YearToAvoid

2006 Kia Sportage Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2006 Kia Sportage has a complaint index of 10 and ranks 19th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict (capped due to less complete records for 2005-2009). NHTSA lists 111 complaints, 1 recall, and airbags as the top problem area.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
10/100
#19 of 21 Sportage years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
111
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
8
reported in complaints
Fires
5
Injuries
6
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2007
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
19 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Top 2006 Kia Sportage problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags38 (34%)
  2. Engine30 (27%)
  3. Electrical System25 (23%)
  4. Brakes17 (15%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires11 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body7 (6%)
  7. Fuel System6 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain6 (5%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers6 (5%)
  10. Other4 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags sometimes failed to deploy during moderate-speed rear-end or head-on collisions, leaving vehicles totaled with occupants injured.
  • Electrical wiring has melted or caught fire while the vehicle was parked or shortly after the stop lamp switch recall repair, with owners reporting a burnt-wire smell.
  • Engine has reportedly shut off without warning during low-speed turns, leading to a rear-end collision in at least one case.
  • Brakes have reportedly failed to hold the vehicle while in park on an incline, with the emergency brake also failing to stop rollback.
  • Blower motor/cooling fan wiring has melted, mirroring a later electrical system recall issue, causing HVAC failure.
2006 Kia Sportage complaints: complaints filed per quarter62006 Q22008 Q22011 Q12012 Q42014 Q42017 Q32019 Q32024 Q2
111 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q2 to 2024 Q2; peak 2019 Q3 (6).

2006 Kia Sportage 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 Sportage fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
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 Sportage 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
2005Good068321
2006Good10111121
2007Good1577221
2008Caution3598321

All Kia Sportage years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA data gives it a complaint index of 10, ranking it 19th worst out of 21 Sportage model years, which points to relatively few reported problems compared to other years.
What is the top problem area for the 2006 Kia Sportage?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 38 of 111 complaints (34%), with a median failure mileage of 72,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Kia Sportage have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (09V130000) covers a faulty stop lamp switch that could affect braking, issued for 2006-2007 Sportage and related Hyundai-Kia models.
Why is the 2006 Kia Sportage capped at a Good verdict instead of Best?
NHTSA complaint records for 2005-2009 model years are less complete, so the verdict is capped at Good rather than reflecting the low complaint index alone.
How does the 2006 Sportage compare to later years like 2012 or 2017?
The 2006 model has a complaint index of 10 versus 90 for 2012 and 95 for 2017, both of which carry an Avoid verdict.

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.