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: service brakes
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Service brakes, Oct 13, 2020
MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STUCK ON BUT MY FUSES ARE NOT BLOWN.
Air bags, Service brakes, Nov 6, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT ON BRAKE LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER CAR OFF AND FOOT NOT PUSHING THEM ON
Service brakes, Dec 10, 2018
MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I REPLACED BOTH BULBS AND NOTHING CHANGED. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE FOR A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION AND DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH MY CAR BUT MY VIN DOES NOT APPEAR TO QUALIFY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
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.
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.
Service brakes, Jun 28, 2017
ANNUAL SAFETY CHECK TODAY REVEALED ALL OF THE BREAK LIGHTING WAS NOT WORKING ON OUR 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. CHECKED FUSE AND BULB AND ALL ARE WORKING. SEARCHED THIS WEBSITE AND FOUND RECALLS FOR MANY MODELS AND YEARS OF HYUNDAI, BUT NOT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL. I NOTICED ALSO THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WOULD OPERATE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THESE ISSUES WERE RESOLVED WITH THE INSTALATION OF A NEW SWITCH
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
Service brakes, Oct 9, 2016
2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. CALLED HYUNDAI (800.633.5151) SINCE THIS MODEL AND YEAR WAS UNDER HYUNDAI RECALL# 092 (HTSA 09V280000). PROVIDED VIN NUMBER AND REPRESENTATIVE (KAYLA) TOLD ME THAT THAT SPECIFIC VIN WAS NOT ELIGIBLE AND THAT I COULD SEND A POSTAGE LETTER TO A PO BOX FOR APPEAL. OBVIOUSLY I AM GOING TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC TO REPAIR TO AVOID ANY INJURY.
Structure, Service brakes, Aug 18, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT HOUSING WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,468.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 19, 2015
I HAVE A BAD BRAKE SWITCH, AND NOTICED THAT THE ONLY RECALL IS IN PUERTO RICO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI AMERICA SHOULD BE RECALLING ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW AND MAKE HYUNDAI FIX THIS "SAFETY "ISSUE. THANK YOU.
Service brakes, May 12, 2015
BRAKE SWITCH BAD, NO BRAKE LIGHTS. OCCASIONALLY, IT WOULD KEEP THE CAR FROM STARTING. HAD TO REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE AS HYUNDAI SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLS FOR THE BAD BRAKE SWITCH.
Power train, Service brakes, Jan 7, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A CRASH WAS PREVENTED DUE TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Service brakes, Dec 13, 2014
UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE BRAKE SERVICE PROVIDER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE THE FACT THAT THE SHOES WERE EXTENDED TO FAR. THERE WAS NO WAY TO MANUALLY ADJUST THEM IN AS THERE WAS NO ACCESS HOLE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DRUM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THEM UNDER THE CONDITIONS CREATED THERE WOULD BE DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION OF PARTS INVOLVED. PROVIDER WAS ABLE TO VISIBLY INSPECT THE BRAKE SHOES AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS PLENTY OF MATERIAL REMAINING. WHY WOULD THERE BE NO ACCESS TO ADJUST? *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jul 30, 2014
ON THIS DATE I EXPERIENCED THE 4TH OF 5 INCIDENCES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN THE 8 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. I WAS DRIVING IN DAYTONA BEACH APPROACHING A RED TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THERE WAS A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND THE ACCELERATION REVVED THE ENGINE. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY TO STOP THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT AS HAD BEEN SUGGESTED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THE LAST TIME I HAD TAKEN IT IN FOR THIS ISSUE. I DROVE IT HOME SAFELY, BUT THE NEXT MORNING IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP, AGAIN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ALMOST HITTING A BMW. I AGAIN DROVE IT HOME SAFELY, PARKED IT AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. I MADE ARRANGEMENT TO TAKE IT IN ON JULY 7TH TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN. OUT OF FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY KEPT IT FOR 2 DAYS, DROVE IT 240 MILES AND ONCE AGAIN COULD FIND NO ISSUE. THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY OUT OF FEAR OF KILLING SOMEONE OR DAMAGING PROPERTY. WHEN I TOLD THEM I HAD FOUND MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING WITH HYUNDAIS ONLINE, THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A THING. ONE ARTICLE STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FIXED THIS PROBLEM IN 2012. WHILE I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW CAR, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS ONE, AND WOULD NOT WANT TO SELL IT TO ANYONE ELSE BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES I HAVE EXPERIENCED.
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, 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
Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, May 15, 2013
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE. I EXPERIENCED THIS AS THE CAR "LURCHING" FORWARD WHEN BRAKING, AS THE ENGINE IS TRYING TO BRING THE CAR BACK UP TO THE PRE-SET SPEED. THIS HAPPENED, MOST RECENTLY, WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE SUDDEN LURCH WAS FRIGHTENING SINCE IT WAS UNEXPECTED. THE LURCH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO MAKE CONTACT WITH CAR AHEAD OF ME. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. EVEN WITH MULTIPLE PRESSES OF THE BRAKE THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. IT WAS ONLY BY USING THE HAND CONTROLS WAS I ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 2 TIMES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SYSTEMATICALLY. *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
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
Electrical system, Service brakes, Dec 23, 2012
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CAUSE WAS A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY TSB 09-01-018. *TR
Service brakes, Dec 11, 2012
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION HAD CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. HAVE NOT USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DON'T WORK AND IT IS AFFECTING CARS REMOTE START THAT THE DEALER INSTALLED. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF BUY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. AND AFTER TURNING KEY TO ON POSITION AND THEN OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. *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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Feb 21, 2012, crash
WHILE BACKING UP IN REVERSE, THE BRAKE DID NOT WORK. INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THE ENGINE REVED UP TO WHAT SEEM TO BE A VERY HIGH SPEED. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT SMASHED INTO OUR OTHER CAR, WHICH WAS ABOUT 4 FEET BEHIND IT. IT WAS ABOUT 5 PM ON A DRY ROAD. MY HUSBAND WAS WEARING WORK BOOTS AT THE TIME. THERE WAS ONLY A FEW SCRATCHES ON THE REAR BUMPER. THE HOOD OF THE OTHER CAR WAS PUSHED IN. OUR MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND COMPUTER CODES OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. THE HYUNDAI DEALER ALSO SAID THERE WERE NO ISSUES HE KNEW OF. OTHER ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH ELANTRAS WE READ ABOUT MAKE US THINK THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR DESIGN ON THESE CARS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THEY SEEM TO BE ONLY ABOUT 3- 4" APART, WHERE OTHER MAKES ARE AT LEAST 6" APART. WE BELIEVE HIS BOOT MAY HAVE GOTTEN STUCK ON THE GAS WHEN SWITCHING TO THE BRAKE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED LAST WINTER WHEN OUR 2000 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAS BACKING UP AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT WAS STOPPED BY A SNOWBANK. MY HUSBAND WAS ALSO WEARING SNOW BOOTS AT THE TIME. *TR