What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2006 KIA Sorento

Typical pattern

5% of complaints about the 2006 KIA Sorento came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2006 vehicle — around the middle of the 250 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (67 complaints), typically at 9.0 yr or about 92,700 miles.

Complaints
382
Median age at failure
7.8 yr
Median mileage
84,000 n=328
Crash / fire / tow
8.1% of reports
Safety recalls
1

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
67 reports · 92,700 mi
9.0 yr
11.9%
Exterior lighting
56 reports · 50,000 mi
5.3 yr
1.8%
Electrical system
53 reports · 83,000 mi
8.2 yr
3.8%
Power train
35 reports · 79,000 mi
6.7 yr
0%
Steering
33 reports · 92,348 mi
8.8 yr
9.1%
Engine cooling
20 reports · 63,000 mi
5.9 yr
0%
Air bags
19 reports · 89,000 mi
8.1 yr
31.6%
Service brakes
16 reports · 92,000 mi
8.8 yr
6.2%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

09V130000 2009-04-17
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 ELECTRON

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 6,700 mi 11 mo in service
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
Electrical system mileage not reported 4.5 yr in service
I BOUGHT AN 2006 SORENTO IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR AND I HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS LOUD NOISE COMING FORM THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN I TAKE OFF IT STALLS ITS JUST BEEN AN HEADACHE WITH THIS CAR I WISH THEY WOULD JUST RECALL IT SO IT CAN BE FIXED NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES IT GOES TO THE SHOP THE NOISE COMES BACK UGH!!!!! *TR
Electrical system mileage not reported 5.2 yr in service
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
Power train 32,000 mi 11 mo in service
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

Other Sorento model years

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