOP IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR AS MINE AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Interior lighting, Apr 8, 2011
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Seats, Mar 6, 2011
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
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2011, fire
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
Exterior lighting, Jan 24, 2011
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 24, 2011
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
Exterior lighting, Jan 12, 2011
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
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2011
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 16, 2010
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jun 12, 2010
THIS 2006 KIA SORENTO HAS OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES OTHER THAN JUST THE BRAKE SWITCH. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REPLACING THE BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS. THIS IS BECOME A COMPLETE PAIN IN THE NECK. I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HOW MY LIGHTS GO OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WE HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT DURING THE DAY WHEN WE ARE NOT USING THE DASH LIGHTS THAT WHEN WE APPLY THE BRAKES THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND SO DO THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE FACT THAT I DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT KNOWING WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE BLOWN OR NOT CAN CREATE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER. *TR
Exterior lighting, Feb 2, 2010
FRONT HEADLIGHTS ON KIA SORENTO 2006 MODEL CONTINUES TO BURN OUT OR FLASH ON THEIR OWN HAVE REPLACED 6 SETS OF LIGHTS IN FRONT AND HAVE ON 38,000 MILES FIRST SET WAS AT 16,000 AND EVERY 6 TO 8 MONTHS THERE AFTER. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 26, 2009
I HAVE A 2006 KIA SORENTO. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE THE EXTERIOR FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS A LEAST 3-4 TIMES. THE INTERIOR LIGHT HAS BEEN CHANGE 1 TIME AND THE AC CONTROL PANEL GOES OFF AND ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN EVALUATED 2 TIMES WHILE THEY WERE CHANGING BULBS AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. I HAVE SPOKEN TO ANOTHER SORENTO OWNER AND SHE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. KIA RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT IS THEY BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE THE BULB IS NOT THEIR BRAND. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I HAD THEM REPLACED WITH THE BULBS AND THEY DID NOT LAST. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM AND I AM AFRAID OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. IF YOU HAVE AN QUESTIONS YOU MAY CONTACT ME. *TR
Exterior lighting, Apr 21, 2009
2006 KIA SORENTO - THE HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT BECAUSE OF SOME KIND OF SHORT OR ENGINEERING FLAW. NORMAL REPAIR IS TO TAP THE LIGHTS AND THEY COME BACK ON, HOWEVER THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS WHEN THEY SHUT OFF CANNOT BE CONTROLLED AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE OTHER KIA OWNERS ONLINE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. MY HEADLIGHT BULBS ARE NOT BURNED OUT, AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED A FELLOW KIA SORENTO OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SHOWED ME HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR