2006 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 1,047 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2006 reports, 43 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 38 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipJan 9, 2018
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2006-2011 Hyundai Azera and 2006 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Water may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short .
An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2018. Owners may call Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 172.
Campaign 18V026000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearAug 12, 2013
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.
Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Campaign 13V354000 on NHTSA.gov
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
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 15, 2009
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED 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, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 09V122000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lightingApr 7, 2009
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsApr 10, 2008
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,308 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.
MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND OCS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 08V161000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMar 7, 2008
HYUNDAI-KIA IS RECALLING 4,085 REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD FOR USE ON 2006-2008 SONATA AND AZERA VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ALIGNED PROPERLY AND FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
IMPROPER AIMING OF THE HEADLAMP MAY RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
HYUNDAI-KIA DEALERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR SUPPLY TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. NONE OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE SOLD AS RETAIL. AS A RESULT, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
Campaign 08E021000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsJun 26, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SUNVISORS HAD LOST ADHESION TO THE SUNVISORS AND HAD DISTORTED OR SEPARATED FROM THE SUN VISORS.
IF THE LABELS ARE DISTORTED OR MISSING, THE DRIVER OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE THAT MAY HELP PROTECT THEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUNVISOR ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 06V234000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, headlightsMay 22, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INNER BEZELS OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE NOT PROPERLY ASSEMBLED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED.
AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED TURN SIGNAL LENS MAY REDUCE THE INTENSITY OF THE TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATION, REDUCING ITS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 06V180000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, reclinerAug 29, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB AND COULD CAUSE THE FRONT MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER TO INADVERTENTLY RELEASE.
THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF A FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB(S) FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 05V377000 on NHTSA.gov
Electronic stability control, automatic (asc)Jul 7, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 LITER ENGINES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), THE ESC MAY HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED TO BE OVERSENSITIVE TO THE ONSET OF OVERSTEERING WHILE DRIVING ON BANKED CURVES, CAUSING INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF THE FRONT OUTSIDE BRAKE WHEN ESC ACTIVATION MAY NOT BE NEEDED.
THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLOW AND MAY AFFECT THE PATH THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESC ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESC HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Campaign 05V316000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
84 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Aug 28, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES, THE BRAKE MODULE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE STATION AND THEY DISCOVERED A DEFECTIVE MODULE. THE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED SIX TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME SERVICE STATION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND HAD TO CALL THE FACTORY FOR A SUGGESTION. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AGAIN AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES SINCE. THE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, May 12, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY FAILURES AFTER THE REAR BRAKES WERE INSPECTED. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE STATE INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD ALSO NOT IDENTIFY ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE TURNING CORNERS, THE NOISE WORSENS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE AS RUSTED ROTORS, WHICH CAUSED THE NOISE. THEY ALSO INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFTEN. THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES AND STATED THAT THE BRAKE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,570 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,900.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 27, 2007, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND STRUCK A CURB. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTOR FAILED DUE TO IMPACT. THE CONTACT DISAGREES AND HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,349.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 22, 2007
I HAD NOTICED AT FIRST THE CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD IN 2006 RIGHT AFTER I HAD PURCHASED MY CAR. THEY REPLACED THE DASHBOARD, BUT NOT CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. WHEN I FINALLY GOT MY CAR BACK, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS IN MY CAR ON, AT THAT TIME ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OF MY CAR WENT OUT. THERE WERE WIRES THAT WERE APPARENTLY SWITCHED. AT THIS TIME I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND INFORMED THEM OF THE NEW PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FIXED. AFTER THEY REPLACED THE DASHBOARD I STARTED TO HAVE PROBELMS WITH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS GOING ON.THE TURNED THEM OFF AND STATED IT WAS MY FAULT. ABOUT THREE MONTHS LATER BOTH AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. AT THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO LOOKED UP INFORMATION ON THE COMPUTER AND STATED THAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN MY FAULT AGAIN. SOMEONE WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND SHUT THEM OFF BUT NO PAPERWORK WAS WRITTEN UP. THEN ANOTHER 3 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND THERE WAS ANOTHER CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. I CALLED THE ORIGINAL DEALER AGAIN AND THEY ORDERED ANOTHER DASHBOARD FOR THE CAR. AT THIS TIME I ASKED THEM AGAIN TO CHECK TO SEE ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHTS. THEY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK NOW (I STILL DO NOT HAVE IT BACK). WHILE ALL THE AIR BAG LIGHTS ISSUE WAS HAPPENING, THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE ABS AND ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) LIGHTS ALSO COMING ON AND NOT GOING OFF. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE THE ABS AND ESC LIGHT WAS COMING ON BECAUSE THERE IS A BRAKING ISSUE WITH THE CAR. AND THE AIRBAG LIGHTS THAT KEEP COMING ON AND STAYING ON IS BECAUSE OF A SENSOR ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. THEY ARE NOT SURE WHY THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. THEY ARE ALSO NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE BRAKE ISSUE WITH THE ABS AND ESC LIGHTS. *JB
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Aug 20, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN AND RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC. THE BRAKES WERE CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC NUMEROUS TIMES AND IS STILL WAITING FOR IT TO BE PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,967 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,053.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 13, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Sep 27, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO THE OR FULL MARK, THERE WAS A CREAKING NOISE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOOSE AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED THE SPARE TIRE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE THIRD AND LAST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE THE GAS TANK WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE TANK MAY BE EXPANDING RESULTING IN THE CREAKING NOISE.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jun 9, 2006
THE BRAKES ON MY "NEW" HYUNDAI SONATA IS THE PROBLEM. THE CAR WILL STOP BUT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL--THE PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR. TOOK THE CAR TO THE AGENCY 5/31/06 AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS CAR !!! DUH !!! BOUGHT THE CAR 5/02/06 HAVE LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT NOW. *NM
Suspension, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 15, 2006
1. REAR PASSENGER SIDE REPEAT RATTLING THUMPING NOISE IN SUSPENSION AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH CAUSING DISTURBANCE AND AGITATION TO CABIN DRIVER OR PASSENGERS 2. REAR PASSENGER SIDE DRONING-HUMMING ECHO NOISE MORE NOTICEABLE OVER 40 MPH AND AT STEADY MAINTAINED SPEED CAUSING DISTURBANCE AND AGITATION TO CABIN DRIVER OR PASSENGERS 3. SLOSHING NOISE OF GASOLINE IN GAS TANK AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED AND A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED IN AND AROUND THE GAS TANK AREA AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED CAUSING DISTURBANCE AND AGITATION TO CABIN DRIVER OR PASSENGERS. *NM