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
242 reports, newest first.
Tires, May 30, 2008
4-TIRES AT 44 PSI, 1-TIRE AT 35 PSI. ALL 5-TIRES SHOULD BE AT 44 PSI. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Electric, May 15, 2008
REPLACED FRONT ROTORS,18,000,26,000 MILES. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES. BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REPLACED REAR DRIVE SHAFT AND INSTALLED SHIELDED WIRE FROM TCM TO TRANSMISSION SENSOR. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, May 13, 2008
I HAVE BEEN THE OWNER OF 2 BRAND NEW KIA SORRENTOS, A 2004 AND A 2006. WITH BOTH VEHICLES I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES SHAKING (SOMETIMES VIOLENTLY) AFTER ONLY 6,000 TO 8,000 MILES. WHEN TAKEN TO BE LOOKED AT I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AT MY OWN COST BECAUSE "BRAKES ARE A WEAR ITEM". I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2005 SORRENTO THAT HAS DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE SORRENTO LINE AND YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD TRY TO MAKE CUSTOMERS HAPPIER AND MAKE STRONG PARTS. *TR
Tires, Apr 23, 2008
2006 KIA SORENTO WITH UNEVEN AND ODD WEAR MARKS ON TIRES. CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO THE BAD WEAR OF THE MICHELIN TIRES, THE VEHICLE RIDES VERY ROUGH AND BADLY AFFECTS THE STEERING. *KB MICHELIN CROSS TERRAIN TIRES. *JB
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
Power train, Jan 22, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN STOPPED MOVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FOUR TIMES FOR THIS SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR ON THE CLUTCH. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH WEARS ON ONE SIDE AND OCCURS EVERY 14,000 TO 15,000 MILES. THE COMPANY NO LONGER MADE THE 5 SPEED FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,923.
Exterior lighting, Aug 30, 2007
BOTH HEADLIGHTS (LOW BEAM) WERE OUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY $98.15 TO GET THEM REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WARRANTY IS GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK I ALSO HAD BOTH TAIL LIGHTS GO OUT AND HAD TO PAY FOR THEM AS WELL.
Power train, Apr 4, 2007
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO WITH A CURRENT AND FAILURE ODOMETER READING OF 1,200 MILES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT CAME OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO SCREWS AND A SPRING POPPED OFF, AND NOW THE ONLY WAY THAT SHE CAN SHIFT GEARSWAS BY PUSHING DOWN ON THE METAL BAR THAT STUCK OUT. *AK
Exterior lighting, Mar 31, 2007
MY SISTER-IN-LAW OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO AND BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS ARE OUT AND DO NOT FUNCTION, ONLY THE 3RD MIDDLE LIGHT WORKS. I HAVE SINCE PERSONALLY OBSERVED 4 KIA SORENTOS IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA ON THE ROAD WITH THE LEFT, RIGHT OR BOTH REAR TAIL LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED 3 KIA SORENTOS IN THE SF BAY AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. OTHER KIA PRODUCTS MAY ALSO HAVE THIS ISSUE BUT IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM/CONCERN WITH THE SORENTO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY. YOUR ACTION TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IS NEEDED FOR A LONG TERM SOLUTION AND/OR RECALL. *JB
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 29, 2007
BRAND NEW 2006 KIA SORENTO - BRAKES STARTED SHAKING AFTER ABOUT 2,000 MILES. AT 8,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND ENTERING A TURN LANE. THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS ABOUT TO TURN RED. AS I BRAKED, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS A HEAVY CLANKING NOISE AND THEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED (WHILE I WAS HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION.) WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I GENTLY APPLIED THE GAS AND THE TIRES SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE SPINNING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CALLED ME 3 HOURS LATER AND SAID THE CAR WAS FIXED. THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND DID NOT HAVE AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE TILES SPUN WHEN I APPLIED THE GAS AT THE STOP LIGHT. *JB
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 9, 2007
2006 SORENTO WAS PURCHASED IN NOV 2005. JAN OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO POSSIBLE LOOSE GAS CAP. FIRST TIME TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT WAS IN JULY OF 2006. RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS REPLACED. IN OCTOBER OF 2006 A TAIL LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED DURING MY 15,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. IN NOVEMBER 2006 RIGHT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND KIA REPLACED BULB ONCE AGAIN. IN DECEMBER OF 2006 LEFT TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BULB WAS REPLACED AND I WAS TOLD MY SPARK PLUGS WERE MISFIRING AND WERE REPLACED. A DAY LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I AM NOW TRYING TO SEE WHAT DAY I CAN TAKE OFF OF WORK YET AGAIN TO GO AND HAVE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LOOKED AT. *NM
Fuel system, Gasoline, Power train, Dec 18, 2006
WE HAVE A 2006 KIA THE SUV TYPE AND THE PROBLE IS THAT WHEN WE FILLED THE GAS TANK THE GASA GAUGE WOULD WOULD GO TO EMPTY IN 32 MILES AND AL SO THE SHIFTER HANDEL POPED OUT THE HOLDER
Equipment, Nov 24, 2006
WHEN THE A/C TURNS ON, A BELT SLIPS NOTICEABLY AND THE POWER DIPS. *NM
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Nov 21, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL *NM
Power train, Equipment, Oct 31, 2006
2006 KIA SORENTO EX 4WD, CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR END WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN START AGAIN. REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED IN AUG 2005, BUT THE CLUNK IN THE REAR END STILL REMAINS. AS OF OCT 2005 THERE IS ALSO AN INTERMITTENT SOUND IN THE REAR END THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE DIFFERENTIAL IS STICKING OR LOCKING INTO A POSITIVE TRACTION CAUSING ONE TIRE TO SOUND AND FEEL LIKE IT IS SLIDING ON GRAVEL. PREVIOUS OWNER REPORTED SAME PROBLEM "CLUNK" IN THE REAR END NUMEROUS TIMES AS WELL. POSSIBLY A DESIGN FLAW. *NM
Electrical system, Wheels, Aug 21, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS INOPERABLE AND ATTEMPTED REPAIR RESULTED TO THE SPLICING OF THE WRING HARNESS. THE REPAIR CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A NEW WIRING HARNESS WAS ORDERED. UPDATED 9/5/2006 - WHEN MAKING A U-TURN THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT CENTER CAPS. *NM