YearToAvoid

2006 Kia Sorento Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

20/100

#17 most-complained of 21 Sorento years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Kia Sorento has 242 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 20, ranking 17th worst out of 21 model years. It carries a Good verdict, capped from higher because 2005-2009 complaint records are less complete. Top problem area is the Engine at 37% of complaints.

Complaints
242
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
12 / 8
Injuries / deaths
14 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 18.5 hwy

Top 2006 Kia Sorento problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine90 (37%)
  2. Electrical System88 (36%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain35 (14%)
  4. Steering33 (14%)
  5. Brakes27 (11%)
  6. Airbags19 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body14 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (6%)
  9. Other13 (5%)
  10. Fuel System12 (5%)

What owners report

  • Engine belt sprocket or harmonic balancer bolts have broken while driving, causing sudden loss of power steering and belt seizure.
  • Some vehicles stalled at highway speed with the check engine light on, leading to loss of steering control.
  • Frontal airbags have failed to deploy in low-to-moderate speed side and frontal impacts.
  • Headlights have overheated and failed repeatedly, with owners reporting bulbs needing replacement every few months.
  • Steering has seized and brakes have failed to respond when depressed in at least one reported case.
  • Brake and battery warning lights have illuminated after electrical faults tied to the alternator or belt.
2006 Kia Sorento complaints: complaints filed per quarter232006 Q32008 Q42010 Q42013 Q12015 Q12017 Q12019 Q32022 Q3
349 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q3 to 2022 Q4; peak 2014 Q2 (23).

2006 Kia Sorento recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 09V130000Apr 17, 2009Electrical System139,844 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    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.

    Risk: Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

2006 Kia Sorento fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
18.5 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,050
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Sorento years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good25307016
2006Good20242116
2007Good10154417
2008Good35217317

All Kia Sorento years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Kia Sorento reliable?
NHTSA data shows 242 complaints and a complaint index of 20, the 17th worst of 21 Sorento model years, and it earns a Good verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kia Sorento?
Engine complaints make up 37% of filings, followed by Electrical System issues at 36%, based on NHTSA owner complaints.
Does the 2006 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2006 Sorento covering a stop lamp switch that could malfunction and affect braking; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
Why is the 2006 Sorento capped at Good instead of a higher verdict?
NHTSA data notes that complaint records for 2005-2009 Sorento model years are less complete, so the verdict is capped at Good even though the complaint index of 20 is relatively low.
At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2006 Sorento?
The median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 81,000 miles, with engine failures reported at a median of 85,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.