While driving down the highway, the crankshaft bolt broke inside the crankshaft causing steering problems, and the car shutdown. This is very dangerous and could cause death by losing steering control or a serious accident with others due to lost of power. *tr
2006 Kia Sorento steering problems
moderate 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 33 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Kia Sorento, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
Owners have filed 33 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint is crankshaft pulley bolt failure. Owners describe hearing a loud bang or pop while driving, followed by immediate loss of power steering, engine shutdown, and illuminated warning lights—typically on highways and at intersections. The bolt either breaks cleanly or sheers off, causing the harmonic balancer or pulley to detach or wobble and lose belt tension. Result: steering locks up, brakes and electrical systems lose power assistance, and the vehicle becomes uncontrollable. Many failures occur between 56K and 90K miles; some owners report recurrence within 6K–10K miles after costly repairs ($800–$2,000). A few report bent crankshafts after the first failure, requiring engine replacement ($3,500–$6,700).
A secondary pattern involves crankshaft positioning sensor failure, which stalls the engine without warning and locks the steering. Owners have had to reset the fuel cut-off switch under the hood to restart. One dealer quoted $1,100 to replace both camshaft and crankshaft sensors; owners found online that Kia appears aware of the issue but has not addressed it broadly.
One 2003 model recall exists for the bolt, but the 2006 model is excluded despite identical failures. Owners report Kia customer service as unresponsive or dismissive, and dealers often decline warranty coverage once mileage exceeds manufacturer limits.
Same Kia Sorento steering reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Crankshaft Pulley Bolt Shear/Fracture
Crankshaft pulley bolt breaks, sheers off, or fractures, causing the harmonic balancer or pulley to detach or shift. Loss of serpentine belt tension results in immediate loss of power steering, alternator function, and engine electrical power, often triggering check engine, battery, and brake warning lights. Engine may stall or shut down entirely.
When: Typically between 56,000 and 160,000 miles; often occurs months after timing belt replacement at 60K. Some owners report recurrence within 6K-10K miles after initial repair.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power steering; steering wheel locks or becomes extremely hard to turn; Loss of electrical power to engine; engine stalls or shuts down; Battery and brake warning lights illuminate; Check engine light illuminates; Loud bang, thud, pop, or screeching noise from engine; Engine makes rough, bogging, or dying sounds; Belts come off or stop turning; Pulley wobbles, breaks, or becomes visible lying at bottom of engine; Smoke or burning smell from engine in some cases
Codes mentioned: P0337
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of crankshaft bolt and harmonic balancer/pulley typically $800–$2,000. In some cases, bent crankshaft requires full crankshaft replacement or complete engine replacement, costing $3,500–$6,700. Owners report the problem recurs after repair in multiple cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2003 models only; 2006 models with the same failure are not covered. Kia has not issued a recall for 2006 model year. Owners report Kia customer service unresponsive or indifferent to complaints.
Crankshaft Positioning Sensor Failure
Crankshaft positioning sensor malfunctions, triggering stalling and loss of engine control. Vehicle loses power steering, electrical power, and occasionally brakes when engine shuts down. Problem may require resetting fuel cut-off switch to restart vehicle.
When: Reported around 60K miles and beyond.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while driving with no warning; Dashboard lights illuminate; Steering wheel locks; Vehicle shuts off and won't restart without resetting fuel cut-off switch; Check engine light appears after repeated incidents; Loss of power steering; Engine bogging or dying sensation
Codes mentioned: P0337
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft positioning sensor and crankshaft positioning sensor replacement, approximately $1,100 per dealer estimate. Owners report similar problems persist after repairs.
Power Steering Loss (Electrical/Control Failure)
Power steering fails intermittently or suddenly during normal driving. Typically occurs when transmission engages, light turns green, or turn is initiated. Steering wheel locks or becomes extremely difficult to turn. Often accompanied by engine shutdown and illuminated warning lights. May be related to electrical system failure triggered by crankshaft bolt failure or sensor malfunction.
When: Reported across various mileage ranges; some incidents occur within weeks of vehicle operation.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of power steering with no warning; Steering wheel locks or becomes extremely hard to turn; Power steering fails during turns or when accelerating from stop; Battery, brake, and check engine lights illuminate simultaneously; Engine shuts down or boggs down when power steering fails; Problem may reset after restarting vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Often tied to crankshaft bolt or sensor repair. Some owners reset fuel cut-off switch to temporarily restore function.
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
It doesnt shift parts of the transmission seems like fallling off. Loose power steering and brakes dont work
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Kia Sorento?
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 steering problem on the 2006 Kia Sorento?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 33 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 73,000 and 121,000 miles, with the median around 92,348. A quarter of owners report trouble before 73,000; a quarter make it past 121,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/Sorento.
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.