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Research · Compact Cars

2006 Hyundai AccentRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 43 owner complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Accent. Most complaints involve air bags (23) and visibility/wiper (6). The EPA rates it 28–29 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
28–29mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Apr 2013
Owner complaints
43
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,150est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 1, 2013NHTSA 13V113000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. 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 ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Exterior lightingReported Jul 21, 2009NHTSA 09V280000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 532,633 MY 2006-2007 ACCENT, ENTOURAGE, SONATA, MY 2007 AZERA, ELANTRA AND SANTA FE, MY 2005-2007 TUCSON AND MY 2007-2008 VERACRUZ VEHICLES. 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 TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 15, 2009NHTSA 09V122000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

43 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2006 – Sep 2020
  1. Air bags23
  2. Visibility/wiper6
  3. Visibility5
  4. Exterior lighting3
  5. Electrical system2
  6. Service brakes2
  7. Fuel/propulsion system1
  8. Seat belts1
  9. Structure1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Accent model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996102
199759
199848
199966
200643
200788
2008101
2009101
201087
201138
2012153
2013142
201480
201570
2016103
201768
201819
201931
202012
202116
202217
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

23 reports2 crashes
“GOT THE CAR WHEN MY MOM DIED IN 2015. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE AIR BAGS BUT WHEN I TOOK IT DOWN TO GET IT FIXED THE GUY TOLD ME AND MY DAUGHTER IN LAW THAT I WAS A WEEK TOO LATE TO GET IT FIXED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT NOW IF I WANTED IT FIXED. I DON'T HAVE THE CARD THAT WAS MAILED ANYMORE BUT HOW IS THIS SAFE FOR ME, MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2020Air bagsODI 11352669

Visibility/wiper

6 reports
“SUN VISORS BREAK OFF AT THE CONNECTION POINT AND AND THEN FLOP DOWN BLOCKING YOUR VIEW OF THE ROAD. THIS IS FROM JUST NORMAL USE. THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR BROKE LAST YEAR. I HAD IT UNINSTALLED BECAUSE A NEW ONE, ( WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PLASTIC CONNECTION ), COSTS $150.. PLUS INSTALLATION. THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR JUST BROKE OFF THIS MONTH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 21, 2017Visibility/wiperODI 10967658

Visibility

5 reports
“MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR ROTATION SUPPORT SNAPPED UPON ROTATING IT'S CLOSED POSITION TO IT'S FORWARD POSITION TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MADE OF PLASTIC. IT NOW HANGS FREELY DOWNWARD BLOCKING MY VIEW COMPLETELY. TURNING IT'S POSITION TO THE LEFT TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW HELPS MY FORWARD VIEW, BUT BLOCKS MY LEFT SIDE VIEW COMPLETELY UNLESS I HUNCH DOWN. THERE IS NO NEUTRAL POSITION TO MOVE THIS VISOR TO UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED, WHICH IS CAUSING A SERIOUS DRIVING HAZARD. EVEN A SIMPLE METAL CLIP TO LOCK THE VISOR IN PLACE TEMPORARILY WOULD HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2014VisibilityODI 10616158
All 2006 Accent problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
1.6L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Accent
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
273229$2,150306
Accent
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253328$2,200317
  • Accent
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    27 city · 32 hwy · $2,150/yr
    29
    mpg comb.
  • Accent
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L
    25 city · 33 hwy · $2,200/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Hyundai Accent as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 2363Vehicle 1921
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Accent questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Hyundai Accent have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Hyundai Accent problems?

Owners filed 43 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (23), visibility/wiper (6), visibility (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Hyundai Accent get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Hyundai Accent at 28–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026