KiaSedona2006Overview/kia/sedona/2006/base/

2006 Kia Sedona

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Sedona.

Body VANTransmission Automatic 5-spd

The 2006 Kia Sedona is a midsize van equipped with a 5‑speed automatic transmission and a 5.5‑quart oil capacity that accepts 5W‑20 or 5W‑30 API‑rated oil, delivering fuel‑economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and an overall 18 mpg. Its EPA‑rated efficiency and straightforward power‑train layout were notable for the segment at the time, yet the model also recorded the highest volume of owner complaints in the 2002‑2021 Sedona history, with 385 issues reported—most frequently concerning the air‑bag system—and was subject to seven recalls. Consequently, the 2006 year stands as a reliability outlier within the line, marking a peak in reported problems that researchers must weigh against its otherwise practical specifications.

Model year202120202019201820172016201520142006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length202 in
Overall width78.3 in
Overall height72 in
Wheelbase118.9 in
Curb weight4645 lb
Track (front / rear)66.1 / 65.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sedona of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.0–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2006 LX
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2006LX 3.8L V68.00 sec16.10 sec244 hpFWD
2006EX 3.8L V68.20 sec16.20 sec244 hpFWD
2006EX 3.8L V68.30 sec16.50 sec244 hpFWD
2002EX 3.5L V69.60 sec17.40 sec195 hpFWD
2002EX 3.5L V69.80 sec17.40 sec195 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.40 sec15.80 sec276 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.80 sec16.10 sec276 hpFWD
2015SXL 3.3L V67.80 sec16.00 sec276 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11.5
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7-9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14-17 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub177-199 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-21.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.92-2.04 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.75-7.43 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Engine Oil Pressure18.77 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket18-26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle65-79 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs, step 2: repeat 3 times: 17 ft. lbs.4 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Suspension System (torque) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Kia Sedona marks the launch of the second generation, and it stands out sharply with 385 complaints—more than double the 185 recorded for the 2005 model and the highest in the entire dataset. Recalls also spike to 7, up from 2 in 2005, while Technical Service Bulletins jump to 40 from 22, indicating widespread service issues. The top complaint areas are air bags and suspension, each with 57 reports, alongside 13 crash-related and 8 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify root causes. This year represents a clear outlier in the generation’s trend, as subsequent years like 2007 and 2008 saw complaints drop to 156 and 170, respectively, suggesting early production teething problems were addressed. Given the elevated complaint and recall activity, the 2006 Sedona is a risky choice; a later model year within the same generation offers a more reliable ownership experience.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
40
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
385
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 8 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 385 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags57
Suspension57
Electrical System23
Exterior Lighting18
Structure14
Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages13
Vehicle Speed Control10
Latches/Locks/Linkages10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06V349000Electrical System:WiringReported 11/09/2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS, THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED STOP LAMP SWITCH WIRING HARNESS COULD MAKE CONTACT WITH THE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR CHAFING AND, REPAIR IF NECESSARY. IN ADDITION, THE DEALER WILL SECURE THE WIRING HARNESS TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLY…

06V265000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 19/07/2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSES MAY BE OUT OF POSITION. AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT REAR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS AND OVER TIME BREACH THE INTEGRITY OF THE HOSE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIONING OF THE REAR CALIPER BRAKE HOSES AND ADJUST OR REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 40 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
TSB_BOD051_CLSD2021-05-07Electrical SystemTSB_BOD051_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
DOR-M9J4S-072020-06-03Engine And Engine CoolingThese SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication…
DOR-M3J3F-072020-06-03Engine And Engine CoolingThese SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication…
TSB_TRA046_R12020-04-24Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sedona. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Sedona take?

5.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Sedona have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Sedona get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.