Complaints
382
per 10K Sold
75.4
US Sales
50,672
Crashes
18
Fires
8
Injuries
14
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2006 Kia Sorento Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#167 complaints
Engine Problems
Avg mileage:100,275 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:3
#252 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:72,162 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#349 complaints
Headlight/Taillight Failures
Avg mileage:67,451 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Kia Sorento.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 67 | 3 | 3 | 100,275 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 52 | 1 | 1 | 72,162 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 49 | — | 1 | 67,451 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 33 | 1 | — | 98,861 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 27 | — | — | 93,757 mi | |
| Airbags | 18 | 5 | 1 | 87,679 mi | |
| Brakes | 16 | 1 | — | 88,985 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 13 | — | — | 65,950 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | 105,413 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 101,286 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 1 | — | 109,157 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | 2 | — | 87,640 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — |
Engine Problems
67
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
3
Avg Miles
100,275
Electrical Faults
52
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
72,162
Headlight/Taillight Failures
49
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,451
Steering Defects
33
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,861
Transmission / Drivetrain
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
93,757
Airbags
18
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
87,679
Brakes
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,985
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,950
Suspension Failures
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,413
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,286
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,157
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,640
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Electric
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Kia Sorento. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Kia Sorento Years
2006 Kia Sorento — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2006 Kia Sorento reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2006 Kia Sorento has 382 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 67 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Kia Sorento?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (67 complaints, avg 100,275 mi); Electrical Faults (52 complaints, avg 72,162 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (49 complaints, avg 67,451 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Kia Sorento?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,811 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorento include 18 crash-related reports, 8 fire reports, 14 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2006 Kia Sorento have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2006 Kia Sorento as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2006 Kia Sorento?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Kia Sorento reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2006 Kia Sorento
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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