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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

Power Train complaints

5 reports
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178,000 miles · May 7, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AT FIRST I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES (RANDOMLY) WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER SITTING FOR A LONGER PERIOD LIKE 6 OR 8 HOURS THAT I'D TURN THE KEY AND WITHOUT PRESSING ANY PEDALS THE VEHICLE'S RPMS START TO CLIMB UP SLOWLY. IT MAX'S OUT AT 4000RPMS AND STAYS THERE FOR AWHILE THEN WILL DECREASE ON ITS OWN AFTER AWHILE (RANDOM TIMING AL…

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AT FIRST I NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES (RANDOMLY) WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AFTER SITTING FOR A LONGER PERIOD LIKE 6 OR 8 HOURS THAT I'D TURN THE KEY AND WITHOUT PRESSING ANY PEDALS THE VEHICLE'S RPMS START TO CLIMB UP SLOWLY. IT MAX'S OUT AT 4000RPMS AND STAYS THERE FOR AWHILE THEN WILL DECREASE ON ITS OWN AFTER AWHILE (RANDOM TIMING ALWAYS). IF I STEP ON THE GAS AS ITS REVVING UP IT RELEASES AND GOES BACK DOWN. IF I BRAKE IT DOES NOTHING. SO AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF NOTICING THIS PROBLEM, TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HAVING THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED, AND A GASKET REPLACED THE VEHICLE HAS NOW STARTED TO REV UP ON ITS OWN AFTER I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OF 80 OR OVER. I LET OFF THE GAS THEN IT REVS UP QUICKLY TO 4000 THEN AGAIN QUICKLY SHOOTS BACK DOWN BELOW NORMAL. IT DIDN'T DO THE HIGHWAY PROBLEM AS MUCH I NOTICED WHEN THE FUEL WAS LOW, BUT WHEN I FILLED MY TANK THE PROBLEM CAME BACK AGAIN. IT DID STILL REV ON IT'S OWN FROM COLD START THE WHOLE TIME STILL REGARDLESS OF FUEL LEVEL. I NOTICED THIS WEEK IT NOW JUMPS WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AFTER A COLD START AND THE OTHER DAY IT SEEMED TO LOSE ITS GUSTO AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER, THEN IT REVVED HIGH AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THIS IS ALL VERY SCARY AND I AM CONCERNED AS I READ MORE AND MORE THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR FATALITY. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, JUST THAT IT COULD BE A BUNCH OF THINGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10715173

83,801 miles · Apr 6, 2015
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

ON FEBRUARY 24, 2012 I WENT OUT TO MY CAR TO GO TO DAYCARE AND WORK MY CAR WAS LOWERED TO THE GROUND ALL FOUR TIRES SEEM TO BE FLAT. I CALLED THE CLOSEST GARAGE. THEY TOWED MY CAR, REPAIRED IT FOR $2028.91. IN SEPTEMBER 2014., I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM HYUNDAI FOR THE COIL SPRING. AFTER 6 MONTHS CORRESPONDENCE WITH THEM, THEY …

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ON FEBRUARY 24, 2012 I WENT OUT TO MY CAR TO GO TO DAYCARE AND WORK MY CAR WAS LOWERED TO THE GROUND ALL FOUR TIRES SEEM TO BE FLAT. I CALLED THE CLOSEST GARAGE. THEY TOWED MY CAR, REPAIRED IT FOR $2028.91. IN SEPTEMBER 2014., I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM HYUNDAI FOR THE COIL SPRING. AFTER 6 MONTHS CORRESPONDENCE WITH THEM, THEY GAVE ME ONLY 949.03. I FEEL THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME THE ENTIRE EXPENSES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703943

144,500 miles · Jan 19, 2015
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR RACES AT IDLE WHILE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL TO 3,500 RPM. WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR CONTINUES TO RACE BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL(1,200-1,500 RPM). THE CAR SURGES WHILE BRAKING REQUIRING HARDER PEDAL PRESSURE THAN NORMAL. RACING IS CONTINUOUS AT ALL SPEEDS REQUIRING LESS ACCELERATOR PRESSURE THAN NORMAL. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED TO…

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CAR RACES AT IDLE WHILE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL TO 3,500 RPM. WHILE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR CONTINUES TO RACE BUT AT A LOWER LEVEL(1,200-1,500 RPM). THE CAR SURGES WHILE BRAKING REQUIRING HARDER PEDAL PRESSURE THAN NORMAL. RACING IS CONTINUOUS AT ALL SPEEDS REQUIRING LESS ACCELERATOR PRESSURE THAN NORMAL. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED TODAY 1/19/15 WITH HYUNDAI AND A CASE # 7614630 WAS PROVIDED. THIS OWNER EXPRESSED HIS CONCERNS TO HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE WITH SAFETY OF CAR DUE TO RACING AND SURGING ESPECIALLY UNDER WET OR ICE CONDITIONS. THE REP. SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE HYUNDAI SHREWSBURY, NJ DEALERSHIP FOR 1/22/15. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10676534

15,000 miles · Apr 8, 2008
Power Train

POOR GAS MILEAGE, HARSH SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10223729

23,000 miles · May 12, 2007
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALER MECHANIC I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH DONE. NOW THE CAR IDLES ERRATICALLY, AND SURGES WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. AT TIMES.WHEN STOPPED THE IDLE DROPS TO 300-400 RPMS, ALMOST A STALL, AND SOMETIMES IT JUMPS TO 1200-1500 RPMS AND WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM REALLY STOMP ON THE BR…

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AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALER MECHANIC I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUSH DONE. NOW THE CAR IDLES ERRATICALLY, AND SURGES WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. AT TIMES.WHEN STOPPED THE IDLE DROPS TO 300-400 RPMS, ALMOST A STALL, AND SOMETIMES IT JUMPS TO 1200-1500 RPMS AND WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM REALLY STOMP ON THE BRAKE, OR ELSE I WOULD HIT SOMETHING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THEY USED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND NO CODES, SO NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY RECOMMENDED AN INJECTOR FLUSH, THOUGH THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE AT SPEED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10190566

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.