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: exterior lighting
38 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Oct 13, 2020
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STUCK ON BUT MY FUSES ARE NOT BLOWN.
Exterior lighting, Aug 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POLICE INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,676.
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.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jul 25, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPON CONDUCTING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V113000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AS A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000.
Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2016
WAS FLAGGED BY PASSING MOTORIST THAT BRAKE LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. CHECKED FUSES AND THEY WERE GOOD. WAS ADVISED THERE COULD BE AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE SWITCH. Y THIS VIN WAS NOT LISTED WITH THE RECALL DESPITE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT TIME OF NOTIFICATION.
Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN IT WAS OBSERVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Exterior lighting, Jan 5, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKE LAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN OPERATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000(EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,354.
Exterior lighting, Mar 4, 2015
WAS STOPPED BY FELLOW MOTORIST SAYING BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. FUSES GOOD. SEE OTHER POSTS WHEN I GOOGLE THIS. *TR
Exterior lighting, Oct 31, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PARKING, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Exterior lighting, Sep 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Jun 4, 2014
WHILE DRIVING WHEN I GO TO BRAKE MY BRAKES DON'T TURN ON. ALL THREE OF THEM STAY TURNED OFF. I WAS PULLED OVER FOR THIS TWICE IN THE PAST YEAR. THE FIRST TIME MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN WASN'T AFFECTED IN THE RECALL. THEY STARTED WORKING AGAIN WHEN I REPLACED MY BATTERY BUT WHO KNOWS FOR HOW LONG. I WAS JUST PULLED OVER AGAIN ON MONDAY FOR THE SAME THING. *TR
Exterior lighting, May 7, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER (09V280000)(EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,465.
Exterior lighting, Jan 26, 2014
BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. DESPITE RECEIVING RECALL LETTERS FOR OUR 2006 ACCENT AND 2009 SONATA, THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT OUR 2006 ELANTRA WITH IT'S PARTICULAR VIN IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. YET IT'S THE ONLY CAR WE OWNED THAT HAD THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL. WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA AND THEY WERE NO HELP. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Sep 30, 2013
ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, I CALLED HYUNDAI, BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COVER IT, SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Sep 9, 2013
BRAKE LAMPS FAILED TO WORK ON MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. DEALER TECHNICIANS IDENTIFIED AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WHICH THEY REPLACED AT A COST OF $145. I LATER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LIMITED RECALL IN JULY 2009 AT NHTSA CAMPAIGN #09V280000 FOR 2005-2007 ELANTRAS IN PUERTO RICO, AND THEN IN APRIL 2013, AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A PENDING RECALL OF MODEL YEARS 2007-2013. IT APPEARS THAT HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THAT THEY NO LONGER NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE 2006 MODEL YEAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED AS EARLY AS JULY 2009. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Aug 27, 2013
HYUNDAI RECENTLY HAD A RECALL ON BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS APPLIES TO THE 2007 ELANTRA AND I HAVE THE 2006. MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OUT. AFTER CHECKING THE FUSES AND THE BULBS I REALIZED IT WAS THE RECENTLY RECALLED FAULTY BRAKE LIKE SWITCH TO BLAME. $155 LATER IT'S REPAIRED. THEY REALLY NEED TO INCLUDE OTHER YEARS AND MODELS ON THIS RECALL, AND SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHER CONSUMERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUES. SOMEONE COULD HAVE REAR ENDED ME AND I COULD HAVE DIED HAD SOMEONE NOT TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OUT. *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A DRIVER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE INFORMED HIM THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AND HIS FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Exterior lighting, Jun 25, 2013
I WAS UNKNOWINGLY DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT ANY WORKING BRAKE LIGHTS FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG! AFTER FINDING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE FUSES, I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON CERTAIN MODELS (ELANTRA INCLUDED) FROM 2005-08. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE RECALL, SAID BRING IT IN THE NEXT DAY AND THEY COULD REPLACE THE FAULTY EQUIPMENT. AFTER BEING SURPRISED BY A BILL, THE SERVICE CONSULTANT EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE ONLY CERTAIN CARS WHICH WERE AFFECTED AND MY VIN WASN'T ON THE LIST OF THOSE AFFECTED. HE TOLD ME THAT I COULD CALL HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT GETTING THE COSTS COVERED--HE HAD SEEN THAT HAPPEN BEFORE. I CALLED THE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH CARS FROM 2005-2008 WERE ON THE RECALL LIST, MY VIN WASN'T ON THE LIST AND, THEREFORE, WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I MENTIONED HOW I THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS THEY SHOULD LOOK A BIT DEEPER INTO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MORE CARS FROM THAT TIME PERIOD THAN JUST THOSE ON THAT CURRENT LIST OF AFFECTED CARS ACCORDING TO VIN WERE EXPERIENCING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS AND WERE MADE IN THAT TIME FRAME! HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE BEST HE COULD DO WOULD BE TO MAKE NOTE OF MY CALL/COMPLAIN/CONCERN. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL ON THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH AND THEY NEED TO EXTEND THE CURRENT RECALL TO COVER MORE CARS WITHIN THAT SAME TIME FRAME THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. I AM SO LUCKY THAT MY FRIEND NOTICED IT WAS MY CAR AND CALLED ME TO SAY THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS WORKING; OTHERWISE, I WOULD STILL BE DRIVING AROUND COMPLETELY IGNORANT TO THE FACT THAT I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS! I AM SO LUCKY THAT I WASN'T IN AN ACCIDENT AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS ME AND ARE DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING AND THEY MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! THANK YOU. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Mar 6, 2013
BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING ALL THE TIME WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, FOR THE PAST WEEK THEY ONLY WORK FOR A MINUTE OR NOT WORK AT ALL.WENT 2 TIMES TO THE DEALER BEFORE, TWICE THEY WERE WORKING WHEN I ARRIVED, SINCE LAST WEEK THEY ARE NOT WORKING EXCEPT FOR A MINUTE. I HAVE 2 MONTHS WITH THE PROBLEM I WORK 7 DAYS A WEEK AND CANNOT KEEP TAKING TIME OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT MY SPECIFIC MODEL YEAR ELANTRA 2006 IS NOT COVER BY THE RECALL, JUST TO INSPECT THEM COST $ 120, IF A PROBLEM IS FOUND PARTS AND LABOR. HYUNDAI DOESN'T ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE CAR HAS 50'000 MILES. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jan 8, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. .... UPDATED 02-20-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. THE REPAIRS WERE PAID IN FULL BY THE CONSUMER. UPDATED 02/25/2013 *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Dec 27, 2012
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. PART NUMBER 93810-3K000. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED IN PUERTO RICO ONLY, BUT FAILURE OF THIS PART MAY INDICATE A MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN HAWAII. *TR
Exterior lighting, Nov 9, 2012
WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. CHANGED FUSES AND BULBS BUT BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Sep 13, 2012
MY WIFE NOTICED HER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I LOOKED INTO AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH FOR HER MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THE RECALL IS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V122000. WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GAVE THEM HER VIN, AND THEY SAID HER VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS. WE TOOK HER CAR TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO GET REPAIRED. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS REPLACED. IT COST US $70 TO HAVE FIXED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE HE HAS HAD ALOT OF VEHICLES WITH THAT SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REVIEWED FURTHER AND I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO COVER OUR REPAIR COST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Sep 6, 2012
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION NO BRAKE LIGHTS NOTICED BY RELATIVE... *TR
Exterior lighting, Aug 2, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LIGHT, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,500.