Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Kia sedona. While driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle continued to accelerate. The contact placed an abnormal amount of pressure on the brake pedal, but the vehicle accelerated forward before coming to an abrupt stop. The failure recurred and the vehicle began to smoke with an abnormal odor from the hood of the vehicle.…
2006 Kia Sedona cruise control problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 14 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Kia Sedona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 10 model years of Kia Sedona in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Fourteen owners describe two overlapping hazards in their 2006 Sedona vans: unintended acceleration and intermittent loss of power.
Unintended acceleration strikes without pattern. Vehicles accelerate on their own during highway merges, parking-lot crawls, and traffic stops—even with the brake pedal pinned. One owner's accelerator pedal got trapped in the vehicle's own rubber floor mat when the pedal was positioned low; Kia's suggested fix was a screw, not a redesign. When brakes fail to stop the runaway van, brake fluid overheats and smoke pours from the hood. One collision at 25,200 miles sent the van into a ditch.
Loss of power happens the opposite way: engine stalls, accelerator goes dead, or transmission drops out of drive while owners are on the highway or accelerating from a stop. Owners restart and sometimes it works again; sometimes it doesn't.
Both modes trigger the Check Engine light and the ESC OFF warning light—sometimes together, sometimes alone. Dealers either cannot recreate the fault or simply tell owners the pedals cannot be altered. Kia has confirmed no recalls exist. The randomness is the real killer: owners cannot predict when the van will either take off or shut down, making merges, intersections, and pedestrian zones hazardous.
Same Kia Sedona cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration / stuck accelerator
Engine revs or vehicle accelerates without driver input, or accelerator pedal sticks. Occurs during normal driving, merging, traffic stops, or low-speed situations. In one case, gas pedal stuck inside rubber floor mat when pedal positioned farthest down.
When: Random; as early as 200 miles; reported through 90,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration; Accelerator pedal sticks or gets trapped in floor mat; Engine revs without pressing pedal; Vehicle continues to accelerate when brakes applied; Vehicle lurches forward at stops or in traffic
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light, ESC OFF light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer in one case lubricated throttle cable after code check. Another owner reported dealer offered to install a screw in floor mat (rejected as inadequate). Most cases: dealer unable to diagnose or reproduce issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer stated no recalls exist for this hazard. Kia stated they would file complaint on owner's behalf in one case.
Loss of power / loss of drive
Vehicle loses propulsion while accelerating or driving, requiring emergency stop or coasting off road. Engine stalls or vehicle drops out of gear. Intermittent and unpredictable.
When: Early mileage (200 miles reported); intermittent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls suddenly; Engine cuts out while driving; Vehicle drops out of drive while accelerating on highway; No response from accelerator pedal; Vehicle slows to near stop or stalls
Codes mentioned: Check Engine light, ESC OFF light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to recreate or diagnose in most cases. In one case, throttle cable was lubricated.
Brakes ineffective when accelerator engaged
Brake pedal depressed fully but vehicle does not stop or slows only slightly while accelerating. Brakes may smoke from overheating. Occurs at low speed and highway speeds.
When: 25,200 miles (highway merge incident); random occurrences throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal pressed fully with no stopping effect; Vehicle continues to accelerate despite brake application; Brakes smoke and smell; Vehicle decelerates to partial speed then accelerates again
Codes mentioned: No warning lights in one incident
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle struck sign and ditch; sustained front-end damage and blown tire. Vehicle was towed to dealer but cause not diagnosed. Other incidents: vehicle became inoperable or unsafe.
Rough idle and jerky acceleration
Engine idles roughly and vehicle hesitates or jerks when accelerator is depressed. ESC warning light may flash intermittently.
When: Not specified in most complaints
Symptoms owners cite: Rough engine idle; Hesitation when accelerating; Vehicle jerks; ESC warning light flashes randomly
Codes mentioned: ESC OFF light (intermittent)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer notified but vehicle not diagnosed or repaired in reported case.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Minivan suddenly drops out of drive when accelerating on highway. Has happened twice, gear shift was in proper position. Had to emergency brake and pull off highway (coasting) and turn off engine and restart. Gear/pedal then reengaged and was able to resume driving. Dealer says they cannot recreate problem. Very concerning. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Kia sedona. The contact stated that while sitting in traffic, she depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was not destroyed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was able to be driven to her house and was not taken to a dealer for inspection or repairs. The manufacturer was notified and…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Kia Sedona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Kia Sedona?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 47,000 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 67,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 47,000; a quarter make it past 90,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Kia/Sedona.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.