Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2006-HYUNDAI-SANTA-FE
2006 · Hyundai

Hyundai Santa Fe problems

1 safety recall. 106 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
7.6 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
26 reports · avg $1,100
severe
brakes
13 reports · avg $450
severe
suspension
13 reports · avg $900
severe
cruise control
12 reports · avg $600
severe
electrical
8 reports · avg $850
severe
lighting
8 reports · avg $250
moderate
fuel system
5 reports · avg $1,200
moderate
powertrain
4 reports · avg $2,500
moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2006 Santa Fe · visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARMS WERE STRIPPED AT THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE CONNECTED TO THE MOTOR. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE…
12/10/2008 · NHTSA ODI #10251300.0
2006 Santa Fe · suspension Crash
got in a roll over accident where the air bags did not deploy and caused serious injuries.
12/09/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11496694.0
2006 Santa Fe · equipment Fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER WAS ACTIVATED AND ONCE IT BECAME HOT, IT EJECTED FROM THE HOLDER INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RETRIEVE THE LIGHTER FROM THE FLOOR TO PREVENT STARTING A FIRE AND WAS BURNED.…
12/05/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10438598.0
2006 Santa Fe · airbags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG ON-OFF WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TRACKING POSITION SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO…
12/03/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10554650.0

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 14V435000 18/07/2014

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

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.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.6 out of 10 based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 26 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Hyundai Santa Fe has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 106 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Hyundai. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Get a free warranty quote →