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: steering
33 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Mar 25, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORRENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD BANGING AS THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A FEW MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Mar 17, 2014
I GOT THIS CAR ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND 3 DAYS AFTER THE PURCHASE I COULD SMELL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IT WAS EXTREMELY STRONG, THEN A RUMBLE SOUND UNDER THE CAR FROM THE EXHAUST. A DAY LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE A/C COMPRESSOR STARTED SQUEALING EXTREMELY LOUD AND THERE WAS A TICKING SOUND. TOOK IT TO THE AUTO DEALER I GOT IT FROM AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR BELT, DEALER REPLACED BELT AND THERE IS STILL A NOISE OF TICKING AND A FAINT SCREECHING NOISE.. THEY ALSO SAID THEY FIXED THE EXHAUST BUT I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE SMELL . THIS WEEKEND I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS AT 65 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE ENGINE BOGGED DOWN AND SOUNDED LIKE IT DIED AND CAME BACK ON. I MADE IT HOME WITHOUT ANYMORE PROBLEMS. TODAY I WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE MADE A NOISE AND THE CAR BOGGED AGAIN. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND GOT UP TO 40 MPH AGAIN AND THE ENGINE DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES TO SOMEBODY. MY CAR IS GOING INTO THE SHOP THURSDAY BUT AFTER READING ALL THE REVIEWS IT LOOKS LIKE I JUST WASTED ALL THIS MONEY ON A PIECE OF JUNK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. I'LL CONTACT HELP ME HANK AS WELL . *TR
Steering, Power train, Engine, Jul 30, 2013
I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY BATTERY LIGHT & E BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAD FALLEN OFF DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARING OFF. ONCE IT WAS FIXED BY AN ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC, APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING LIKE I WAS DRIVING ON RUMBLE STRIPS. I TOOK IT BACK TO A SERVICE GARAGE AND AFTER REPLACING THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND CRANKBOLT AGAIN THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE CRANKSHAFT WAS BENT. THE GARAGE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENTIRE CRANKSHAFT AND BALANCER AND THEN HAVING THE ENGINE REBALANCED OR A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BOTH OF WHICH ARE GREATER THAN $3500 TO REPAIR ON A VEHICLE THAT'S WORTH ABOUT $5500..IT'S BEEN APPROXIMATELY $2000 THAT I'VE ALREADY SPENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT'S AT A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP NOW, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT FIXABLE AND THEY CAN ONLY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST $6,700 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 71,000 MILES ON IT. IT SEEMS THAT THIS SAME ISSUE HAPPENS ON THESE MOTORS BETWEEN 60K AND 90K MILES THEN FROM DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT SEEMS AFTER REPAIRS ARE DONE THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENS APPROXIMATELY 6K-10K MILES LATER. AFTER LOOKING INTO IT, IT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE ONLY CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS AND FAULTY PARTS. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO BE OUT OF A VEHICLE SINCE MID NOVEMBER OF 2012. IT'S DISTURBING WITH HOW MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M READING ON THIS SITE ABOUT THE SAME EXACT THING! *TR
Steering, Engine, Jan 14, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ALTERNATOR, BRAKE AND TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAN BELT AND THE WATER PUMP TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,500. UPDATED 3/20/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ALTERNATOR AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE AND CAUSED THE STEERING DAMPER TO SHIFT SIDEWAYS, WHICH CAUSED THE TWO BELTS ON THE DAMPER PULLEY TO BE THROWN OFF.
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Nov 12, 2011
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 230 MILES FROM HOME, 150 MILES FROM MY DESTINATION BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OFF ROAD LOSS OF STEERING POWER. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND BELTS OFF. TOWED TO NEAREST TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE CRANKSHAFT (HARMONIC BALANCER) BOLT HAD SHEERED OFF AND BROKEN PIECE STILL IN CRANKSHAFT. TOWED TO NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP 150 MILES AWAY AND WAS TOLD POSSIBLE CRANKSHAFT/ENGINE DAMAGE. COULD NOT DO FURTHER DIAGNOSIS DUE TO WEEKEND (SATURDAY) AND WILL NEED TO STAY IN TOWN UNTIL CAR IS REPAIRED (NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION). NO LOANER CAR OFFERED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH KIA SORENTO OWNERS THAT THE COMPANY SEEMS TO KNOW ABOUT BUT DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS OR COVER COST OF REPAIRS. RECALL ON BOLT FOR 2003 MODELS DOES NOT COVER LATER MODELS BUT DANGEROUS SITUATION STILL EXISTS WITH THOSE LATER MODELS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AFTER IT IS REPAIRED KNOWING THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM REOCCUR AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Sep 19, 2011
WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 65MPH TRIED TO CHANGE LANES BUT THE STEERING HAD GONE OUT, HAD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL VERY HARD TO GET IT TO TURN, ONCE I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED BENEATH HOOD THE BELTS WERE NO LONGER TURNING AND COULD SEE WHAT LOOK LIKE A PULLEY LAYING AT BOTTOM OF ENGINE. MATT CASTRUCCI KIA IN DAYTON, OHIO STATED THAT MY BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF AND CAUSED MY PULLEY TO BREAK. HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS HAPPENING ON KIA'S SORENTO, ENOUGH THAT A INVESTIGATION SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE BY NOW. WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE THIS IS INVESTIGATED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *KB
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Jan 5, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO AND STATED THE PROPELLER SHAFT FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE CONTINUED TO FAIL ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AN ADDITIONAL TWO TIMES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE WARNING PANEL AND HE COULD SMELL BURNING OIL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AGAIN. TO DATE, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE, WHEN TURNING RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME VERY HARD AND A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DATE TO CORRECT THE ACTUAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,348 AND THE CURRENT WAS 99,583. UPDATED 02/02/10 .*LJ THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEATER HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE FRONT DOOR'S LATCH WAS FAULTY IT WAS MAKING A BUZZING SOUND. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SHAFT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE STRANGE NOISES. UPDATED 02/04/10
Steering, Visibility, Mar 10, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE FRONT WINDOW CONTINUED TO DEVELOP FROST IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED STRESS FRACTURES ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOW DUE TO THE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL AUTHORIZE THAT THE WINDOW BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE TWICE AND CHARGED THE CONTACT $50 PER VISIT. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE HER RESEARCH PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LIVES IN A STATE WHERE IT SNOWS FREQUENTLY. SHE IS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SNOWS DUE TO THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING AND REAR END OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH PREVENTS PROPER TRACTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,893. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR