2006 Hyundai SANTA FE: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 10174937 · 2006-12-01 (December 1, 2006)
#1 CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND PULLED OVER INTO EMPTY LOT AND TESTED BRAKES A FEW TIMES AND THEN IT WAS OKAY. #2 WAS STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE ABOUT 2 FEET AWAY, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN CAR ACCELERATED AND FELT LIKE IT JUMPED AND I BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS WAS ON 11-28-06 ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO TELL THEM THAT MY BRAKES SOUNDED LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL ON FOGGY MORNINGS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE MORNING BEFORE BUT I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175009 · 2006-12-03 (December 3, 2006)
BRAKES FAILED TO APPLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT CAUSING ME TO HIT THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME; SPEED LESS THAN 10 MPH; BRAKES "BUCKED" AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR IN TIME TO PREVENT ACCIDENT; APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED OFF IGNITION TO STOP PROCESS; REPORTED TO LOCAL POLICE; CAR HAS BEEN IMPOUNDED FOR INVESTIGATION AND CONFIRMATION OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10179423 · 2007-01-22 (January 22, 2007)
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. I HIT THE BACK OF A STOPPED FARM TRUCK CARRYING A HAY BALE AT ABOUT 65 MPH, WHILE I AM ALIVE AND IN DECENT SHAPE CONSIDERING, I SURELY WOULD HAVE APPRECIATED AT LEAST ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYING, BUT NO, BRAND NEW CAR, TOTALED, I HAVE PICS, AND ALL THE AIR BAGS STILL TUCKED AWAY IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS. I WOULD APPRECIATE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR THIS AS I CURRENTLY OWN 2 HYUNDAI VEHICLES AND PLAN TO NOT PURCHASE OR RECOMMEND ON EVER AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188853 · 2007-04-25 (April 25, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE INTO TRAFFIC, STRUCK ANOTHER POLE AND A TRAFFIC SIGN. THE SIGN WAS KNOCKED DOWN, AND THE POLE WAS THE SNAPPED AT THE BASE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 11000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188853 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.
14V435000 · Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
Reported: 2014-07-18 (July 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗