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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 155

Of the 2006 reports, 28 involved a crash. 23 people were injured.

Primary concernAir bags56 reports · 36% of complaints
Owner complaints155Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Air bags56
  2. Exterior lighting38
  3. Service brakes32
  4. Electrical system16
  5. Vehicle speed control11
  6. Hydraulic8
  7. Power train8
  8. Structure8

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  1. Air bags, Dec 30, 2007, crash

    ALL BAGS IN THE CAR FAILED TO OPEN UPON IMPACT, DON'T BUY "HYUNDAI"S AND HYUNDAI SAID THAT SINCE 2002 THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WITH ELANTRAS AND OTHER MODELS. BUT DID NOTHING TO FIX THEM. *TR

  2. Air bags, Jun 21, 2007

    TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE INDICATOR READS, "AIR BAG OFF". THE CONTACT REPORTED THE FAILURE TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 21,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

  3. Air bags, Feb 22, 2007, crash

    TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT AP10-15 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH OCCURRED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AFTER WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS ONLY ONE PASSENGER IN VEHICLE. THERE WAS NEVER ANY MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 49000. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

  4. Air bags, Structure, Nov 6, 2006, crash

    I FAILED TO TURN MY WHEEL SUFFICIENTLY AND HIT A PALM TREE AT FOUR MILES PER HOUR. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED $3400.00 OF DAMAGES FROM THIS FOUR MILE PER HOUR CRASH. I DO NOT FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE. *NM

  5. Air bags, Oct 31, 2006, crash

    2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA LIMITED VIN: [XXX]. ON OCT 13TH 2006 THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. THE SPEED AT IMPACT WAS ESTIMATED AT 60 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

  6. Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 24, 2006, crash

    I WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. MY VEHICLE SPEED WAS ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND UPON IMPACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHICH WAS STOPPED CAUSED MY BODY TO JOLT FORWARD AND STRIKE MY STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT WHICH DID NOT LOCK AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LATER ON IN THE AFTERNOON I HAD WENT TO THE ER FOR CHEST PAIN, NECK AND BACK PAIN AS WELL AS INJURING MY RIGHT HAND. *NM