IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WHICH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CLUTCH IN THE COMPRESSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Santa Fe 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
190–25K
1425–50K
1650–75K
1175–100K
13100–150K
12150K+
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
Equipment complaints
2 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS ACTIVATED AND ONCE IT BECAME HOT, IT EJECTED FROM THE HOLDER INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE LIGHTER FROM THE FLOOR TO PREVENT STARTING A FIRE AND WAS BURNED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWAR…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS ACTIVATED AND ONCE IT BECAME HOT, IT EJECTED FROM THE HOLDER INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE LIGHTER FROM THE FLOOR TO PREVENT STARTING A FIRE AND WAS BURNED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Official recalls
114V435000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.