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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.

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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.

28 crash reports0 fire reports20 injury reports

What owners actually said

155 reports
105,000 miles · Dec 27, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. PART NUMBER 93810-3K000. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED IN PUERTO RICO ONLY, BUT FAILURE OF THIS PART MAY INDICATE A MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN HAWAII. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490254

52,000 miles · Dec 23, 2012
Electrical SystemService Brakes

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CAUSE WAS A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY TSB 09-01-018. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489582

58,000 miles · Dec 11, 2012
Service Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION HAD CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. HAVE NOT USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DON'T WORK AND IT IS AFFECTING CARS REMOTE START THAT THE DEALER INSTALLED. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF BUY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. AND AFT…

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BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION HAD CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. HAVE NOT USED CRUISE CONTROL SINCE BUT BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DON'T WORK AND IT IS AFFECTING CARS REMOTE START THAT THE DEALER INSTALLED. CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF BUY DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. AND AFTER TURNING KEY TO ON POSITION AND THEN OFF AND REMOVING THE KEY THE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10487973

61,593 miles · Nov 9, 2012
Exterior Lighting

WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. CHANGED FUSES AND BULBS BUT BRAKE LIGHTS WILL STILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN PRESSING BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483790

42,000 miles · Oct 3, 2012
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35-45 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35-45 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #10478471

45,000 miles · Sep 27, 2012
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF- WARNING INDICATOR WOULD COME ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES .WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON , NO RIDER IN SEAT IT WOULD NOT BE LIT. WHEN RIDER IN PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING INDICATOR WOULD BE ON. IT WOULD FUNCTION RIGHT SOMETIMES AND NOT AT OTHERS. NOW IT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL . AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR IN DRIVE…

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PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF- WARNING INDICATOR WOULD COME ON AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES .WHEN IT SHOULD BE ON , NO RIDER IN SEAT IT WOULD NOT BE LIT. WHEN RIDER IN PASSENGER SEAT, THE WARNING INDICATOR WOULD BE ON. IT WOULD FUNCTION RIGHT SOMETIMES AND NOT AT OTHERS. NOW IT NO LONGER WORKS AT ALL . AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR IN DRIVER CENTER GAUGE CONSOLE IS NOW ON ALWAYS. THIS LEAVES YOU WONDERING WILL THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL WORK OR NOT . THE HYUNDAI'S SISTER COMPANY KIA HAD A RECALL ON THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THIS LEFT ME HOPE FULL HYUNDAI WOULD RIGHT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477322

150,000 miles · Sep 13, 2012
Exterior LightingService Brakes

MY WIFE NOTICED HER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I LOOKED INTO AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH FOR HER MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THE RECALL IS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V122000. WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GAVE THEM HER VIN, AND THEY SAID HER VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS. WE TOOK HER CAR TO THE LOCAL…

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MY WIFE NOTICED HER BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I LOOKED INTO AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH FOR HER MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THE RECALL IS NHTSA CAMPAIGN 09V122000. WE CONTACTED HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GAVE THEM HER VIN, AND THEY SAID HER VEHICLE HAD NO RECALLS. WE TOOK HER CAR TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO GET REPAIRED. IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE STOP LIGHT SWITCH THAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS REPLACED. IT COST US $70 TO HAVE FIXED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR VEHICLE WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE HE HAS HAD ALOT OF VEHICLES WITH THAT SAME ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE REVIEWED FURTHER AND I WOULD LIKE HYUNDAI TO COVER OUR REPAIR COST FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475264

89,000 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Exterior LightingService Brakes

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION NO BRAKE LIGHTS NOTICED BY RELATIVE... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474089

85,000 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LIGHT, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA C…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE LIGHT, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V280000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,500.

NHTSA ODI #10468984

80,486 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. HYUNDAI HAD RECALLS ON 2005 AND 2007-2009 YEARS MODELS. MY CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/16/2006 AND THE RECALL FOR THE 2007 WAS 7/14/2006. THEY HAVE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAGS IN A NUMBER OF YEAR MODELS. THE 2006 YEAR MODEL NEEDS TO BE INCLUDE IN THESE RECALLS. IS IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVING A DISA…

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AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. HYUNDAI HAD RECALLS ON 2005 AND 2007-2009 YEARS MODELS. MY CAR WAS BUILT ON 6/16/2006 AND THE RECALL FOR THE 2007 WAS 7/14/2006. THEY HAVE KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAGS IN A NUMBER OF YEAR MODELS. THE 2006 YEAR MODEL NEEDS TO BE INCLUDE IN THESE RECALLS. IS IT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVING A DISABLED WIFE RIDING WITH ME MAKES ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF ISSUES WITH THIS YEAR MODEL ALL OVER THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467014

Official recalls

1

09V280000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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