The Lemon Index

All cars · Kia Sportage · 2006

2006 Kia Sportage. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index89100 = average car
Complaints23NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold37,071U.S. model year
Per 100K sold62complaints
Year rank#12 of 18#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 5

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.0L 4-cylAuto 4-spdFWD19 / 25 / 22Regular$2,850
2.0L 4-cylManual 5-spdFWD20 / 25 / 22Regular$2,850
2.0L 4-cylManual 5-spd4Wheel or AWD19 / 24 / 21Regular$2,950
2.7L 6-cylAuto 4-spdFWD17 / 23 / 20Regular$3,100
2.7L 6-cylAuto 4-spd4Wheel or AWD17 / 21 / 19Regular$3,300

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 40,000 and 111,700 miles. Median 72,000, from 92 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Airbags72,00057,000–97,00031
Electrical76,00068,000–129,20018
Engine126,00081,600–177,90012
Speed control112,00070,000–122,5007
Stability control99,20068,000–122,0007

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Electrical26%
Airbags22%
Engine17%
Visibility13%
Tires9%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
11185503

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 1

  • 09V130000 Apr 2009 Exterior Lighting / Brake Lights / Switch

    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 ELECTRON

    Risk. 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.

Manufacturer communications 31

Kia filed 31 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Muffler pipe drain ice accumulation in very low climate conditions may cause a no start engine
  • This bulletin provides information relating to an engine hesitation or the illumination of the…
  • TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2005992029,130Electrical
2006892337,071Electrical
2007–1949,393Airbags
2008–1832,754Transmission & drivetrain
2009–1142,509Steering

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data