2006 Hyundai SANTA FE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
63,141 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 106 complaints (25.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 35.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 6.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 6.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 12 |
| Suspension | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Air Bags: 27; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Service Brakes: 12; Suspension: 11; Electrical System: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Seat Belts: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 11
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 22 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 5; 2009: 6; 2010: 6; 2011: 10; 2012: 9; 2013: 8; 2014: 16; 2015: 10; 2016: 5; 2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10151342 · 2006-02-27 (February 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT WHILE GOING 25-30 MPH. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161084 · 2006-06-29 (June 29, 2006)
ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHEN BRAKING FROM SLOW <20 MPH, ALSO ABS PUMP CYCLES ON DURING SLOW TURNS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161084 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173071 · 2006-11-09 (November 9, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261406 · 2009-03-10 (March 10, 2009)
I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. FIRST THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT WENT OUT, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER QUIT AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT. THE WIPER ARM HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2006. IT HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT AND SO THE WARRANTY THAT COVERS THINGS LIKE SENSORS AND ALL IS NO LONGER VALID. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10261406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174382 · 2006-11-27 (November 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/18/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190566 · 2007-05-12 (May 12, 2007)
AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALER MECHANIC I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH DONE. NOW THE CAR IDLES ERRATICALLY, AND SURGES WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. AT TIMES.WHEN STOPPED THE IDLE DROPS TO 300-400 RPMS, ALMOST A STALL, AND SOMETIMES IT JUMPS TO 1200-1500 RPMS AND WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM REALLY STOMP ON THE BRAKE, OR ELSE I WOULD HIT SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY USED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES, SO NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY RECOMMENDED AN INJECTOR FLUSH, THOUGH THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE AT…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465708 · 2012-07-15 (July 15, 2012)
AFTER ENGINE IS WARM, ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER, THERE IS A GURGLING IN THE FUEL TANK WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON (BEFORE AND AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED). I THINK IT IS FUEL BEING RETURNED FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE HAD IT IN TWO DIFFERENT HYUNDAI SERVICE SHOPS, WITH THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED TWICE, AND A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED. HAVING GIVEN UP, BOTH SHOPS CONTACTED THE DISTRICT HYUNDAI OFFICE AND A FIELD SERVICE ADVISER TOLD THE LOCAL SHOPS TO SHOW THE EVENT AS "NORMAL". IT IS NOT NORMAL AND I THINK THE HYUNDAI DISTRICT OFFICE IS HIDING TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,137 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293993 · 2009-11-30 (November 30, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN DRIVING OVER A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER,THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK. USUALLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS,THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE FOR ABOUT 35 SECONDS AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK. AFTER A SHORT TIME, THE BRAKES AND STEERING COLUMN WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING INTO ONE OF THE PULLEYS. HOWEVER HE STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328576 · 2010-05-03 (May 3, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN OR THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETTING TOO WET FROM EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE WATER AND REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SENSOR. TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING REPAIRS, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT STEERING CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10322912 · 2010-03-30 (March 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START-UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY STALL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE BEFORE IT WOULD POWER ON AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE WARNING PANEL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322912 at NHTSA ↗