2006 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
155 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 126 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 155 complaints (28.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 61 | 39.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.3% |
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 | 44 |
| Exterior Lighting | 33 |
| Service Brakes | 23 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Seats | 5 |
Air Bags: 44; Exterior Lighting: 33; Service Brakes: 23; Electrical System: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Seats: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 24 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 24; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 29 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 | 7 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
2006: 7; 2007: 10; 2008: 8; 2009: 9; 2010: 12; 2011: 22; 2012: 17; 2013: 10; 2014: 16; 2015: 9; 2016: 14; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 61 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10161277 · 2006-07-03 (July 3, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 2,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170801 · 2006-10-13 (October 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 HAV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170802 · 2006-10-13 (October 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 HAV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171689 · 2006-10-24 (October 24, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 5,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172289 · 2006-10-31 (October 31, 2006)
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)
Owner-reported narrative. 10,143 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172804 · 2006-11-06 (November 6, 2006)
I FAILED TO TURN MY WHEEL SUFFICIENTLY AND HIT A PALM TREE AT FOUR MILES PER HOUR. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED $3400.00 OF DAMAGES FROM THIS FOUR MILE PER HOUR CRASH. I DO NOT FEEL THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10176908 · 2006-12-25 (December 25, 2006)
WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET A SEAT SHAMPOO THE SEATS HAVE BROUGHT UP A HORRIBLE STAIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SEATS AND THE CAR IS BRAND NEW AND I HAVE NEVER SPILLED ANY THING IN THE SEATS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177606 · 2007-01-02 (January 2, 2007)
WHEN MY WIFE WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKE ON A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA HER FOOT CONTACTED BOTH GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS, WHICH RESULTED IN CRASHING INTO BUILDING IN FRONT OF A PARKING SPACE. PERSONALLY I HAD EXPERIENCED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE GAS PEDAL IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND CLOSE TO BRAKE PEDAL AND IT APPEARS TO BE VERY EASY TO PUSH BOTH DOWN. I ALMOST DROVE INTO THE SIDE OF AN ONCOMING CAR ENTERING THE ROAD. ON MY TOYOTA HIGHLANDER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HIGHER THAN THE GAS PEDAL , MAYBE THE TRANSITION TO THIS OTHER PEDAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 515 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177606 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V280000 · Exterior Lighting
Reported: 2009-07-21 (July 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.
Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗