2006 Hyundai Sonata recalls and problems
The 2006 Hyundai Sonata has 9 safety recalls and 1,047 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Hyundai dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2006 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2006 Hyundai Sonata recalls
Recall 18V-026: Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2006-2011 Hyundai Azera and 2006 Hyundai Sonata vehicles. Water may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short .
Risk: An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2018. Owners may call Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 172.
Recall 13V-354: Suspension
Problem: Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 1, 2005, through January 21, 2010; and model year 2006-2011 Azera vehicles manufactured September 27, 2005, through November 22, 2010 originally sold in, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms.
Risk: Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Recall 09V-280: Exterior Lighting
Problem: Hyundai is recalling 3,011 model year 2005-2007 elantra, tucson, sonata, azera and accent vehicles. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. A defective stop lamp switch may also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission would not be able to be shift out of the "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.
Risk: Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on september 2, 2009. Owners may contact hyundai of puerto rico customer service at 1-787-999-4310.
Recall 09V-122: Exterior Lighting
Problem: Hyundai is recalling 532,633 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 also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission shifter would not be able to be shifted out of the 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.
Risk: Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on june 29, 2009. Owners may contact the hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.
Recall 08V-161: Air Bags
Problem: Hyundai is recalling 393,308 my 2006-2008 sonata vehicles equipped with an advanced air bag system which features an occupant classification system (Ocs) in the right front seat. The purpose of the OCS is to disable the right passenger seat front air bag when it detects the presence of a child restraint system or small child in the right front seat. The right front air bag is disabled to prevent injuries to a child that may result from a right front air bag inflation during a crash.
Risk: Misclassification of a small stature adult as a child in the right front passenger seat may cause the right front air bag to not inflate in an accident that merits air bag deployment and may result in injury to the right front occupant.
Fix: Dealers will verify that the OCS does not properly recognize a properly seated adult occupant. After verification, dealers will remove the right front seat cushion assembly and ship it to an evaluation and repair facility. This facility will evaluate and repair or reprogram the seat cushion and OCS as necessary. The recall is expected to begin on or about may 26, 2008. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Recall 06V-234: Equipment
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the air bag warning label installed on the sunvisors had lost adhesion to the sunvisors and had distorted or separated from the sun visors.
Risk: If the labels are distorted or missing, the driver or front seat passenger will not have information available that may help protect them in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the sunvisor assemblies free of charge. The recall began on october 2, 2006. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Recall 06V-180: Exterior Lighting
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the inner bezels of the headlamps were not properly assembled which may cause the turn signal lenses to be improperly positioned.
Risk: An improperly positioned turn signal lens may reduce the intensity of the turn signal illumination, reducing its visibility to oncoming traffic, which may result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right headlamp assemblies free of charge. The recall began on june 26, 2006. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Recall 05V-377: Seats
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the front seat belt may interfere with the manual seat back recliner knob and could cause the front manual seat back recliner to inadvertently release.
Risk: The inadvertent release of a front seat back recliner may result in injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: Dealers will replace the manual seat back recliner knob(S) free of charge. The recall began on october 14, 2005. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Recall 05V-316: Electronic Stability Control
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 3.3 liter engines and electronic stability control (Esc), the ESC may have been programmed to be oversensitive to the onset of oversteering while driving on banked curves, causing inadvertent application of the front outside brake when ESC activation may not be needed.
Risk: This may cause the vehicle to slow and may affect the path that the vehicle is traveling. Brake application caused by inadvertent ESC activation may result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the ESC hydraulic electronic control unit. The recall began on july 29, 2005. Owners may contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
2006 Hyundai Sonata problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 444 | |
| Visibility | 157 | |
| Seat Belts | 103 | |
| Suspension | 90 | |
| Electrical System | 86 | |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 57 | |
| Service Brakes | 51 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 46 | |
| Structure | 44 | |
| Engine | 44 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 39 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 36 |
Most reported parts
- Air Bags › Frontal — 45
- Structure › Body — 21
- Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module — 20
- Suspension › Rear — 8
- Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch — 7
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 6
- Suspension › Front — 5
- Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 4
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 70,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2006 Hyundai Sonata complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other Hyundai Sonata years
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2006 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata: 18V-026 (service brakes, hydraulic), 13V-354 (suspension), 09V-280 (exterior lighting), 09V-122 (exterior lighting), 08V-161 (air bags) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Hyundai Sonata?
Owners report air bags problems most often (444 reports), followed by visibility (157). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 70,000 miles.
Are Hyundai recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Hyundai dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.