YearToAvoid

2006 Hyundai Sonata Brakes Problems

NHTSA has 127 owner complaints about brake problems in the 2006 Hyundai Sonata, 12% of all 1,047 complaints for this model year. That is #6 highest brake complaint count among 21 Sonata model years. These complaints report 6 crashes, 1 fire, and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 79,000 miles.

Brakes complaints
127
12% of 1,047
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
79,000 mi
Related recalls
2

When 2006 Hyundai Sonata brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 28, 2005, latest Apr 8, 2024.

2006 Hyundai Sonata brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter92005 Q32008 Q22010 Q32013 Q22015 Q12017 Q12019 Q22023 Q1
127 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q3 to 2024 Q2; peak 2014 Q3 (9).

Brakes recalls for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata

  1. NHTSA 18V026000Jan 9, 2018Brakes87,854 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 05V316000Jul 7, 2005Brakes1,970 vehicles

    Electronic stability control:automatic (asc)

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

Brakes complaints by Sonata model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200512 (7%)
  2. 2006127 (12%)
  3. 2007143 (21%)
  4. 200881 (19%)
  5. 2009140 (30%)
  6. 201042 (12%)
  7. 2011230 (7%)
  8. 2012189 (12%)
  9. 2013180 (9%)
  10. 201473 (10%)
  11. 201589 (8%)
  12. 201652 (7%)
  13. 201730 (4%)
  14. 201819 (5%)
  15. 20193 (2%)
  16. 20203 (2%)
  17. 20214 (3%)
  18. 20226 (6%)
  19. 20234 (5%)
  20. 20242 (4%)
  21. 20255 (31%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Hyundai Sonata have brake problems?
NHTSA has 127 owner complaints about the brake in the 2006 Hyundai Sonata, 12% of all complaints for this model year, including 6 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 79,000 miles.
Which Hyundai Sonata year has the most brake complaints?
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata has the most brake complaints (230), compared with 127 for the 2006.
Is there a brake recall for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata concern the brake: 18V026000 and 05V316000.

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.