BRAKE SWITCH BAD, NO BRAKE LIGHTS. OCCASIONALLY, IT WOULD KEEP THE CAR FROM STARTING. HAD TO REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE AS HYUNDAI SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLS FOR THE BAD BRAKE SWITCH.
2006 Hyundai Elantra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
126 reports with mileage · 29 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
155 reportsWAS STOPPED BY FELLOW MOTORIST SAYING BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. FUSES GOOD. SEE OTHER POSTS WHEN I GOOGLE THIS. *TR
PRIOR TO THIS DATE HAD ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SUCH AS BACK LIGHTING OF STEREO AND ASH TRAY, CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONING PAST FEW YEARS, MORE RECENTLY ODOMETER BACK LIGHT ALSO DOES NOT LIGHT. PREVIOUS REPORT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN NOBODY WAS SITTING IN SEAT, OR IF PURSE ON SEAT, LESS THAN 10 LBS. THEN…
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PRIOR TO THIS DATE HAD ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SUCH AS BACK LIGHTING OF STEREO AND ASH TRAY, CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONING PAST FEW YEARS, MORE RECENTLY ODOMETER BACK LIGHT ALSO DOES NOT LIGHT. PREVIOUS REPORT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN NOBODY WAS SITTING IN SEAT, OR IF PURSE ON SEAT, LESS THAN 10 LBS. THEN AT ABOUT 206,000 MILES, MY ESTIMATE DRIVER INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR ON FIRST SOME TIMES, THEN SHORTLY AFTER ON ALL THE TIME. AFTER READING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SEEING YEARS PRIOR AND POST MY 2006 HAD RECALLS AS DID OTHER SIMILAR CARS AND THAT AIRBAGS FAILED, I AM VERY CONCERNED. HYUNDAI SEEMS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED AND A SPONTANEOUS ELECTRICAL FIRE IS A MAIN CONCERN. I HAD MY STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER A RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY AND ADVISORY AND NOT A RECALL AND WAS MADE TO PAY $50 TO REPLACE THE $7.00 STOP LAMP SWITCH PART. I LATER WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT INDEED IT WAS A RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD SCAMMED ME BY CHARGING LABOR TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES ARE A DANGER, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE MAY ALSO BE ISSUES WITH CRUISE CONTROL BY STOP LAMP, AND I AM NOT CERTAIN WITH SEVERAL YEARS AND MILES DRIVING THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS STILL FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE RECALL OF 2006 & A DESIGN CHANGE WITH AMPLE TESTING TO PROVE THESE IMPORTS ARE NOT CUTTING CORNERS AGAIN. I WAS CONSIDERING ANOTHER, SUCH AS A TOYOTA, HOWEVER THE RECALLS ON TOYOTA AND DEATHS HAVE MADE ME CAUTIOUS OF THEIR QUALITY AS WELL. IF AIRBAGS ARE MANDATED BY YOU THEN THEIR REPAIR WHEN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE SHOULD REST ON THE MANUFACTURERS. OWNED 2 2003 LANCERS 2.0L AND WERE TOTALED, ONE ROLLOVER ONE FRONT DEER COLLISION. VEHICLE BODY SAFE BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A CRASH WAS PREVENTED DUE TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SW…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A CRASH WAS PREVENTED DUE TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE BRAKE SERVICE PROVIDER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE THE FACT THAT THE SHOES WERE EXTENDED TO FAR. THERE WAS NO WAY TO MANUALLY ADJUST THEM IN AS THERE WAS NO ACCESS HOLE ON…
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UPON APPLICATION OF BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO A REPUTABLE BRAKE SERVICE PROVIDER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE DRUM COULD NOT BE REMOVED DUE THE FACT THAT THE SHOES WERE EXTENDED TO FAR. THERE WAS NO WAY TO MANUALLY ADJUST THEM IN AS THERE WAS NO ACCESS HOLE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DRUM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THEM UNDER THE CONDITIONS CREATED THERE WOULD BE DAMAGE OR DESTRUCTION OF PARTS INVOLVED. PROVIDER WAS ABLE TO VISIBLY INSPECT THE BRAKE SHOES AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS PLENTY OF MATERIAL REMAINING. WHY WOULD THERE BE NO ACCESS TO ADJUST? *TR
NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER SAYS IT IS SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. WHEN DEALER RECEIVED PART IT WOULD NOT FIT BECAUSE IT IS A THREE-PRONG DESIGN RATHER THAN A TWO PRONG DESIGN SUCH AS WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. DEALER INDICATES THAT HYUNDAI SWITCHED TO A THREE-PRONG DESIGN IN MID-2006 MODEL Y…
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NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. DEALER SAYS IT IS SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. WHEN DEALER RECEIVED PART IT WOULD NOT FIT BECAUSE IT IS A THREE-PRONG DESIGN RATHER THAN A TWO PRONG DESIGN SUCH AS WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. DEALER INDICATES THAT HYUNDAI SWITCHED TO A THREE-PRONG DESIGN IN MID-2006 MODEL YEAR. THIS NECESSITATES THE PURCHASE OF A SEAT CUSHION FOR THE CAR THAT THE THREE PRONG SENSOR CAN PLUG INTO. THE SENSOR PRICE WITH LABOR IS ABOUT $300 AND THE SEAT CUSHION PART PRICE IS $800. I BELIEVE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THAT ELANTRAS FROM 2007 MODEL YEAR FORWARD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME THING. I BELIEVED THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS PROBLEM WAS FILED IN CALIFORNIA ALLEGING AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS THAT HYUNDAI HAD PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 ELANTRA AND OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS. THE DEALER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM AS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT PROPERLY DEPLOY FOR A SMALLER PERSON. I BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PARKING, THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER (WEIGHT 125 LBS) IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE "PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED" INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS REMAINING UNDEPLOYED, POSSIBLY FURTHER RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
I HAVE NOTICED EVER SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR EVERYTIME, I HAVE ALSO READ ONLINE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM , SO WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, HYUNDAI THEMSELVES HAVE ALREADY ADMITTED THAT THE TRANSM…
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I HAVE NOTICED EVER SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR EVERYTIME, I HAVE ALSO READ ONLINE THAT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM , SO WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, HYUNDAI THEMSELVES HAVE ALREADY ADMITTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS A WEAK SYNCRO THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE TRANSMISSION CEASING AND SOMEONE POSSIBLY BEING KILLED, SO WHY NO RECALL, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST? *TR
Official recalls
109V280000 · Exterior Lighting
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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