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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

106 reports
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

9,000 miles · Sep 20, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

EVERY SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES 100' RANDOMLY WITH OUT CAUSE MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, WHERE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY FILLS WITH THE TASTE AND SMELL OF RAW FUEL FUMES, CHOKING ME AND ANY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE,. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO MY DEALER EVERY SUMM…

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EVERY SUMMER WHEN THE TEMPERATURE REACHES 100' RANDOMLY WITH OUT CAUSE MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE EXPERIENCES A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON, WHERE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SUDDENLY FILLS WITH THE TASTE AND SMELL OF RAW FUEL FUMES, CHOKING ME AND ANY PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE,. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO MY DEALER EVERY SUMMER FOR THIS SAME REASON,. THIS 12 AUGUST, THE 'INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ONLY 4.2 MILES FROM THE DEALER, AND ROVE DIRECTLY THERE, WHILE ON THE BLUETOOTH WITH HYUNDAI AMERICA. THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER AND SEVERAL SENIOR SERVICE WRITERS WITNESSED THE 'INCIDENT' GAS FUMES COULD BEE SEEN ROILING FROM UNDER THE HOOD,. FOR FOUR YEARS, SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM, NOT ONLY DID THEY WITNESS THIS FIRST HAND , BUT DUPLICATED IT AGAIN,. AFTER MY CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME, AS HYUNDAI AMERICA REFUSED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, I WAS TOLD BY A REGIONAL 'PARTS MANAGER', WHO CALLED ME FROM A CELL PHONE SO THE CONVERSATION COULD NOT BE RECORDED, AND TOLD ME THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN DOCUMENTED, HOWEVER, IT IS A PROBLEM UNIQUE TO MY CAR, AND FOR ME NOT TO DRIVE WITH THE A/C ON IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, DURING THE SUMMER,. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356627

62,000 miles · May 3, 2010
Electrical SystemStructureCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN OR THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETTING TOO WET FROM EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE WATER AND REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN OR THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED THE PROBLEM COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GETTING TOO WET FROM EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE WATER AND REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SENSOR. TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING REPAIRS, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT STEERING CAPABILITIES AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE WALL OF AN OVERPASS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10328576

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

26,000 miles · Mar 30, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START-UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY STALL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE BEFORE IT WOULD POWER ON AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START-UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY STALL. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE BEFORE IT WOULD POWER ON AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE WARNING PANEL. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STALL AND CRASHED INTO A BARRIER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPAIR THE BODY DAMAGE BEFORE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD BE PERFORMED OR ANY TECHNICAL REPAIRS COULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE ALTHOUGH IT WAS MAKING AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS AWAITING AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGES. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000.

NHTSA ODI #10322912

65,300 miles · Feb 28, 2010
Exterior Lighting

I AM HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS SHOWN BELOW IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SO FAR I DO NOT SEE A RECALL NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V122000 PE09003 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09003 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 531894 SUMMARY: HYUNDAI IS…

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I AM HAVING THE SAME SYMPTOMS SHOWN BELOW IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. SO FAR I DO NOT SEE A RECALL NOTICE FROM HYUNDAI. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V122000 PE09003 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE09003 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:SWITCHES:BRAKE LIGHT POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 531894 SUMMARY: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 531,894 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. THE STOP LAMP SWITCH IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A STOP LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTION MAY AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF 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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314989

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAD BRAKE PAD ISSUES. *NJ THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR DISK BRAKE PADS WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. THE CONSUMER STATED FOR SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND MINIMAL WEAR, HE BELIEVED THE SINGLE PAD IN QUESTION WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE PART. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10294891

10,000 miles · Nov 30, 2009
Electrical SystemStructure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN DRIVING OVER A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER,THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK. USUALLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS,THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE FOR ABOUT 35 SECONDS AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK. AFTER A SHORT TIME, THE BRAKES AND STEERING COLUMN WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHEN DRIVING OVER A SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER,THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK. USUALLY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS,THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE FOR ABOUT 35 SECONDS AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK. AFTER A SHORT TIME, THE BRAKES AND STEERING COLUMN WOULD UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE TECHNICIAN FINALLY CONCLUDED THAT WATER WAS ENTERING INTO ONE OF THE PULLEYS. HOWEVER HE STATED THAT HE COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. NO ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,763. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000. UPDATED 01/1410 *BF UPDATED 01/20/10.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10293993

45,000 miles · Nov 3, 2009
Exterior Lighting

BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE WHICH CAUSED RECALL OF ALL 2006 HYUNDAI MODELS EXCEPT SANTE FE WHICH WAS RECALLED IN 2007 FOR THAT SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290855

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2009
Exterior LightingVisibility

I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. FIRST THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT WENT OUT, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER QUIT AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT. THE WIPER ARM HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. IT WAS BOUGHT B…

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I HAVE A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. FIRST THE DRIVER'S SIDE FOG LIGHT WENT OUT, THEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER QUIT AND NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT. THE WIPER ARM HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE FOG LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2006. IT HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT AND SO THE WARRANTY THAT COVERS THINGS LIKE SENSORS AND ALL IS NO LONGER VALID. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING ALL AT ONCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261406

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.