KnownCarProblems2006 Kia Sportage Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Kia Sportage, most often about the air bags (34% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles). It is 14th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2006 Kia Sportage problems
Air bags
38 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles. Parts named most often: side/window.
Vehicle was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle which was traveling approximately 30 MPH. The vehicle was declared totaled due to the extensive front end damage. The airbag sensor was damaged and the airbags never deployed.
The air bag light started blinking, then stayed lit. I took my car to Kia dealer and had diagnostic. The cost was $60. They found that front seat passenger seat had an error code. I was told that the sensor for front seat would have to be replaced. When I left dealer the light for air bag was off, but came back on a…
Engine
23 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 91,000 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sportage. The contact stated he vehicle has experienced many failures. While driving the vehicle stalled out and would not restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the head gasket was replaced but that did not remedy the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealership again and…
While driving, my car just shuts down. The engine dies. On several occasions, drivers behind me had to slam on brakes or swerve outof the way. This is dangerous while traveling on the highway. Took vehicle to mechanic, they don't know what the problem is. Went on internet, and many customers having the same problem.
Electrical
22 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 76,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring.
My brake lights kept blowing. Then I lost my cruise control. Then my ESC light kept coming on. Then all my lights came on! It was a defective brake switch. Which should have been under recall, but ended up costing me $157.14!
My ESC light kept coming on after about a half hour and my cruise control would shut off by itself or not come on at all. After a couple weeks, the cruise would no longer set at all. This began intermittently around 60,000 miles or so and became a full blown problem at around 92,000 miles. It turned out to be a…
Speed control
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 112,000 miles. Parts named most often: cruise control.
I was driving at 55 MPH behind several other cars approaching a redlight. The cruise control was set and as the cars ahead of me began to brake, I did as well. The cruise control failed to disengage and I had to stomp on the brake pedal as I manually disengaged the cruise control to get the car to stop. The ESC light…
Right after christmas and before new year's eve I received a phone call from a lady stating she was a Kia representative. My vehicle was part of the recall for the brake switch. About ten days after the call my brake lights would no longer go out even when the vehicle had been sitting still overnight. Than about 3-5…
Brakes
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles.
Abs module failure. Car was traveling at low speed when all of a sudden it appeared to loose power. It turned out that the rear right wheel and the front left wheel had locked up due to the failure. I was able to move off the main road we were on.
Dealer diagnostics came up with codes b1495 pods, b1495 bts & c1513 ABS air bag light came on when starting & stayed on. Had brake switch replaced per recall a few months ago & know have a ABS code that could be the switch again
Stability control
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles.
I will be driving and the ESC off lights goes on dashboard. The car feels like it will stall out and becomes sluggish. I pull over and park the car then it won't go into drive or out of park. I wait over 15 minutes and am able to drive home. I have brought to Kia dealtership and said it was brake switch. They replaced…
The ESC off light goes on and off all the time . I have never touched the button - the brake lights do not always work either. I have replaced the bulbs many times, however now I cannot open the back hatch it seems to be stuck neither the push button or the key will open backhatch or window - making it now impossible…
Visibility and wipers
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: windshield wiper/washer, defroster/defogger/hvac system, rear window wiper/washer.
The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that the cooling fan failed. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that the blower motor fan wiring had melted. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptom as listed in NHTSA campaign number: 15v015000 (electrical system). The vehicle…
Driver and passenger side sun visors will not stay up. Safety equipment issue as drivers vision is impaired. Dealer refused to repair under warranty.
Fuel system
6 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 170,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
I previously reported at 177,800 miles that I was experiencing engine surges. While driving if I depressed the clutch engine would rise to 2000 rpms. If I pulled the accelerator pedal up with tip of my foot, the engine rpms would return normal. At 177, 900 miles the throttle body assembly was cleaned, and I am no…
Previously reported engine surges / erratic idle at 177800 miles, and throttle body cleaned at 177900 miles. At 178345 the idle air control valve was cleaned as a precaution, due to the previous symptoms. At 178377 while driving on the highway I found the throttle stuck in the full open position. After safely stopping…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Kia Sportage recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2006 Kia Sportage
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kia Sportage?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (38 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); engine (23 complaints, typically around 91,000 miles); electrical (22 complaints, typically around 76,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Kia Sportage have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 17, 2009 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Kia Sportage?
- It is 14th of 26 Sportage model years by number of complaints, with 111 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.