2006 Kia Sorento
The Verdict
The 2006 Kia Sorento has 242 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (96 complaints) and electrical (81 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 49/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Kia Sorento, consider the 2024 model year which has 85% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 85% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Kia Sorento dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 39 | 21 | 42 | 192 | 14 |
| 2004 | 57 | 5 | 28 | 100 | 30 |
| 2005 | 52 | 9 | 106 | 115 | 25 |
| 2006 | 29 | 13 | 81 | 96 | 23 |
| 2007 | 29 | 21 | 72 | 13 | 19 |
| 2008 | 52 | 19 | 78 | 47 | 19 |
| 2009 | 11 | 7 | 24 | 4 | 9 |
| 2011 | 507 | 94 | 357 | 325 | 226 |
| 2012 | 118 | 66 | 163 | 486 | 31 |
| 2013 | 203 | 64 | 143 | 526 | 32 |
| 2014 | 284 | 56 | 181 | 419 | 32 |
| 2015 | 196 | 24 | 127 | 379 | 19 |
| 2016 | 318 | 17 | 115 | 722 | 60 |
| 2017 | 183 | 18 | 154 | 415 | 17 |
| 2018 | 73 | 5 | 55 | 112 | 3 |
| 2019 | 129 | 11 | 71 | 178 | 25 |
| 2020 | 30 | 5 | 13 | 68 | 11 |
| 2022 | 58 | 11 | 12 | 58 | 41 |
| 2023 | 38 | 8 | 17 | 30 | 11 |
| 2024 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 11 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that there was a fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the vehicle would move, but shortly afterwards the vehicle would lose motive power and stall. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle several times, the vehicle operated as needed. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who replaced the fuel pump sensor. The sensor had been replaced three times; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,000.
When fueling I am unable to put the fuel hose in all the way and lock in place. I have to hold the fuel hose and pump very slowly. If I pump too fast the fuel will not go in tank. I was told it’s the ball in the fuel tank that is screwed up. I was also told there was a recall but I never received knowledge to that. It’s been doing this for a while. Do not have exact date but it happens every time I fuel.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that he purchased the vehicle with the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the passenger's side seat sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to illuminate as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V130000 (Exterior Lighting) and associated the recall with the failure. The contact contacted an unknown dealer and was awaiting a call back. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V130000 (Exterior Lighting) because the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
The contact owned a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, an unknown person alerted the contact that her vehicle had caught fire. The fire started in the engine compartment. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was not deemed totaled by the insurance company. The insurance company referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately over 100,000.
My vehicle was sitting for 4 hours and suddenly caught on fire…drivers side.
The contact owned a 2006 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that while driving at 15 - 20 mph, the steering wheel seized and the brakes failed when depressed which caused the vehicle to fall over a 25 ft. cliff and flip 3 times after hitting the ground. All of the air bags failed to deploy. The contact saw that there was smoke coming from under the hood and exited the vehicle. The contact was taken to the hospital by a family member and the vehicle was towed to a tow yard. No police report was filed. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND RATTLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER STERLING KIA LOCATED AT 125 S. CITY PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE LA 70503 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK BOLT AND CRANK PULLEY HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE CRANK PULLEY PIN AND CRANK BOLT WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
REAR END RUSTED TO WERE IT COULD OF CALLED A WRECK THIS IS UNSAFE AND THEY SHOULD HAVE KIA RECALL THESE AT ONCE THERE ARE GOING THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THIS THIS JUST ABOUT CAUSED MY WIFE TO WRECK IT IS THE FEDERAL PLACE TO RECALL THESE AT ONCE
SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM VEHICLE AROUND THE FILLER NECK
THE HEAD LIGHT KEEP BURNING OUT THE RADIO AND THE CLOCK LIGHT KEEP FLICKING AND DRAING THE BATTERY WHILE DRIVING
RECENTLY PURCHASED 2006 KIA SORENTO..RECALL #SC077 THE BRAKE LIGHTS INTEROIR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING I REPLACED ALL BULBS AND FUSES..PLEASE HELP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V130000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) WHICH SHE LINKED WITH HER FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT FRACTURED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED TO COMMUNITY KIA (4221 EAST FWY, BAYTOWN, TX 77521, 832-612-3807). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
HELLO, I PURCHASED A CAR FROM GEORGE TAYLOR AKA MICHEAL BOOKER. WHEN I BROUGHT. THE CAR TO TGE MECHANIC HE SAID THAT THE AXCEL STRUTS AND HUBS WERE GLUED TOGTEHER AND IT WAS MELTING I CALLED MR BOOKER TO LET HIM KNOW TO PLEASE GIVE ME MY MINEY BACK HE REFUSED TO. HE SAID HE WOULD GET IT FIXED IF I PAID FOR THE PARTS I PAUD FOR THE PARTS AND THE CAR IS STILL NOT FIXXED I TOOK HIM TO COURT AND WON HE WONT PAY ME IS PAST THIRTY DAY AND IM STILL OUT OF A CAR AND MY MONEY..PLEASE HELP ME
THE REAR MOUNT ARM BRACKETS RUSTED IN HALF ON BOTH SIDE OF THE REAR AXLE.CAUSING MYSELF TO ALMOST WRECK.I HAVE HUGE RECORDS FOR MAINTENANCE AND UP KEEP ON THIS VEHICLE THAT WITH ALL THE MONEY I HAD THAT I KEPT THIS VEHICLE WELL TAKING CARE OF AND ONLY VAN BE LEAD TO A DESIGN FLAW THE THE MANUFACTURING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE BATTERY AND EMERGENCY BRAKE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS REFERRED TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
TAKARA RECALL I WAS IS A WREAK AND GOT HIT ON THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND NONE OF MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF. I WAS TURNING ON THE THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 15 MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 60 MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMERGING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN KIA OF MIDDLETOWN (4961 ROUTE 17M, NEW HAMPTON, NY 10958) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE AND ELECTRICAL BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
242 total