2006 Hyundai TUCSON: complaints, problems and recalls

THE RETRACTABLE SEAT BELTS FROM THE CEILING OF THE 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON ARE DANGEROUS TO CHILDREN. MY 7 YEAR OLD SON RELEASED BOTH ATTACHMENTS AT THE BUCKLE AREA AND IT RETRACTED AND ON ITS WAY UP HIT MY 5 YR OLD NIECE IN BELOW THE EYE SHE HAD A VERY BIG BLACK EYE FROM THIS INCIDENT I HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW THE INJURY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF IT HAD ACTUALLY HIT HER IN THE EYE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157203 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2006 TUSCON (6 MONTHS OLD) WAS STRUCK IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND REAR SEATS BY A 2002 CADILLAC. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS CITED FOR FAILURE TO YIELD AND TRAVELING AT AN ESTIMATED 35-40 MPH. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. MY TUSCON FLIPPED OVER 4 TIMES. OF 6 AIRBAGS, NOT 1 DEPLOYED. THE SIDE IMPACT DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE-CURTAIN DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT OR WHEN IT ROLLED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173580 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF 'NEW' 2006 TUCSON GLS V6 2.7L DOHC 24 VALVE ENGINE TO MEET 20-26 MPG. I GET ONLY 8-12 MPG, DRIVING CONSERVATIVELY. I CONTACTED LAMAR HYUNDAI WERE I PURCHASED IT UNDER STRESS & DURESS OF MY MOTHER'S DYING, ON 12-30-06. THEY SAID TO CONTACT THE MFG, AS THEY SELL THE CARS & HAVE NO SOLUTION. PLEASE HELP. I PAID MORE THAN ONLINE MSR PRICE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 54 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177889 at NHTSA ↗

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TUSCON. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT AND BACK DRIVE'SR SIDE DOORS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF FOUR OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AND ALL WERE BELTED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE, BUT WAS TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CRASH WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AND DENIED THE C…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186262 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI TUSCON PURCHASED NEW. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR GOES OFF 70% OF THE TIME THAT AN ADULT WEIGHING 102 POUNDS IS SEATED. THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, DENIED KNOWING THAT THERE IS HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HYUNDAI AIRBAGS, AND GAVE ME THE COMPANY LINE THAT THE PASSENGER HAD TO BE SEATED A PARTICULAR WAY. I HAVE VIDEO TAPED THE SITUATION WITH THE LIGHT ON WHILE A PASSENGER IS SEATED WITH A NEWSPAPER IN THE VIDEO. I WILL AGAIN REQUEST THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10186533 at NHTSA ↗

NEW 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON V6 4WD. SHAKING / VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT AROUND 45 MPH. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO THE HYUNDAI, DEALER 3 TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT SHAKING STILL PERSISTED. EACH VISIT TOOK LONGER, LAST ONE THEY HAD VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS. MECHANICS WORKED WITH THE FACTORY REPAIR REPRESENTATIVE , AND USED DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, BUT THEY STILL COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. WORK PERFORMED OVER 3 VISITS. BALANCED TIRES, SWAPPED OUT TIRES, LOOKED AT AXLES, REPLACED FAULTY COUPLING ASSEMBLY, MACHINED THE BRAKE WARPED DISCS, AND S…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10187339 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON. IN MARCH 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 06V445000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR MODULE). SHE STATED THAT THE MODULE IS STILL ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 14,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL HAS SINCE BEEN COMPLETED. UPDATED 07/06/07. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10192013 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TUCSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO CRANK START APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. THE HYUNDAI DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY THREE TIMES BESIDES THE ORIGINAL BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. PRESENTLY, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO CRANK START AGAIN. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 3,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START 4 TIMES BEFORE 1,489 AND 10 TIMES BEFORE 3,500 MILES. THE DEALER …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10192053 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-11-22 (November 22, 2006)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DURING STATIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTING CONDUCTED BY NHTSA USING FIFTH PERCENTILE FEMALE DUMMIES INDICATED IF A SMALL STATURED ADULT DRIVER, NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL OR NEAR FRONTAL CRASH, DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY RESULT IN AN INSUFFICIENT MARGIN OF COMPLIANCE AS MEASURED BY THE TEST DUMMY USED IN THE NHTSA TEST.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Reported: 2007-05-08 (May 8, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, STATIC AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TESTING CONDUCTED BY NHTSA USING FIFTH PERCENTILE FEMALE DUMMIES INDICATED THAT A SMALL STATURE ADULT DRIVER NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AND INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL OR NEAR FRONTAL CRASH, THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY NOT OCCUR.

Consequence: THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER UNDER CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE WITH ONE THAT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED MARGIN OF COMPLIANCE FOR LOW RISK DEPLOYMENT FOR SMALL STATURE ADULTS WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY WEARING THE SEAT BELTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, AND WILL BE PERFORMED IN TWO MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.

Reported: 2009-04-15 (April 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.

Consequence: ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.