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
155 reports, newest first.
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.
Engine, Oct 4, 2016
OUR CAR BLEW A HEAD GASKET AND NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. IT IS, ESSENTIALLY, TOTALED. IT ONLY HAD 86,000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAD PLANNED ON DRIVING IT FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 10 YEARS. THE CAR HAD BEEN IN A PARKING GARAGE ALL DAY. IT WAS ONLY 80 DEGREES OUTSIDE. WITHIN 10 MILES OF DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN ANOTHER 5 MILES THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THIS WAS NORMAL, FLAT, FREEWAY DRIVING. FORTUNATELY MY HUSBAND, WHO WAS DRIVING, HAD MADE HIS WAY TO THE RIGHT LANE WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN TO OTHERS, AND MAY HAVE MORE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS. I'M NOT AWARE OF A RECALL BEING OUT ON THIS, BUT PERHAPS THERE SHOULD BE.
Structure, Traction control system, Sep 9, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FISHTAILED UNCONTROLLABLY AND WAS PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ROAD SALT RUSTED THE SUBFRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ISSUED A CLAIM NUMBER, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Suspension, Structure, Wheels, Aug 24, 2016
THE REAR CROSS MEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THE REAR WHEELS ON THE 2006 ELANTRA WE OWN IS COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH TO THE POINT THAT THE NUTSERTS HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE RESULTING FREEPLAY IN THE REAR WHEELS CAUSED THE CAR TO FISHTAIL ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT. AFTER NO HELP FROM HYUNDAI REGIONAL MANAGER AND CORPORATE OFFICE, WE RESEARCHED THIS CONDITION ONLINE. SEEMS THAT 2000-2003 ELANTRAS AND SEVERAL YEARS OF THE SONATA MODELS HAVE THIS VERY SAME DEFECT. OUR YEAR AND MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN SEVERE FRAME ROT RECALLS, BUT IT SHOULD BE. BASED ON OUR RESEARCH, THESE PARTS RUST FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND GENERALLY START ON THE RIGHT SIDE. OURS IS SO CRUMBLED, IT HAS ROTTED IN HALF. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE, THIS CAR MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR EITHER A RECALL OR A BUYBACK. I'M QUOTING THIS FROM THE SITE: "CRITICAL VEHICLE COMPONENTS THAT BREAK, FALL APART OR SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING POTENTIAL LOSS OD VEHICLE CONTROL OR INJURY TO PERSONS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE." MY WIFE WAS LUCKY SHE WASN'T GOING 65 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. JUDGING BY THE EXISTING CLASS ACTION SUITS WE'VE SEEN ONLINE AGAINST HYUNDAI FOR THIS VERY SAME RUST PROBLEM IN OTHER MODEL YEARS, IT'S OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THEY ARE USING THE SAME REAR WHEELBASE SUPPORT DESIGN AND FLAWED STEEL COMPONENTS IN ALL THEIR MID-SIZED SEDANS.
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.
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.
Other or unspecified, Jul 24, 2016
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED ON THIS SITE UNDER COMPLAINTS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS. ALSO THAT THE 2005 & 2007 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS, EXPLAIN TO MY WHY THE 2006 MODELS HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. HYUNDAI SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS AND IF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE.
Air bags, Jun 1, 2016
AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON
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.
Visibility, Sep 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ON THE PASSENGER DOOR EXPLODED, STRUCK HER ON THE HEAD, AND LANDED ON HER LAP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 31, 2015
HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING ROUGH IDLE DESPITE FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER AND CLEAN THROTTLE BODY. REMOVED AND CLEANED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WITH THROTTLE BODY CLEANER, WHICH SMOOTHED OUT ROUGH IDLE BUT STUCK THROTTLE AT HIGH AND INCREASING RPM (GETTING LOUDER) IN PARK GEAR WHEN PARKING AFTER DRIVING. SUSPECTED AND REPLACED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR BUT IT WAS ELECTRONIC, NOT SPRING ACTIVATED, AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SAME HIGH RPMS BEFORE PARKING. WAS DRIVING ON 50 MPH HIGHWAY WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS (RT. 50 IN VIRGINIA), CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP CAR---RPMS INCREASED WHILE IN DRIVE GEAR DESPITE BRAKES BEING ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. WOULD HAVE RUN THROUGH RED LIGHT AT HIGH SPEED IF HAD NOT SHUT OFF ENGINE BEFORE INTERSECTION. REPLACED WITH NEW AFTERMARKET IAC (IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE) AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE.
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.
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.
Air bags, Jun 23, 2015
AIRBAGS LIGHTS STAY ON
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
Power train, Aug 2, 2014
I HAVE NOTICED EVER SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR EVERYTIME, I HAVE ALSO READ ONLINE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM , SO WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, HYUNDAI THEMSELVES HAVE ALREADY ADMITTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A WEAK SYNCRO THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE TRANSMISSION CEASING AND SOMEONE POSSIBLY BEING KILLED, SO WHY NO RECALL, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *TR