Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Hyundai Santa Fe problems
Owners filed 106 complaints about the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe with NHTSA between Feb 2006 and Sep 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (28).
Complaints
106
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags28
- Vehicle speed control20
- Suspension13
- Service brakes12
- Electrical system10
- Exterior lighting9
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Seat belts5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Power train5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Steering4
- Engine3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
3
5
6
6
10
9
8
16
10
5
6
3
4
2
2
2
1
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
28 reports4 crashes
“The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bags warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was 264,000.”
Vehicle speed control
20 reports4 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph when the vehicle began to accelerate without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact was able to pull over and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.”
Suspension
13 reports1 crash1 related recall
“COIL SPRINGS ROTTED AND BROKE, ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO, JUST PULLING AWAY FROM THE PUMPS AT THE GAS STATION. ALREADY PAID FOR REPLACEMENT OUT OF OWN POCKET. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO TIRE AND FRONT END ASSEMBLY. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 14V435000. NOT CAPABLE OF SCANNING TO COMPUTER DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO.”
Service brakes
12 reports1 crash
“ON MARCH 4, 2020, HEADING HOME AT NIGHT ON A CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD MY CAR (2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE) SUDDENLY JERKED, STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 80 MILES HOUR. AT THE SAME TIME HALF OF THE PANEL LIGHT BEHIND PART OF THE RPM'S AND HALF BEHIND THE MPH WENT OUT; THE REST OF THE PANEL WAS STILL LIT UP; I WAS HEADING DOWN THE CURVY ROAD ACCELERATING HEADING QUICKLY TOWARDS AN 18 WHEELER WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE, MY BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AND MY CAR KEPT ACCELERATING (I WAS NOT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL). I QUICKLY DROPPED MY CAR INTO LOW GEAR AND MANEUVERED AROUND THE 18-WHEELER AND TRYING THE BRAKES, THE EMERGENCY BRAKES, AND AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED UP, IT STOPPED, AND MY CAR STARTED TO DRIVE NORMAL (EXCEPT THE PANEL LIGHTS). ON MY WAY HOME (MARCH 5TH), IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD AT NIGHT! AS I BEGIN DESCENDING THE CURVY ROAD (DRIVING 40MPH IN THE RIGHT LANE), MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN ACCELERATING AGAIN UP TO 90MPH! THERE WERE NOT AS MANY PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, SO I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER IT BY DROPPING DOWN INTO LOW GEAR AND AS I BEGAN ASCENDING THE MOUNTAIN ROAD, THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION STOPPED, AND THE CAR DROVE NORMAL. EACH…”
Electrical system
10 reports1 crash1 fire
“I was driving my 2006 Subaru forester vin #[XXX] around 5 PM. I was waiting in an offramp lane to make a left turn, behind numerous cars. Suddenly, a car pulled up next to me and told me to pull over because my car was on fire. I pulled over to the shoulder and as I did so the car lost power. I looked back once I got out of the car and sure enough if it was on fire. I have no idea how this happened. I want it investigated. The car is currently at a tow yard and available for inspection. I do have pictures and video of the car fire as well as video from when the fire department put it out. I also have witnesses names and numbers. About 23 days prior, I had noticed a lack of power when climbing hills. I took it into firestone and they told me that there was a third cylinder issue, but that it wasn’t dangerous. He assured me it was not. Clearly that was not the case. This car, your vehicle, could’ve killed me. If you have any additional questions feel free to contact me at [XXX] . Thanks.”
Exterior lighting
9 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 78,485.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.