2006 Kia Sorento Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2006 Sorento most often write about electrical and lighting trouble, especially exterior bulbs that burn out repeatedly, and about a crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer bolt that comes loose or breaks, which can take out the belts that drive the power steering and brakes. Transmission shudder and shifting complaints, rear-end noise and rust, and fuel odor with stalling also appear in the sample. Reports span a wide mileage range, from very low-mileage vehicles to ones past 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Crankshaft pulley bolt loosening or breaking

   • 89 complaints (37%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (85 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,000 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2020

   Owners describe a loud noise from the engine bay followed by loss of power steering and braking assist, and sometimes stalling, after the crankshaft pulley bolt fails or the harmonic balancer comes loose. Complaints say the serpentine belt comes off or a pulley drops to the ground. Several report the repair was done more than once, and some say a dealer told them the crankshaft was damaged and the engine needed replacement. Most often reported between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, in some cases shortly after a timing belt service.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect the crankshaft pulley and harmonic balancer and check bolt torque; ask whether the bolt or pulley has been replaced and when the timing belt was last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Crankshaft harmonic balance bolt keeps breaking. Been replaced 2 times now. Saw on some other websites where other people are having the same problem. Some of them are getting lawyers because Kia is refusing to fix the problem. My warranty ran out so they won't fix . All of my repairs have been at my own expense.”

   NHTSA complaint #10428363, filed 2011-10, 82,000 miles

   “From 9/2011 to 7/2013 my 2006 Kia has had this problem 3 times and is currently in the shop. While driving I hear a weird noise and then all the dashboard warning lights come on and I lose power steering. When checking under the hood, the belts have all fallen off, a pulley is laying under engine as is a bolt. The last time the bolt had broken off causing the pulley to fall off. Mechanic found that the crankshaft sprocket was broken. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10526277, filed 2013-07, 94,000 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and tail lights burning out repeatedly

   • 79 complaints (33%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (58 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2022

   Complaints describe low-beam headlights, tail lights and brake lights failing every few months, sometimes one side at a time and sometimes both at once. Several owners say the dealer replaced bulbs and charged for the work, and that the pattern kept repeating; some also describe interior or dash lights coming on or going out on their own. Some report the bulbs going out while driving, which they describe as a visibility concern at night. Reported from roughly 1,000 to 170,000 miles, with many complaints filed between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles and a recurring few-months replacement pattern.

   Recall 09V1300003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the seller how often bulbs have been replaced and whether any wiring or harness work was done; check that all exterior lamps work, and test the lights again after a short drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The day after we purchased this vehicle I had to change the right brake light, sinse then I've had to change the headlights both at least twice, assorted tail lights each side at least three times, the front dome light will not come on when you open the doors but can be swiched on, now dash lights are going off one at a time some can be wiggled and come on for a few seconds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10500864, filed 2013-02, 20,000 miles

   “2006 Kia Sorento complaint: engine , steering, electrical system , exterior lighting ,throttle position sensor I am changing the head lights every 4-5 month and I think it needs to be looked at. Was driving 35 MPH when the engine light and brake light came on with no warning. And just last week 2/2/2014 the engine stopped and I had no power steering and also no brakes. I was able to coast to a side road and barely got the vehicle to stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10563656, filed 2014-02, 73,100 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   General electrical faults: locks, windows, washers

   • 49 complaints (20%)
   • median 73,100 mi at 8.4 yrs old (39 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $3,150 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2020

   Complaints describe a range of electrical faults: door locks locking on their own, power mirrors and window washers stopping, dash and interior lights staying on or flickering, and accessories such as cruise control or turn signals quitting together. Some owners report a ground wire or computer replacement at the dealer, with mixed results. Reported across the mileage range, from very low mileage up to about 130,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test every power accessory on the lot: locks, windows, mirrors, washers, cruise control and all interior lights, and ask whether any wiring or body control module repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2006 Kia Sorento from an individual. Without any warning the tail lights, signal lights, cruise control, emergency blinkers, and windows quit working all at once. I have been doing research and see that this vehicle has a lot of complaints with electrical issues. Also, in 2009 there was a recall. I need to get this recall checked into and also my vehicle needs to be fixed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10704839, filed 2015-04, 130,000 miles

   “I have owned my 2006 Kia Sorento for 4 years and have constantly had to replace headlights. I was just at the dealer last week and had to have a headlight and 2 other exterior lights replaced. I have made comments to the dealer to inquire why they think these bulbs are constantly blowing and they don't seem to care. This morning, my interior map and dome lights came on all by themselves and would not turn off, no matter what buttons I pressed. They did not go off when I turned the car off and left. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10415545, filed 2011-07, 31,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Rear rust and rear-end noise or breakage

   • 21 complaints (9%)
   • median 92,348 mi at 8.0 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2020

   Complaints describe clunking from the rear when stopping and starting, differential noise, and in some cases rusted-through rear suspension or axle brackets found during repair. Owners in northern states connect the corrosion with road salt, and some report broken rear axle brackets discovered after a vibration or noise. Reported from about 30,000 to 170,000 miles, more often on older, higher-mileage vehicles.

   What to check: Inspect the underside, especially rear axle brackets, control arms and the rear subframe, for rust-through, and listen for clunks from the rear during a slow stop-and-go test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving I heard a clunk. Soon after my vehicle developed a vibration while accelerating/braking. I figured it was snow in the wheel wheels causing the imbalance. After washing my car and ensuring all the snow was removed, I still felt vibrations while braking/accelerating. I figured maybe my brake rotors were warped which makes no sense as I replaced both brakes and rotors last year. I went to change them and when I lifted my vehicle I saw that both the driver and passenger side rear axle bracket was broken. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10957836, filed 2017-03, 124,000 miles

   “During a turn in a mall parking lot there was a loud noise from the left front side, it turned out to be a rusted through lower control arm for the left wheel. There was no warning of this, and because we live in a northern state, where road salt is a concern, this should be something that Kia addresses.”

   NHTSA complaint #10537242, filed 2013-08, 64,000 miles

Buying note. A 2006 Sorento can be a reasonable inexpensive SUV if it has been maintained, but have a mechanic check the crankshaft pulley and bolt area, the underside for rust, and all electrical accessories before purchase. Ask for records of bulb, wiring and timing belt work, and confirm whether any open recall applies to the specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.