2006 Hyundai Elantra Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2006 Hyundai Elantra carries a complaint index of 10, the second-lowest among 21 model years, and earns a Good verdict—though capped because complaint records for 2005-2009 are less complete. NHTSA lists 155 complaints, 1 recall, and no do-not-drive campaigns for this year.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 10/100
- #19 of 21 Elantra years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 155
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 28
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 23
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 0
Top 2006 Hyundai Elantra problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags56 (36%)
- Electrical System48 (31%)
- Brakes33 (21%)
- Engine17 (11%)
- Structure & Body14 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers7 (5%)
- Fuel System3 (2%)
- Other3 (2%)
- Steering3 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe frontal or side-impact crashes in which the airbags failed to deploy, sometimes at highway speeds.
- Some drivers report the front passenger seat sliding forward on its tracks during minor impacts, throwing occupants into the dashboard.
- Several complaints describe brake pedals that stuck to the floor or failed to stop the car promptly, leading to collisions.
- One owner reported losing steering control on a dirt road at 50 mph, causing the vehicle to spin and roll.
- A driver noted the gas and brake pedals sit close together, making it easy to press both at once.
2006 Hyundai Elantra recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 09V280000Jul 21, 2009Electrical System3,011 vehicles
Exterior lighting
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.
Remedy: 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.
2006 Hyundai Elantra fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2006 compared with other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2006 Elantra has a complaint index of 10, ranked 19th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Good verdict relative to other Elantra years.
- What problems does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra have?
- The top reported problem area is Airbags, with 56 complaints and 17 crashes, followed by Electrical System issues with 48 complaints and Brakes with 33 complaints.
- Does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2006 Elantra, covering a malfunctioning stop lamp switch that could keep brake lights from illuminating; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- Why is the 2006 Elantra's verdict capped instead of higher?
- The verdict is capped to Good because complaint records for model years 2005-2009 are less complete, not because of the complaint data itself.
- How does the 2006 Elantra compare to other Elantra years?
- Its complaint index of 10 is far lower than years like 2013 (100) or 2017 (95), which are rated Avoid, making 2006 one of the better years for reported problems.