2006 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

67Engine complaints

27.7%Of all 242 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE67 · 27.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM52 · 21.5%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING49 · 20.2%

STEERING33 · 13.6%

POWER TRAIN27 · 11.2%

Share of the 242 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2006 Kia Sorento overview page.

What owners report

“WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE.THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN-QUITS AT ANY SPEED (EVEN IDLE) LAST TIME AT 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE…”NHTSA complaint 10534483 — filed 08/09/2013

“I WAS MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD THUD AND MY BATTERY LIGHT & E BRAKE LIGHT CAME…”NHTSA complaint 10532771 — filed 07/30/2013

“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…”NHTSA complaint 10526277 — filed 07/22/2013

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Kia Sorento have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2006 Kia Sorento: 67 of 242 complaints on file (27.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2006 Kia Sorento have in total?

242 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 12 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.