2006 Kia Sorento
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 85 of 242 complaints (35%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (10) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 307 in 2005 to 242 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,900–4,150 | 3,900–4,150 | 3,900–4,150 | 3,450–3,650 | 3,450–3,650 | |
| Combined MPG | 15–16 | 15–16 | 15–16 | 17–18 | 17–18 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14 / 18 | 13–15 / 18–20 | 13–15 / 18–20 | 15–16 / 20–22 | 15–16 / 20–22 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 555–592 | 555–592 | 555–592 | 494–523 | 494–523 | |
| Complaints filed | 220 | 307 | 242 | 154 | 217 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 11 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 15 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 12 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 9 | |
| Injuries reported | 16 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 17 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 Kia Sorento have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Kia Sorento?
Engine: 85 of 242 NHTSA complaints (35%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Kia Sorento get?
EPA rates it 15–16 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Kia Sorento?
EPA estimates $3,900–$4,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 14 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | 16 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 555 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 15 mpg (high) | 19 mpg | 16 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 555 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 13 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | 15 mpg (low) | $4,150 (high) | 592 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 14 mpg | 18 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 555 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 85 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 56 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 21 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 14 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 57 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH · Campaign 09V130000 · Apr 17, 2009
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.