2006 Kia Sedona: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 385 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (19% of complaints); the 2004 and 2005 and 2007 and 2008 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Feb 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 385 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona LX. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and stated that while powered off, he observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The contact stated that when the hood was opened, fire erupted from the engine compartment. The contact extinguished the fire. No police report or fire report was made available. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown part needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2023
“FRAME RUSTED -OUT ALLOWING RIGHT FRONT WHEEL A -FRAME TO COME LOOSE. ALLOWING WHEEL TO MOVE REARWARD INTO WHEELWELL STOPING ROTATION. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE ??? MAYBE YOU WOULDNOT BE READING THIS??? [XXX] USCG retired INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2023
“Intermittently not starting. Not cranking. Battery has been checked. Alternator is ok. We've left it with our mechanic for a week and he was unable to replicate the issue. It's happening a couple times a month. We wait about 20 minutes then the Kia starts up. Yes the van is available for inspection. My safety was at risk as the van not starting in below freezing Temps. No it has not been inspected by manufacturer. No warning lamps before or during issue. Issue has been going on over 3 months.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V389000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) and 20V088000 (Electrical System, Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Mar 2022
“The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. The contact stated that while driving at 4MPH, a bystander informed him that the brake lights of his vehicle were not functioning. The contact stated that the brake lights failed to operate as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 235,232.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2022
“The contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in a parking lot, the vehicle erupted in flames without warning. Fire marshals were called and extinguished the fire. No one was injured and a report was taken. The contact mentioned a possible smoke inhalation from the smoke. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was informed of failure and was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2021
“Bought a van the next day my breaks were metal on metal. I found out it was flooded. The second day the key stuck in the ignition, the middle seats got stuck and will not fold up. The dealer said their mechanic went all over the van and said it was in good condition. The calipers are in very bad shape. He said they need replaced soon.*dt*jb”Owner report · Seats · Nov 2020
“Wcs error . Airbag system issue .kia recalled 2015 but doesnt bother on earlier cars.sometimes car doesnt start many have this issues it has to do with immobilizer wires .and brakes with rotors are bad every 2 years breaks and rotors get killed .my car has only 56856 mls”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2020
“Van has just over 115xxx miles on it. Have noticed that transmission has a whip or slip feel when you take foot off gas pedal and then reapply foot to gas pedal. Took to my mechanic and he stated that transmission is showing wear. Wanted to report due to potential recall in the future.”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2020
“Passenger side rr control arm rusted through which caused it to bend and caused rr tire to fold inward. Had to replace rr control arm, rr coil spring and shocks on both sides which was affected by rusted control arm. I brought it in to repair shop when I noticed a loud thump when going over a bump. This should be a recall.”Owner report · Suspension · Aug 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 13 of these complaints and injuries in 18 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS, THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS COULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLY OF THE STEERING COLUMN. REPEATED CONTACT MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION TO CHAFE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR CHAFING AND, REPAIR IF NECESSARY. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER WILL SECURE THE WIRING HARNESS TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 originally sold in, or currently registered in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion resulting from prolonged exposure to salty environments.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the degree of corrosion of the front lower control arms, and will either rustproof or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on December 20, 2013. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC100.
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through August 14, 2012 and originally sold in, or currently registered in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, the front lower control arms may break due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the front lower control arms on 2006-2007 models. 2008-2012 models will either have their front lower control arms replaced or additional anti-corrosion coating will be applied. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC133.
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Kia Sedona vehicles manufactured from June 15, 2005, through April 04, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners and dealers will replace the secondary hood latch or clean and lubricate the latch, depending on the vehicle's location and the condition of the latch. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2016. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall number is SC134.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSES MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND OVER TIME BREACH THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOSE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIONING OF THE REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSES AND ADJUST OR REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Sedona and 2007-2009 Sorento vehicles. Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the main junction box to prevent power from being directed to the HECU when the vehicle's ignition switch is turned off, free of charge. The recall began June 5, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC186.
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2006 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sedona by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Kia Sedona reliable?
NHTSA has 385 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2006 Kia Sedona. The most complained-about area is suspension (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Kia Sedona problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 86,514 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Kia Sedona have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning electrical system:wiring. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.