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2006 Hyundai Santa Fe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe are lower than the model-year median of 212.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

85 reports with mileage · 21 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 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

28 reports
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60,000 miles · Jun 19, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System

AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF(EVERY DAY , SEVERAL TIMES ON A 30-45 MINS DRIVE ) ON DASHBOARD AS I AM DRIVING ON REGULAR BASIS .. SEEMS LIKE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY WHILE LIGHT IS ON , AND IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND LIGHT IS ON I THINK THE DRIVER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY . HYUNDAI DEALERS ALREADY KNOW THE ISSUE AND APPARENT…

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AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF(EVERY DAY , SEVERAL TIMES ON A 30-45 MINS DRIVE ) ON DASHBOARD AS I AM DRIVING ON REGULAR BASIS .. SEEMS LIKE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY WHILE LIGHT IS ON , AND IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND LIGHT IS ON I THINK THE DRIVER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY . HYUNDAI DEALERS ALREADY KNOW THE ISSUE AND APPARENTLY IS A BAD ELECTRIC CONNECTION ON THE SEAT BELT CLICK THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE ... THEY ARE WILLING TO "DIAGNOSE IT" FOR $125 .. BUT MANY PEOPLE SAYS THE COST OF REPAIR IS $490 . THEY WONT ACKNOWLEDGE IS A DEFECT ON THE WIRING AND WANT PEOPLE TO PAY FOR IT .IS VERY SCARY DRIVING KNOWING THAT MY AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY

NHTSA ODI #11000116

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2017
Air Bags

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT. THIS LASTED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. CURRENTLY, MY THE LIGHT GOES OFF FOR A SECOND WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THEN, IT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10984271

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2016
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF, THEN IT STAYS ON, HAD IT CHECKED AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION IN TEMPLE TX, ON THE STREET AND ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #10875655

1,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #10692512

101,098 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. REPAIR CENTER SAID ITS A SENSOR AND WILL COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX. SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE APPARENT ENORMITY OF THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10691744

76,632 miles · Oct 8, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG RED LIGHT ON FAILED TO TURN OFF AFTER FIRST STARTING THE ENGINE (NORMALLY IT WOULD TURN OFF AFTER ABOUT 5 SECS AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE) AND REMAINED ON AT REGULAR DRIVING SPEEDS. IT NEVER WENT OFF REGARDLESS OF SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0 (STANDING STILL) TO 70 MPH (THE LATTER SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). IT NEVER WENT O…

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AIR BAG RED LIGHT ON FAILED TO TURN OFF AFTER FIRST STARTING THE ENGINE (NORMALLY IT WOULD TURN OFF AFTER ABOUT 5 SECS AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE) AND REMAINED ON AT REGULAR DRIVING SPEEDS. IT NEVER WENT OFF REGARDLESS OF SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0 (STANDING STILL) TO 70 MPH (THE LATTER SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). IT NEVER WENT OFF REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT, AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $2,600.00 TO FIX IT. SINCE THE SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN APART TO FIX THE SENSOR, A REPLACEMENT SEAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE ORDERED, THUS THE HIGH COST.. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE THE AIRBAG LIGHT NOW REMAINS ON, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL AND THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. I DID NOT ELECT TO FIX THE SENSOR BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE AND ALSO NEEDING TO FIX THE AIR CONDITIONER, WHICH COST OVER $600.00. I AM NOW DRIVING A VEHICLE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONAL AIRBAG SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643401

145,000 miles · Jan 30, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAGS LIGHT IS ALWAYS LIT ON THE DASH. THE SENSOR IN MIDDLE OF DASH RECOGNIZES SOMEONE GETTING IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE BUT PER LOCAL SHOP THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SRS SYSTEM UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED ON PASSENGERS SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562255

420,000 miles · Jan 23, 2014
Air Bags

2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS ON-OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TRACKING POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…

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2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS ON-OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TRACKING POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. I TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND GIVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALLS OF THE AIRBAGS (OCS). AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE SEAT COMPLETELY AND HAVE TO PAID BY MY OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10561147

40,000 miles · Dec 3, 2013
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG ON-OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TRACKING POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG ON-OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TRACKING POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI #10554650

98,000 miles · Aug 23, 2013
Air Bags

LIKE MANY OTHERS THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR NO REASON JUST AS MILLIONS OF OTHERS HAVE STATED. THIS IS A DEFECT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO AIR BAGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10537006

Official recalls

1

14V435000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Jul 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 & remedy

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.

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.