Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Kia Sedona owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2006 Kia Sedona. While accelerating to merge onto a highway, the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own. The contact depressed the brake pedal completely down to the floor, but the vehicle failed to stop. The brakes began to smoke. The vehicle decelerated to 40 MPH and then accelerated again to an unknown speed. The contact drove the vehicle into a grassy field and struck a sign. The vehicle drove into a ditch where it eventually stopped. There were no warning indicators. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealer. The vehicle sustained front end damage and the passenger side tire blew out. The dealer could not diagnose the cause of failure. A police report was filed. The current and failure mileages were 25,200. The consumer provided an arkansas motor crash report. Updated 10/24/07
On my cruise control when I set to certain speed, it will speed up, I had it set to 65 MPH and it sped up by itself to 85 before I could get it to go off. I had to slam on the break to get it to go off. This has happened several times. Now the car will not start all the lights will come on, but car will not do anything. Checked fuses all good, ground wire was taken loose and paint grinder off and put back on, still won't start. It started not starting every now and then and now it won't start at all. I read where this is happening to several Kia specifically 2006 .
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. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was inoperable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Updated 02/23/16
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 stated that they would file a complaint on the contact's behalf. The failure mileage was 90,000.
On more than four occasions I have been driving this van and when pressing the gas pedal to accelerate the engine revved , but the van did not move. Two of these incidents have been while merging onto interstate 95, once on us route 1 and another merging on to route 234. On at least one occasion my one year old daughter was in the vehicle. It was an extreme safety hazard to merge on to interstate 95 in the middle of rush hour while traffic was moving at 65 MPH plus and not be able to accelerate. In one instance there was a tractor trailer coming up behind me, and I had to cut off another vehicle trying to merge in order to get back off on to the ramp that I just merged off. The first time we took it to the dealer and they said is was a speed control sensor, the second time they said it was low on transmission fluid. …
My vehicle shakes badly...Kia, where I purchase my 2006 told me, it is the sub frame which causes my van to shake. The salt in pennsylvania causes the frame of this van to rust away. I well not be able to drive it! There is no recall...this will cost me $2,000.00. I believe if you live... Where it snows. The vehicles should be made for states which have snow.....and use salt on the roads. Why should I have to paid for this. The sub frame needs to be recall by Kia manufacturer.the mileage on my van is 63,553. Also, Kia stated that it will not pass inspection. There was a recall on lower control arms. They fixed that, but still it shakes. It's the sub frame.guest what! They inspected my van on jan 8, 2014,. Kia, passed my van for good condition and my van was inspected after they corrected the control arms. Again, it still shakes....it is the sub frame. …
First noticeable incident while driving this vehicle in June 2009, while I was driving this vehicle, I pulled out of the driveway, the vehicle all of a sudden stalled, engine light came on and I pushed the accelerator all the way to the floor, nothing. I pulled over put the vehicle in park, killed the engine, restarted the engine, same thing. I had to coast back to my residence. I waited a few hours, went straight out to the vehicle, it started right up and I drove away. The next incident was approx. Months later, same scenario. Now the accelerator sticks, the engine light comes on and the engine revs. I contacted the Kia dealer here in tucson, az, they informed me of no recalls on this hazard. I am extremely concerned due for the safety of myself, my family and others this might effect on any road way, something must be done!! …
I was leaving my house and had just driven a short distance when the check engine light and the ESC off came on as the car slowed to almost a stop. I pressed on the accelerator and nothing happened. I got out of the car and raised the hood and the engine was idling roughly. I turned the car off and on several times but nothing chaged; it wouldn't accelerate and the warning lights stayed on. The ESC off light eventually went out and the check engine light stayed on but I was able to drive it again. I took it to a mechanic who lubricated a throttle cable after checking the codes. It worked for a few weeks after that but the ESC off light came on again intermittently after that. I am afraid of losing power when I am in heavy traffic, at an intersection, merging, or anywhere I will be in danger if I cannot move out of the way of oncoming traffic.
When driving 2006 Kia Sedona van, gas pedal sticks inside the rubber mat causing the vehicle to accelerate. Rubber mats were purchased from Kia. Rubber mat comes off the floor post which causes the mat to slip forward. I am concerned for the safety of myself and family. Occurs every time adjustable pedals are positioned farthest to the floor when husband drives the vehicle because he is tall. Kia dealer offered to put a screw in the mat but that was not satisfactory to me as this vehicle was purchased new and the "screw" does not seem to be a permanent fix to this problem. This does not occur with the cloth mats because they are thinner. But the rubber mats are thicker and post is too short which caused the mat to slip off.
Driving approx 35 MPH when Kia van lost power and had to coast to side of road. No forward movement with gas pedal pressed down. Sat for 10 minutes and was able to drive at normal speed for about 30 minutes when I slowed down to turn corner, lost power again. Coasted to side of road, sat for another 10/15 minutes then drove to auto mechanic. Replaced throttle position sensor for 2nd time. Vehicle computer also reset. Serious safety risk as vehicle loses power in middle of traffic without warning and very limited time to make decision where to coast to as you do not have any driving control.
Acceleration complaints in other Sedona years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Kia Sedona?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Kia Sedona, 6% of the model year's 385 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Kia Sedona acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 Kia Sedona, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Kia Sedona acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.