2006 Hyundai Elantra
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 155 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Elantra model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 28 involved a crash. 23 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lightingJul 21, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.
Campaign 09V280000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
56 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Aug 5, 2021, crash
My son was driving our 2006 Hyundai Elantra and crashed into the end of a guardrail. The air bag did not deploy. The car was declared a total loss by the insurance company. I am concerned that the airbag did not deploy with the severity of the crash. I have uploaded three pictures of the car and one of the end of the guardrail that was impacted. The estimate for speed at impact was 35 mph. The weather was sunny, dry and above 80 degrees. about 6:30PM Eastern time.
Air bags, Nov 11, 2020
I NOTICED THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON NEAR MY DASHBOARD WHERE ARE THE SPEEDOMETER IS AND WHEN I HAVE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS OFF I DON'T BELIEVE MY SENSORS WORK FOR MY AIRBAGS
Air bags, Service brakes, Nov 6, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT ON BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER CAR OFF AND FOOT NOT PUSHING THEM ON
Air bags, Oct 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT AND SMOKE WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS AND INJURIES TO THE EYES, CHEST, AND CHIN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Air bags, Apr 25, 2019, crash
I REAR-ENDED SOMEONE AT AROUND 30-35 MPH. THE VEHICLE I HIT WAS STATIONARY. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS LEFT ON. NO ONE WAS INJURED.
Air bags, Nov 23, 2018
THE CAR AIRBAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED TO ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR. A MECHANIC READ CODE B1448 FOR A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI'S AND THE ACCENT'S WERE RECALLED BUT NOT THE ELANTRA. I SUSPECT THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM IS HAPPENING WITH THE 2016 HYUNDAI ELANTRA OCCUPANT SENSOR.
Air bags, Sep 20, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Air bags, Sep 13, 2018
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE CENTER HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I'VE GOTTEN THE CAR, THE LIGHT NEVER USED TO GO OFF WHEN AN ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH MEANS THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLED. NOW THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND DOES NOT EVER GO OFF, MEANING ALL AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. IT CAME ON UPON STARTING UP MY VEHICLE AND HAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, BUT IS NOT REPORTED PROPERLY VIA NHTSA, INSTEAD MANY COMPLAINTS ARE MADE VIA FORUMS. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, TURNING THE WHEEL AND USING THE BLINKER CAUSES ALL DASH LIGHTS AS WELL AS MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO FLICKER BRIEFLY. REAR WINDOWS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE ROLLED DOWN VIA THE MAIN CONTROL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ONLY CAN BE ROLLED UP.
Air bags, Seats, Sep 2, 2018
THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH THE B1448 OC SENSOR MAT DEFECT, I HAVE AN AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND HAVE USED A SCAN TOOL AND GOT THE CODE FOR THE B1448 OC SENSOR MAT DEFECT. THIS ISSUE WAS GIVEN A RECALL FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA BUT I HAVE A HYUNDAI ELANTRA AND THERE IS NO RECALL BUT MY CAR FACES THE SAME ISSUE. I'VE READ THAT DEALERS TRY TO CHARGE AS MUCH AS $1,000 TO FIX THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, May 21, 2018
AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH ILLUMINATED FOR 10+ YEARS, WILL NOT SHUT OFF. PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT IN CENTER CONSOLE WILL NOT ILLUMINATE REGARDLESS OF EVEN WHEN A SMALL STATURED PASSENGER IS PRESENT OR THERE IS NO PASSENGER AT ALL.
Air bags, Service brakes, Feb 24, 2018
MY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR NO LONGER DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER, SO MY PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ALWAYS ON, WHEN THE SEAT IS BOTH OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED. ALSO, MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NO LONGER WORKS, SO MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON WHEN I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES OCCUR INCESSANTLY.
Electrical system, Air bags, Service brakes, May 24, 2017
MY CAR HAS HAD ENGINE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF FOR YEARS ON THEIR OWN, WINDOWS THAT YOU USE ONE SWITCH FOR THAT MAKE A DIFFERENT WINDOW GO DOWN AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GO UP, MY BRAKES HAVEN'T RELEASED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT TIMES AND NOW MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF SO I CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH AND WANT IT FIXED, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE
Air bags, Jan 13, 2017, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Air bags, Dec 5, 2016
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON 2 WEEKS AGO, TECHNICIAN SAID THE CODE IS B1448 PASSENGER SEAT MAT CUSHION SENSOR. I AM TOLD THAT ALL AIR BAGS ARE NOW DISABLED AND THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE IN JUST THE LATEST INCIDENT REPORTS. THIS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY HYUNDAI AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.
Air bags, Nov 25, 2016
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH IS LIT ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS RESET THE LIGHT ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK AFTER A FEW DRIVES IN THE CAR. DEALER SAYS THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR IS SHORTED OUT. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT WHILE THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS LIT, THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED AND WILL NOT DEPLOY, EVEN IF IN AN ACCIDENT. NOW I OWN A CAR THAT WILL NOT PROTECT ME IN A CRASH AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER SAYS THE ONLY REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM COSTING OVER $1400. THE CAR IS NOT WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THAT, BUT IT IS WORTH ALOT TO ME BECAUSE I NEED IT FOR TRANSPORTATION.
Air bags, Nov 11, 2016
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON
Air bags, Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 13, 2016
AIR BAG LIGHT ON / EMMISIONS AIR BAG ALL SENORS WERE SWAPPED AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD THE CUSHION SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE THE SENSOR SWAP DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. $1500 EMISSIONS/ PUMPING GAS FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. GAS PUMP KICKS OUT AFTER 2-3 SECONDS WHEN PUTTING IN GAS. NOW I'M TOLD I NEED TO REPLACE CHARCOAL CANISTER, CANISTER CLOSE VALVE, PURGE CONTROL VALVE, AND VENT VALVE. IF I DON'T I EVENTUALLY WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT GAS IN THE TANK. $1,100 THEY ARE BOTH SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT. THESE ARE SIMPLE CONSUMABLE PIECES LIKE FLUIDS, VALUES, HOSES OR FILTERS.
Air bags, Jun 1, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON
Air bags, Aug 6, 2015
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED. NHTSA TSB#0590003 AND HYUNDAI TSB#06-90-010 COVER THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN SMALLER STATURED ADULT SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THEREFORE THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. BOTH OF THESE TSBS ARE FOR THE 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA.
Air bags, Jun 23, 2015
AIRBAGS LIGHTS STAY ON
Electrical system, Air bags, Jan 25, 2015
PRIOR TO THIS DATE HAD ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SUCH AS BACK LIGHTING OF STEREO AND ASH TRAY, CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONING PAST FEW YEARS, MORE RECENTLY ODOMETER BACK LIGHT ALSO DOES NOT LIGHT. PREVIOUS REPORT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN NOBODY WAS SITTING IN SEAT, OR IF PURSE ON SEAT, LESS THAN 10 LBS. THEN AT ABOUT 206,000 MILES, MY ESTIMATE DRIVER INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR ON FIRST SOME TIMES, THEN SHORTLY AFTER ON ALL THE TIME. AFTER READING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SEEING YEARS PRIOR AND POST MY 2006 HAD RECALLS AS DID OTHER SIMILAR CARS AND THAT AIRBAGS FAILED, I AM VERY CONCERNED. HYUNDAI SEEMS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED AND A SPONTANEOUS ELECTRICAL FIRE IS A MAIN CONCERN. I HAD MY STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER A RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY AND ADVISORY AND NOT A RECALL AND WAS MADE TO PAY $50 TO REPLACE THE $7.00 STOP LAMP SWITCH PART. I LATER WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT INDEED IT WAS A RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD SCAMMED ME BY CHARGING LABOR TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES ARE A DANGER, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE MAY ALSO BE ISSUES WITH CRUISE CONTROL BY STOP LAMP, AND I AM NOT CERTAIN WITH SEVERAL YEARS AND MILES DRIVING THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS STILL FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE RECALL OF 2006 & A DESIGN CHANGE WITH AMPLE TESTING TO PROVE THESE IMPORTS ARE NOT CUTTING CORNERS AGAIN. I WAS CONSIDERING ANOTHER, SUCH AS A TOYOTA, HOWEVER THE RECALLS ON TOYOTA AND DEATHS HAVE MADE ME CAUTIOUS OF THEIR QUALITY AS WELL. IF AIRBAGS ARE MANDATED BY YOU THEN THEIR REPAIR WHEN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE SHOULD REST ON THE MANUFACTURERS. OWNED 2 2003 LANCERS 2.0L AND WERE TOTALED, ONE ROLLOVER ONE FRONT DEER COLLISION. VEHICLE BODY SAFE BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER VEHICLE. *TR
Air bags, Nov 24, 2014
NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER SAYS IT IS SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. WHEN DEALER RECEIVED PART IT WOULD NOT FIT BECAUSE IT IS A THREE-PRONG DESIGN RATHER THAN A TWO PRONG DESIGN SUCH AS WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. DEALER INDICATES THAT HYUNDAI SWITCHED TO A THREE-PRONG DESIGN IN MID-2006 MODEL YEAR. THIS NECESSITATES THE PURCHASE OF A SEAT CUSHION FOR THE CAR THAT THE THREE PRONG SENSOR CAN PLUG INTO. THE SENSOR PRICE WITH LABOR IS ABOUT $300 AND THE SEAT CUSHION PART PRICE IS $800. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT ELANTRAS FROM 2007 MODEL YEAR FORWARD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME THING. I BELIEVED THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS PROBLEM WAS FILED IN CALIFORNIA ALLEGING AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HYUNDAI HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 ELANTRA AND OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. THE DEALER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY FOR A SMALLER PERSON. I BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *TR
Air bags, Sep 30, 2014
WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER (WEIGHT 125 LBS) IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED" INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS REMAINING UNDEPLOYED, POSSIBLY FURTHER RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Air bags, Jul 30, 2014
THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON. *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Seats, Mar 28, 2014
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE 'AIR BAG' LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD GOES OFF - PROBLEM BEGAN UPON INITIALLY STARTING CAR, AND IS NOT LINKED TO ANY ACCIDENT EVER OCCURRED. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS RIDING IN THESE VEHICLES. *TR