YearToAvoid

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#21 most-complained of 21 Santa Fe years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe has 106 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #21 highest of 21 Santa Fe model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is airbags (28 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 11 crashes, 3 fires, and 8 injuries.

Complaints
106
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
11 / 3
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16.5 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags28 (26%)
  2. Engine26 (25%)
  3. Brakes18 (17%)
  4. Electrical System18 (17%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (13%)
  6. Fuel System9 (8%)
  7. Seat Belts5 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain5 (5%)
  9. Other4 (4%)
  10. Steering4 (4%)
2006 Hyundai Santa Fe complaints: complaints filed per quarter92006 Q12008 Q32011 Q12013 Q22015 Q12017 Q32019 Q42025 Q1
137 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q1 to 2025 Q3; peak 2014 Q2 (9).

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V435000Jul 18, 2014Suspension, Wheels & Tires271,773 vehicles

    Suspension:front:springs:coil springs

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
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 Santa Fe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Best10216318.5
2006Best0106118.5
2007Avoid85683719
2008Caution55541419.5

All Hyundai Santa Fe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe ranks #21 of 21 among Santa Fe model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 106 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (28 complaints), engine (26 complaints), and brakes (18 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 64,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, most recently reported 2014, covering suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA rates the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe at 18.5 MPG combined (16.5 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.