2006 Kia Sportage reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2006 Kia Sportage — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 169
- 9 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- AIR BAGS
- 37 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 12 reported crashes · 7 injuries · 9 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#2,949
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Kia median
-96
median 265 across 138 Kia records
Vs 2004-2008
-106
median 275 complaints in 883 records
Top component share
22%
Air Bags: 37 complaints
What owners report fails — 2006 Kia Sportage
- AIR BAGS 37
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20
- ENGINE 15
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 9
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2006 Kia Sportage
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2006 Kia Sportage units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Kia Sportage reliable?
NHTSA has 169 consumer complaints on record for the 2006 Kia Sportage. The most-reported problem area is air bags (37 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2006 Kia Sportage units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Kia Sportage?
Owners most often report problems with: air bags (37), electrical system (20), engine (15), electronic stability control (esc) (9). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2006 Kia Sportage?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.