2006 Hyundai Sonata Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata. Part of Generation 5 (NF) — 2006–2010.

20052007
Complaints
1,422
per 10K Sold
95.1
US Sales
149,513
Crashes
55
Fires
13
Injuries
58
Fatalities
2
Recalls
2

Worst 2006 Hyundai Sonata Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1375 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:85,494 mi
Crash-related:16
Fires:1
#2150 complaints

Visibility

Avg mileage:70,286 mi
Crash-related:1
#396 complaints

Seat Belt Issues

Avg mileage:86,068 mi
Crash-related:6
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata.

Airbags
375
complaints
Crashes
16
Fires
1
Avg Miles
85,494
Visibility
150
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
70,286
Seat Belt Issues
96
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
Avg Miles
86,068
Electrical Faults
81
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
97,702
Suspension Failures
74
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
123,454
Electronic Stability Control
57
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
143,866
Brakes
51
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
1
Avg Miles
97,036
Air Bags:Frontal
45
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,591
Engine Problems
44
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Avg Miles
97,979
Unintended Acceleration
38
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
Avg Miles
98,638
Steering Defects
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
91,375
Headlight/Taillight Failures
33
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
82,123
Hydraulic Brakes
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
43,820
Wipers & Visibility
30
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
86,181
Body Structure
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
89,682
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
13,204
Engine & Cooling
16
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,749
Transmission / Drivetrain
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
100,812
Seat-Related Issues
12
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
92,267
Structural Problems
12
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
44,190
Gasoline Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
49,888
Wheel Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
112,336
Fuel System
9
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
98,091
Other Equipment
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
62,800
Suspension:Rear
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
44,144
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,281
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
26,189
Latches / Locks
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
26,552
Suspension:Front
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
51,500

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Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2006 Hyundai Sonata

2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~452,356 vehicles.

18V026000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
~87,854 affected

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 .

13V354000Suspension:rear
~364,502 affected

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.

Other Hyundai Sonata Years

2006 Hyundai Sonata — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2006 Hyundai Sonata reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2006 Hyundai Sonata has 1,422 NHTSA complaints, 55 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 375 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2006 Hyundai Sonata?
Top reported problems: Airbags (375 complaints, avg 85,494 mi); Visibility (150 complaints, avg 70,286 mi); Seat Belt Issues (96 complaints, avg 86,068 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2006 Hyundai Sonata?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 85,714 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2006 Hyundai Sonata?
NHTSA complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata include 55 crash-related reports, 13 fire reports, 58 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2006 Hyundai Sonata have any recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 452,356 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2006 Hyundai Sonata?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (airbags) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Hyundai Sonata reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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