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

155 reports, newest first.

  1. 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)

  2. 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

  3. Electrical system, Oct 13, 2006

    WE PURCHASED 2 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS 2006 MODELS IN MAY 2006 AS GIFTS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. WITHIN 1 WEEK OR LESS, THE PHONE CHARGER IN THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING ON EITHER CAR. THEY REPLACED THE FUSES IN EACH VEHICLE AND TOLD US THAT WHEN WE CHARGE THE PHONES, THEY SHOULD BE PLUGGED IN PRIOR TO STARTING THE CAR IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FUSES FROM "BLOWING". 13 OCT 2006 - 1 OF MY DAUGHTERS BLEW A FUSE AND REPLACED IT PER THEIR PROTOCOL. SHE PLUGGED IN HER CELL PHONE TO CHARGE AND THE CRANKED HER CAR. THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE 2 BRAND NEW 2006 ELANTRAS THAT ARE BOTH BLOWING FUSES. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLUG IN A SIMPLE CELL PHONE CHARGER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BLOWING THE FUSE EVERY TIME. *NM

  4. Electrical system, Oct 13, 2006

    WE PURCHASED 2 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS 2006 MODELS IN MAY 2006 AS GIFTS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. WITHIN 1 WEEK OR LESS, THE PHONE CHARGER IN THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING ON EITHER CAR. THEY REPLACED THE FUSES IN EACH VEHICLE AND TOLD US THAT WHEN WE CHARGE THE PHONES, THEY SHOULD BE PLUGGED IN PRIOR TO STARTING THE CAR IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FUSES FROM "BLOWING". 13 OCT 2006 - 1 OF MY DAUGHTERS BLEW A FUSE AND REPLACED IT PER THEIR PROTOCOL. SHE PLUGGED IN HER CELL PHONE TO CHARGE AND THE CRANKED HER CAR. THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE 2 BRAND NEW 2006 ELANTRAS THAT ARE BOTH BLOWING FUSES. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLUG IN A SIMPLE CELL PHONE CHARGER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BLOWING THE FUSE EVERY TIME. *NM

  5. Seats, Jul 3, 2006, crash

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SLID FORWARD ON ITS TRACKS, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO IMPACT THE DASHBOAD, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION AT 5 MPH. THERE WERE NO DAMAGES NOR POLICE REPORT FILED. AN APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE SEAT INSPECTED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *AK