2006 Kia Sorento Reliability
The 2006 Kia Sorento has 242 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and exterior lighting. Compared with nearby Sorento model years (2004–2008), it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Sorento's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
242
NHTSA owner complaints
1
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints citing a crash
8
Complaints citing a fire
2006 Kia Sorento complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 model year, filed between 2006 and 2022. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 67 | 28% |
| Exterior lighting | 56 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 53 | 22% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 35 | 14% |
| Steering | 33 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 26 | 11% |
| Air bags | 19 | 8% |
| Engine & cooling | 19 | 8% |
2006 Kia Sorento recalls
1 recall campaign on NHTSA record for the 2006 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V130000 | Apr 17, 2009 | 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… |
How the 2006 compares with nearby Sorento years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sorento analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 220 | 0 | Engine | Better year |
| 2005 | 307 | 0 | Engine | Solid |
| 2006 (this page) | 242 | 1 | Engine | Better year |
| 2007 | 154 | 4 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2008 | 217 | 3 | Air bags | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2006 Kia Sorento
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 1 campaign above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2006 Kia Sorento can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2006 Kia Sorento reliability FAQ
Is the 2006 Kia Sorento reliable?
The 2006 Kia Sorento has 242 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and exterior lighting. Compared with nearby Sorento model years (2004–2008), it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Sorento's typical year.
What are the most common 2006 Kia Sorento problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorento are engine (67), exterior lighting (56), electrical system (53), powertrain / transmission (35). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2006 Kia Sorento have recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Kia Sorento, including 09V130000 (exterior lighting — brake lights / switch). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2006 Kia Sorento compare with the 2005 and 2007 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2005 has 307 complaints and 0 recalls (solid); the 2007 has 154 complaints and 4 recalls (solid). The 2006 has 242 complaints and 1 recall.
How do I check a specific used 2006 Kia Sorento?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Kia Sorento research
Other Kia Sorento model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2006 Sorento, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.