Independent · Not affiliated with NHTSA or any automaker MethodologyData sourcesData refreshed Oct 6, 2026

2006 Kia Sportage: Problems, Recalls and MPG

What this means

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Kia Sportage, most recently filed April 2009. Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags.

Data summary generated from official records. Methodology Data: NHTSA, DOT, EPA · Refreshed Oct 6, 2026
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Recalls (1)

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Kia Sportage. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗

Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.

Check on NHTSA ↗
Listed for 2006 Kia Sportage. Not checked against your VIN.
Recall 09V130000 Filed Apr 17, 2009

STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT

Exterior lighting · brake lights · switch
Official NHTSA text
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.
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.
Repair progress not yet reported139,844 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA or ask a dealer to check campaign 09V130000

PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.

Owner complaints (111)

111 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.

8involved a crash
5involved a fire
6injuries reported
0deaths reported

As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.

Most-reported components

Complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Kia Sportage, by component (top 10). One complaint can list several components, so these add up to more than 111.Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints · Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 · Report a data error

How 2006 compares with other Sportage years

Best and worst Sportage years →
2001200220032005200620072008200920102011
This year (2006)Other yearsStill collecting reports

Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.

Fuel economy: up to 22 mpg combined

22
mpg combined
19
city
25
highway
EPA annual fuel cost
$3,050
CO₂ tailpipe
404 g/mi
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle -

What it costs you to run

$2,969per year
$247per month
682gallons a year

Miles ÷ 22 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.

EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.

Specs by configuration

2006 Kia Sportage configurations with EPA data
Engine · transmissionDriveCity / Hwy / CombEPA $/yrCO₂ g/mi
2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive19 / 25 / 22$3,050404
2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manualFront-Wheel Drive20 / 25 / 22$3,050404
2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive19 / 24 / 21$3,200423
2.7 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automaticFront-Wheel Drive17 / 23 / 20$3,350444
2.7 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive17 / 21 / 19$3,550468

Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.

Used blue SUV on a sunny dealer lot with its hood open and a clipboard on the fender

Looking at a 2006 Sportage for sale?

Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.

All Sportage years

Where to next

2006 Kia Sportage FAQ

How many recalls does the 2006 Kia Sportage have?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 09V130000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.

What are the most common 2006 Kia Sportage problems?

Owners filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (38), Electrical system (22), Engine (15) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.

What mpg does the 2006 Kia Sportage get?

EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 19 city, 25 highway and 22 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.

How does the 2006 Sportage compare with other years?

Among the 2001–2011 Kia Sportage model years at least five years old, the 2003 drew the fewest complaints (4) and the 2002 the most (234). The 2006 drew 111. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.

How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes

Processing

  • Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
  • Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.

Limitations

  • Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
  • Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
  • Recent model years are still collecting reports.

Review

Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.

Changelog

  • 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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