There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2006 Kia Sorentoin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE AND RATTLE BEFORE STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER STERLING KIA LOCATED AT 125 S. CITY PARKWAY, LAFAYETTE LA 70503 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRANK BOLT AND CRANK PULLEY HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE CRANK PULLEY PIN AND CRANK BOLT WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLTS FRACTURED, WHICH CAUSED THE PULLEY AND THE SERPENTINE BELTS TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ARAPAHOE KIA (9701 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112, (888) 236-7975). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. *TT *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND REMAINED AT THE SCENE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
BOUGHT CAR STARTED HAVING AN OVER HEATING PROBLEM. COMPRESSION TEST CAME BACK WITH COMPLETE PASS NOTHING ABNORMAL. CAR WAS NOT STARTING WITHOUT A JUMP SO BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY FOR IT EVERYTHING SEEMED COMPLETELY FINE. DROVE A TOTAL OF MAYBE TEN MILES TO ACE HARDWARE TO GET SOME SUPPLIES AND CAR STARTED TO SMOKE ONCE I TURNED THE HEATER OFF.IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, PUDDLE OF FLUID IN PARKING SPOT, AND WATER BOILING SOUND UNDER HOOD. TOWED CAR HOME THEN TO MECHANIC WHERE IT IS SITTING NOW FOR AN ESTIMATE BEING TOLD IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL NEED A NEW MOTOR. THERE IS 106,661 PLUS OR MINUS A 100MILES I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE.WHEN SMOKING STARTED I WAS DRYING ON A HWY WITH SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MILES/HR. IT IS AN AWD PASSED SMOG, AND I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER WHO BOUGHT IT FROM AN AUCTION. IT WAS A TRADE IN BY LESSEE TO THE LESSOR FOR A NEWER ONE. *TR
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET NEED A TOW TRUCK SO I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSE WAS CRANK SHIFT SENSOR $700.00. ABOUT 3 YRS LATER DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY LOST ALL POWER LIGHT CAME ON GUIDE OF THE FREEWAY I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN CRANK SHIFT SENSOR AGAIN $700.00. THE YR DRIVING FROM WORK ON THE FREEWAY IT HAPPEN AGAIN NO POWER LIGHT CAME ON ANOTHER $ 700.00. [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE MOVING AT 70 MPH INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT, MY DAUGHTER HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE ENGINE MADE POPPING NOISES AS SHE BROUGHT THE SUV TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE ULTIMATELY RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE AT 30 MPH WITH FLASHING HAZARD LIGHTS ON UNTIL REACHING THE NEXT EXIT (2-3 MILES MAX.) TO A SAFE LOCATION BEING AROUND 9:00 PM IN THE EVENING. THE SUV WAS TAKEN TO A FIRESTONE MASTERCARE STORE IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. AFTER REMOVING THE ENGINE COVER, THE MECHANIC FOUND PART OF THE SPARK PLUG AND IGNITION PART, INDICATED THAT THE LOCATION WHERE THE SPARK PLUG WAS INSERTED HAD BEEN STRIPPED OUT BY THE PARTS BLOWING OUT OF THEIR NORMAL LOCATION WITH EXTREME PRESSURE. THE SUV HAS BEEN TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT IS SITTING PENDING WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR.
6/2015 VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH. LOCAL MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRANKCASE BOLT HAD SNAPPED AND THE PULLEY AND BALANCER MOUNTING SCREW HAD SHEARED OFF. SHOP CONFIRMED A KIA KIT TO FIX THE ISSUE ($1200.00 + 1007.00 FOR TIMING GEAR KIT AND WATER PUMP) 1/15/2016 WHILE DRIVING INTO THE ROUNDABOUT ON PORTAL WAY (15 MPH) THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ASB BRAKING AND VOLTMETER WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANICS SHOP WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE NEW CRANKCASE BOLT HAS BROKEN AGAIN DAMAGING THE NEW PULLEY AND BALANCER ALSO. THE SHOP CONTACTED THE LOCAL KIA DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE 2003-2006 V6 3.5L MISABISHI ENGINES USED HAVE A LONG RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH NO PERMANENT FIX. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS EMAILED TO ME FROM THE OWNER OF AXTON AUTOMOTIVE, FERNDALE WA AN ASE CERTIFIED SHOP, "ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016, AXTON AUTOMOTIVE <AXTONAUTOMOTIVE@GMAIL.COM> WROTE: HELLO, ON YOU KIA. IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY FIX IS PERMANENT ON THE VEHICLE. EVEN THEIR OWN RECALL/FIX IS FAILING. I RECOMMEND FILING A COMPLAINT AT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.. I WILL COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS TOMORROW AND GET BACK TO YOU. BUT WHATEVER WE DECIDE I RECOMMEND NOT USING THIS VEHICLE. JIM" THE VEHICLE IS DISABLED AT THIS TIME WITH NO RESPONSE FROM KIA.
BELT SPROCKET AND HARMONIC BALANCER WITH BOLT. THE BOLT IS MADE OF SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL AND BROKE CAUSING THE AUTOMOBILE TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND OTHER VITAL CAR FEATURES. NO WARNING, IT JUST BROKE WHILE IN MOTION CAUSING ALL OF THE BELTS TO SEIZE. I WAS ON A HILLY MOUNTAINOUS ROAD IN MY HOME AREA OF HIGH RIDGE MISSOURI, ACUTALLY ON THE HIGH RIDGE.I AM LUCKY THAT I AM SMART ENOUGH TO DRIVE DEFENSIVELY AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SAFE SIDE ROAD. TWO MECHANICS CAME TO MY RESCUE AND EASILY SAW THAT THE PROBLEM STATING THAT I WOULD NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.I HAVE A TEMPORARY FIX ESTIMATE FROM MY MECHANIC BUT HE SAYS THE CAR REALLY NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE.....
KIA SORENTO - I HAVE A 2006 SORENTO THAT JUST TURNED 60,000 MILES IN OCTOBER. I HAD DRIVEN IT AT LUNCH ONE DAY, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE THE OFFICE AT 5, THE CAR WAS MAKING AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS NOT ON. THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT MALFUNCTIONED AND THAT ALONG WITH ALL THE BELTS AND PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK 5 WEEKS FOR THE REPAIR, AND NOW IT HAS TO GO BACK BECAUSE ONE OF THE NEW BELTS IS SCREECHING. I PAID $1,300 FOR THE REPAIR AND KIA ONLY PAID PART OF THE REPAIR. WHY WOULD THEY PAY FOR PART AND NOT ALL, IF IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2006 KIA SORENTO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE WITH DIFFERENT ODI# (NAR) AND ISSUE IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATE IF THE BOLT BREAKS, THE ENGINE WILL STALL AND POWER STEERING WILL BE LOST. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, BOTH THE BREAK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER STEERING. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE LOCATION. WHEN AT FIRST GLANCE IT APPEARED THAT THE MAIN BELT HAS SLIPPED OFF THE PULLEY. WHEN TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION FOR ASSESSMENT AND REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF IN THE CRANKSHAFT. WE ARE STILL IN PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND OUT OF THE REMAINING PART OF THE BOLT CAN BE REMOVED OR IF THE ENTIRE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE BOLT IS NOT CONSIDERED A 'WORKING PART' OF THE ENGINE AND EXTENDED WARRANTY REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIRS. THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ROLL PIN INSIDE THE CASING THAT WEARS DOWN AND THE BOLT CAN NOT SUPPORT THE STRESS. KIA HAS HAD A RECALL ON MODEL YEARS 2003 AND 2004 BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES FOR 2005 AND 2006 YEARS AND RESEARCH IS SHOWING THAT KIA IS NOT COVERING THE PROBLEM FOR 2005 OR 2006
WHILE DRIVING ALMOST HOME, (2-MILES) THE POWER STEERING STOPPED, WE PULLED INTO A GAS STATION, BARELY MISSING THE FUEL PUMPS. THE BELT CAME OFF. WHEN THE MECHANIC ASSESSED THE PROBLEM, IT WAS MUCH GREATER. THE HARMONIC BALANCER WAS LOOSE, AND THE DRIVE PIN TO THE CAM BELT GEAR HAD SHEERED OFF. THE REPAIRS WERE COSTLY $1300.00. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF KIA OWNERS. THE OWNERS ARE LIKE MYSELF AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO WE JUST PAY THE BILL.. KIA DENIES ANY ISSUES. THIS A HUGE KIA COVER UP! IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN DEFECT FOR A LONG TIME, AND KIA DOES NOT WANT TO PAY FOR ALL THE DAMAGES, AND I'M SURE THE ACCIDENTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
WENT TO LEAVE HOUSE VEHICLE STARTED. FELT LIKE BRAKES WERE LOCKED LOOKED AT DASH RED LIGHTS FOR CHECK ENGINE AND BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. ENGINE WAS RUNNING POPPED THE HOOD SEEN FAN BELT WASN'T TURNING. CALLED AAA
STARTED MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISE TOOK TO REPAIR SHOP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT, AS MANY OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVE BEEN HAVING. *TR
WAS SITTING PARKED THANKFULLY BUT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT SHEARED OFF CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF ALTERNATOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITHIN A YEAR. THANKFULLY WE WEREN'T IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS THIS KEEPS HAPPENING AND HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF KIA SORENTO OWNERS (LOOKING ONLINE). KIA ISSUED A SERVICE MEMO TELLING THE SERVICE PEOPLE TO USE AN UPGRADED BOLT, HOWEVER WE HAD THE UPGRADED BOLT AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURRED. *TR
MY 2006 KIA SORENTO, MANUFACTURED IN AUGUST 2005 & WAS A BASIC VEHICLE, NO LUXURY MODEL.A RENTAL CAR BUSINESS WAS 1ST OWNER AND ONLY HAD IT FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER IN SEPT 2006 W 14,000 MILES. IT IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 108,000 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, I HEARD LOUD BANGING IN THE HOOD, THEN SUDDENLY IT TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. TRAFFIC WAS SLOW MOVING. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN EXPERT MECHANIC AND OWNER OF HIS OWN SHOP. MY MECHANIC HAS DONE SOME PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IN THE PAST AND CONSIDERED IT TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HE TOOK THE ENGINE APART AND FOUND PIECES BROKEN OFF FROM THE "INTAKE RUNNER BUTTERFLY VALVE ASSEMBLY & FELL INTO THE ENGINE; ALSO THERE WAS A BUSHING FAILURE IN THE LOWER INDUCTION MANIFOLD. MY 3.5 ENGINE WAS TOTALED WITHIN MINUTES ALONG WITH ALL SURROUNDING PARTS. THE SAME ENGINE AS IN THE RECALL. MY KIA HAS A 3.5 ENGINE, SAME AS IN THE RECALL BULLETIN #TT2008020601. THE RECALL BULLETIN WAS FOR KIA MODELS 2003-2005, YET THIS EXACT INCIDENT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. I HAVE TWO PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE DAMAGE (1ST PHOTO IS THE INTAKE RUNNER ASSEMBLY W/TWO BROKEN MISSING BUTTERFLIES FOR CYLINDERS 5 & 6 & THE 2ND PHOTO OF A PIECE OF THE BUTTERFLY STUCK IN THE INTAKE PORT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD -BOTH TAKEN ON 9-12-2014.) I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO A GARDEN GROVE KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY INSPECTED & GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $11,700. ALL THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT 2006 MODELS WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HOW CAN KIA CORPORATION GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME INFERIOR PARTS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN MY 2006 SORENTO? IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2005. KIA CORPORATION SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT COMPLETELY RESOLVED WITH THE 2005 MODELS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026