2006 Kia Sorento Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 35about this part
- Share
- 14%of 242 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 79,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 35 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Kia Sorento, 14% of the 242 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 79,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was turning at a stop light when I loss power steering and nearly crashed.I was able to get it pulled over.I raised the hood and saw the crankshaft pulley lying on the the bottom skid plate.I looked on the internet only to find there are probably thousands of similar cases worldwide.I called Kia .they basically blew me off!”
NHTSA complaint #10726095, filed 2015-06, 180,000 miles“I have a 2006 Kia Sorento the rear housing axle has rusted all the way . And there is large hole from the rust and oil dripping out. And the body has is already starting to rust. This vehicle has been taken care of. I've have washed and waxed and kept it . But it didn't do any good. Kia needs to work to improve.”
NHTSA complaint #10568687, filed 2014-03, 120,000 miles“We were just turning around a bend and all of the sudden, we lost power steering and the car lost power. Then we managed to pull it over to a parking lot. Then we needed to have the car towed. We have already contacted Kia to see if there was a recall on it. They informed me that there wasn't that particular recall on that model. It is my understanding that this model should have bin included in the recall list.”
NHTSA complaint #10650057, filed 2014-10, 64,000 miles“In april 2010 the crankshaft pulley bolt and pin sheared off. I lost all power steering while driving 70 on the highway. Towed it to the dealership, had to pay out of pocket to fix the problem. Now in july 2011 the same thing had happened. The pin is sheared allowing the pulley to drop the belt, rendering my car inoperable. Kia dealership says it is still not covered by Kia and will cost me again to fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #10411691, filed 2011-07, 89,000 miles“I was merging onto a highway when all of a sudden I heard a loud thud and my battery light & e brake light came on and I lost power steering. I was able to drive the vehicle to a local mechanic who informed me that the harmonic balancer had fallen off due to the crankshaft bolt shearing off. Once it was fixed by an ase certified mechanic, approximately 8000 miles later I was driving to work and the car started shaking like I was driving on rumble strips. …”
NHTSA complaint #10532771, filed 2013-07, 97,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10037693Jan 1, 2011Kia: there may be erratic shifting, shift shock, and a malfunction light on with stored trouble codes. This is caused by a problem within the transfer motor.
- 10021561Jan 1, 2007Automatic transmission adaptive value reset/relearn.
- 10020679Dec 1, 2006Transmission shift hesitation.
- 10019917Jan 1, 2006Possible abnormal vibration/noise when shifting from park to drive or reverse due to insufficient torque at the rear driveshaft retaining bolts at the transfer case.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | 25% |
| 2024 | 5 | 11% |
| 2023 | 22 | 17% |
| 2022 | 68 | 35% |
| 2021 | 144 | 56% |
| 2020 | 18 | 13% |
| 2019 | 51 | 12% |
| 2018 | 9 | 4% |
| 2017 | 37 | 5% |
| 2016 | 126 | 10% |
| 2015 | 42 | 6% |
| 2014 | 72 | 7% |
| 2013 | 69 | 7% |
| 2012 | 55 | 6% |
| 2011 | 265 | 17% |
| 2009 | 9 | 16% |
| 2008 | 23 | 11% |
| 2007 | 20 | 13% |
| 2006 | 35 | 14% |
| 2005 | 38 | 12% |
| 2004 | 40 | 18% |
| 2003 | 22 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2006 Kia Sorento
67 complaintsExterior lighting
56 complaintsElectrical system
53 complaintsSteering
33 complaintsBrakes
26 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsEngine cooling
19 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsSuspension
10 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsVehicle speed control
8 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Kia Sorento
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology