2006 Hyundai Santa FE
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 106 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 25th highest complaint count among 25 Santa FE model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 11 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 8 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Suspension, front, springs, coil springsJul 18, 2014
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.
Campaign 14V435000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: fuel system
6 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exhaust muffler detached and fell off the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with fuel tank failure. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that upon arriving at the dealer, the dealer noticed fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The contact was informed that the exhaust muffler had detached because of the fuel tank failure. The contact was initially informed that the repair was covered under an extended warranty. The contact was later informed that the repair was not covered under the extended warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the safety failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Fuel system, Gasoline, Jul 30, 2021
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The contact discovered that there was fuel leaking underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the fuel tank was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 118,000.
Suspension, Fuel system, Gasoline, Jun 2, 2016
2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION RECALL NOTICE AND FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT PARTS STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. *SMD
Fuel system, Other, Mar 9, 2011
GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK AND THEN ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. TAKEN TO HYDRAIN MECHANIC TWO TIMES. THE SECOND TIME THE MECHANIC EXPERIENCE THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK. JUST EXPERIENCE AGAIN ON MARCH 7-8, 2011 THIS HAS GONE ON FOR TWO YEARS. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 20, 2010
EVERY SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES 100' RANDOMLY WITH OUT CAUSE MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, WHERE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY FILLS WITH THE TASTE AND SMELL OF RAW FUEL FUMES, CHOKING ME AND ANY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE,. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO MY DEALER EVERY SUMMER FOR THIS SAME REASON,. THIS 12 AUGUST, THE 'INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ONLY 4.2 MILES FROM THE DEALER, AND ROVE DIRECTLY THERE, WHILE ON THE BLUETOOTH WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER AND SEVERAL SENIOR SERVICE WRITERS WITNESSED THE 'INCIDENT' GAS FUMES COULD BEE SEEN ROILING FROM UNDER THE HOOD,. FOR FOUR YEARS, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM, NOT ONLY DID THEY WITNESS THIS FIRST HAND , BUT DUPLICATED IT AGAIN,. AFTER MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME, AS HYUNDAI AMERICA REFUSED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, I WAS TOLD BY A REGIONAL 'PARTS MANAGER', WHO CALLED ME FROM A CELL PHONE SO THE CONVERSATION COULD NOT BE RECORDED, AND TOLD ME THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED, HOWEVER, IT IS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO MY CAR, AND FOR ME NOT TO DRIVE WITH THE A/C ON IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, DURING THE SUMMER,. *TR
Fuel system, Gasoline, Aug 14, 2008
SURGING. SOMETIMES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ALSO LAYING ON THE GAS PEDAL. OTHER TIMES, WHEN JUST BARELY ACCELERATING, IT'S LIKE TAKING OFF AT THE STARTING LINE. REAL SURGING, IT'S SCARY. MY WIFE DOESN'T LIKE DRIVING IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH'S AT THE DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG, THAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO THIS. I FIND THAT TO BE STUPID, OR NOT TRUE. *TR