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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

20 reports
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97,000 miles · Apr 3, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash

STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN REVVING, THEN DECELERATED, BUT REVVED AGAIN, THIS TIME FORCING MY CAR FORWARD. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING FROM THE LEFT, SO I STEERED RIGHT. IMPACT ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL, CAR CAREENED INTO A LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC TYPE FENCE AND STOPPED. MY FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE THE EN…

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STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE BEGAN REVVING, THEN DECELERATED, BUT REVVED AGAIN, THIS TIME FORCING MY CAR FORWARD. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING FROM THE LEFT, SO I STEERED RIGHT. IMPACT ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL, CAR CAREENED INTO A LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC TYPE FENCE AND STOPPED. MY FOOT REMAINED ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. BOTH VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY THE SAME INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND TOTALED. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI, BUT SO FAR, THEY HAVE NOT SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577027

53,900 miles · Feb 2, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO APPLY AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM LEAPING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE THE CONTACT HAD HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE MENTIONED THAT HE HAD TO APPLY AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM LEAPING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10379981

15 miles · Sep 29, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UP TO 15 MPH ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LINK SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UP TO 15 MPH ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LINK SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.

NHTSA ODI #10358247

55,000 miles · Apr 11, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

I HAVE A 2006 SANTA FE 6 CYL. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007 FROM GO HYUNDAI. THE CAR HAS RUN VERY GOOD, EXCEPT THE SURGING OR ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO A SECOND DEALER, PLANET HYUNDAI, AND THEY CO…

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I HAVE A 2006 SANTA FE 6 CYL. FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007 FROM GO HYUNDAI. THE CAR HAS RUN VERY GOOD, EXCEPT THE SURGING OR ACCELERATION PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO A SECOND DEALER, PLANET HYUNDAI, AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. THE PROBLEM GOT SO BAD EVEN I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY WIFE WAS REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I FINALLY TOOK IT BACK GO AND THEY CALLED, SAID IT WAS READY. WHEN I PICKED IT UP, THE SERVICE GUY SAID THEY REPLACED A PART AND THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE SURGING PROBLEMS. LAST NIGHT, MY WIFE DROVE THE SANTA FE TO CHURCH. AS SHE WAS PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE, (SOMETHING SHE HAD DONE A THOUSAND TIMES), THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, SLAMMING INTO OUR VOLVO CONVERTIBLE, PUSHING IT ABOUT FIVE FEET FORWARD, JAMMING IT UNDER OUR STAIRS INTO THE HOUSE. IN ALL, THERE IS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10324949

22,750 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION THE CAR WILL UNEXPECTEDLY SURGE FORWARD. WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 YEARS NOW AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES SO FAR. CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN NONE SO FAR, BUT I AM CONCERNED SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10256145

4,882 miles · Jan 17, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS EXPERIENCED FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE A LONG LAG TIME BETWEEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTING TO MOVE. THE TIME CAN BE UP TO A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNOYING AND AT TIMES DANGEROUS. IF THE VEHICLE ALWAYS DID THIS, YOU COULD GET USED TO IT, THOUGH IT IS STILL NOT SAFE. UNF…

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MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS EXPERIENCED FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE A LONG LAG TIME BETWEEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE STARTING TO MOVE. THE TIME CAN BE UP TO A FEW SECONDS. THIS HAS BEEN ANNOYING AND AT TIMES DANGEROUS. IF THE VEHICLE ALWAYS DID THIS, YOU COULD GET USED TO IT, THOUGH IT IS STILL NOT SAFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN BARELY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR RESULTS IN INSTANT TIRE SPINNING AND ASSOCIATED QUICK ACCELERATION. THE INCONSISTENT NATURE OF THE ACCELERATOR RESPONSE MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS. AS MY DAUGHTER IS LEARNING TO DRIVE, I CANNOT LET HER USE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WITH ANY INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, THIS CAR WOULD BE DEADLY. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER ONCE (IN PA) AND WAS BRUSHED OFF WITH THE EXCUSE THAT THE ENGINE COMPUTER DID NOT REPORT ANY PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10255398

13,000 miles · Feb 5, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MFG. OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE SUV POWER SURGES, THERE IS NO SMOOTH ACCELERATION. NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO CONTROL THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JUST TAKES OFF. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT 2X SINCE BUYING VEHICLE IN DEC. O7. AND HAVE BE…

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I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MFG. OF THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH ACCELERATION. WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE SUV POWER SURGES, THERE IS NO SMOOTH ACCELERATION. NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO CONTROL THE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE JUST TAKES OFF. I HAD THIS CHECKED OUT 2X SINCE BUYING VEHICLE IN DEC. O7. AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IS THE WAY THE COMPUTER WORKS WITH THE VEHICLE. I FIND THIS TO BE VERY UN-NERVING AND DANGEROUS. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM, AND I HAVE HAD A FRIEND DRIVE VEHICLE AND HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217044

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

8,900 miles · Dec 1, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

#1 CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND PULLED OVER INTO EMPTY LOT AND TESTED BRAKES A FEW TIMES AND THEN IT WAS OKAY. #2 WAS STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE ABOUT 2 FEET AWAY, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN CAR ACCELERATED AND FELT LIKE IT JUMPED AND I BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS WAS ON 11-28-06 ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS A…

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#1 CAR WOULD NOT STOP, ROLLED THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND PULLED OVER INTO EMPTY LOT AND TESTED BRAKES A FEW TIMES AND THEN IT WAS OKAY. #2 WAS STOPPED BEHIND A VEHICLE ABOUT 2 FEET AWAY, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN CAR ACCELERATED AND FELT LIKE IT JUMPED AND I BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS WAS ON 11-28-06 ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS AFTER BRINGING MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO TELL THEM THAT MY BRAKES SOUNDED LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NORMAL ON FOGGY MORNINGS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE MORNING BEFORE BUT I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE THEY WERE BUSY. I DON'T REMEMBER THE DATE OF THE FIRST INCIDENT WHEN I ROLLED THROUGH THE STOP SIGN BUT IT WAS ABOUT 4 WEEKS BEFORE THE SECOND TIME. DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 2 DAYS BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174937

9,500 miles · Nov 27, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/18/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174382

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.