VehicleVerdict

2006 Kia Sorento lighting problems

The 2006 Kia Sorento has 59 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 15% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

59

Lighting complaints

15%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Lighting complaints by year

Sorento lighting complaints by model year125 complaints2003: 17 complaints2004: 14 complaints2005: 61 complaints2006: 59 complaints2007: 13 complaints2008: 14 complaints2009: 1 complaints2011: 105 complaints2012: 60 complaints2013: 70 complaints2014: 87 complaints2015: 91 complaints2016: 66 complaints2017: 125 complaints2018: 41 complaints2019: 22 complaints2020: 5 complaints2021: 3 complaints2022: 2 complaints2023: 2 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Sorento lighting complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

09V130000LightingApril 17, 2009 · 139,844 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy

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.

What owners report

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA SORENTO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BULBS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY THREE TO SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · March 9, 2009 · fire

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 2006 Kia Sorento have?

NHTSA has 59 complaints about the 2006 Kia Sorento lighting — 15% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Kia Sorento lighting?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the lighting: 09V130000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.