2006 Hyundai Sonata: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Hyundai Sonata: 9 recalls, 1047 owner complaints and up to 25 mpg combined.
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Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electronic Stability Control Vehicle recall #05V316000 · 2005 · 1,970 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the esc hydraulic electronic control unit. The recall began on July 29, 2005.
Seats Vehicle recall #05V377000 · 2005 · 36,000 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: The inadvertent release of a front seat back recliner May result in injury to vehicle occupants.
The fix: Dealers will replace the manual seat back recliner knob(s) free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2005.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #06V180000 · 2006 · 463 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left and right headlamp assemblies free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2006.
Equipment Vehicle recall #06V234000 · 2006 · 43,301 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will replace the sunvisor assemblies free of charge. The recall began on October 2, 2006.
Airbags Vehicle recall #08V161000 · 2008 · 393,308 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The 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…
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #09V122000 · 2009 · 532,633 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, May lead to a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2009.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #09V280000 · 2009 · 3,011 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2009.
Suspension Vehicle recall #13V354000 · 2013 · 364,502 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Control arm separation May suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V026000 · 2018 · 87,854 vehicles
What's wrong: Water May enter the anti-lock brake (ABS) module and result in an electrical short .
Why it matters: 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.
The 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…
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Exterior lights Equipment recall #08E021000 · 2008 · 4,085 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamp assemblies May not have been aligned properly and fail to conform to the photometric requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
Why it matters: Improper aiming of the headlamp May result in poor visibility possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Hyundai-Kia dealers have been notified and instructed to return their supply to Hyundai motor america. None of the headlamps were sold as retail. As a result, an owner notification letter will not be issued.
Exterior lights Equipment recall #09E012000 · 2009 · 16,270 vehicles
What's wrong: These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
Why it matters: Decreased lighting visibility May result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 9 mention a fire, 38 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (435): the most common themes are warning light on (209), fails to deploy (38).
- Visibility (wipers, glass) (156): the most common themes are warning light on (4).
- Seat belts (102): the most common themes are warning light on (44), electrical failure (7).
- Suspension (86): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (35), noise or vibration (29).
The 2006 Hyundai Sonata has 1047 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 37 Sonata model years for complaints (2.4× the average Sonata year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (165 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 70,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (165 complaints, 1 recalls), 2007 (696 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 30 | 24 | Regular |
| 3.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 27 | 21 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Hyundai Sonata problems?
Owners have filed 1047 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (435), visibility (wipers, glass) (156), seat belts (102).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Hyundai Sonata get?
EPA ratings run up to 25 mpg combined (2.4 L, Manual 5-spd), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 Hyundai Sonata repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.