2006 Kia Sportage

Photo: Elise240SX / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

2006 Kia Sportage: common problems and reliability

An average Sportage year.

111 owner complaints, most about air bags. 1 recall.

Should I buy a 2006 Sportage?

The 2006 Kia Sportage has 111 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are air bags and electrical system.

Safety record for the 2006 model year

111
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crash reports
5
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2006 Kia Sportage vehicles (US, public record).

The Year Score compares this year with other Sportage years only. How we score it

Is 2006 a good year for the Sportage?

Across the 29 Sportage model years we track, complaint volume runs from 4 (2003) to 399 (2017). With 111 complaints, the 2006 Sportage sits below the model's median of 131.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

air bags
38
electrical system
22
engine
15
vehicle speed control
10
service brakes
9

Recalls affecting the 2006 Sportage

exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

Campaign 09V130000

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.

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is sharply divided, creating a polarized ownership experience.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Sportage. See the full Sportage owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used Sportage listings typically run $17,749–$24,718.

Other Sportage model years

Compare every Sportage year side by side to see how 2006 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Sportage against its rivals

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