NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UP TO 15 MPH ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LINK SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT A TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN A HEAVY PERSON WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TO FIVE TIMES AND AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
I BOUGHT A 2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE ON JUNE 22, 2006 . IN JULY 2006 I TOOK A TRIP TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. WHILE I WAS OUT THERE, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OFF A FEW DAYS LATER. AFTER A FEW MONTHS WHEN IT CAME BACK ON I TOOK IT TO RAY BRYANT SERVICE CENTER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THEY CHECKED IT AND GOT THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME THE LIGHT CAME BACK. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK THE LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON AND IS STILL ON. SOMETIMES AS I'M DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE IT LOSES POWER . I ALSO BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE FRONT END BECAUSE IT ALWAYS FEEL LIKE I HAVE AN EGG IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. INSTEAD OF THE SERVICE WORKER DIDN'T CHECK IT OUT HE SAID HE HAD A SANTA FE JUST LIKE MINE AND THAT HIS DIDN'T DO THAT AND NEVER DID A THING ABOUT IT. I'VE BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. I'VE BOUGHT NEW TIRES AND THE SAME PROBLEM, SO I BROUGHT IT BACK TELLING THEM THAT IT FEELS LIKE I HAVE AN EGG IN THE TIRE THEY CHECKED IT AND CAN' FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. AS TIME GOES BY THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORST. I FEEL REALLY EMBARRASSED WHEN I HAVE SOMEONE IN MY TRUCK AND IT RIDES LIKE THAT. I DO HOPE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM ON DISABILITY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REALLY LOVE MY SANTA FE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT WHILE GOING 25-30 MPH. THERE WAS PRIOR BRAKING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS, BUT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO INSPECTION TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES ON INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHEN BRAKING FROM SLOW <20 MPH, ALSO ABS PUMP CYCLES ON DURING SLOW TURNS. *JB
got in a roll over accident where the air bags did not deploy and caused serious injuries.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026