Model year record

2006 Hyundai Sonata

9 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,428 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V026000

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Vehicles affected: 87,854
Reported to NHTSA: 2018-01-09
Owners notified: 2018-02-19

Defect description

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 .

Safety risk

An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2018. Owners may call Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 172.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V354000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 364,502
Reported to NHTSA: 2013-08-12
Owners notified: 2013-10-10

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V280000

Exterior lighting

Component: Exterior lighting
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO
Vehicles affected: 3,011
Reported to NHTSA: 2009-07-21
Owners notified: 2009-09-02

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-787-999-4310.

Recall campaignNHTSA 09V122000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 532,633
Reported to NHTSA: 2009-04-15
Owners notified: 2009-06-29

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V161000

Air bags

Component: Air bags
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 393,308
Reported to NHTSA: 2008-04-10
Owners notified: 2008-06-02

Defect description

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,308 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.

Safety risk

MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND OCS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V234000

Equipment: other: labels

Component: Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 43,301
Reported to NHTSA: 2006-06-26
Owners notified: 2006-10-02

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LABEL INSTALLED ON THE SUNVISORS HAD LOST ADHESION TO THE SUNVISORS AND HAD DISTORTED OR SEPARATED FROM THE SUN VISORS.

Safety risk

IF THE LABELS ARE DISTORTED OR MISSING, THE DRIVER OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE THAT MAY HELP PROTECT THEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUNVISOR ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V180000

Exterior lighting: headlights

Component: Exterior lighting: headlights
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 463
Reported to NHTSA: 2006-05-22
Owners notified: 2006-06-26

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INNER BEZELS OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE NOT PROPERLY ASSEMBLED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED.

Safety risk

AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED TURN SIGNAL LENS MAY REDUCE THE INTENSITY OF THE TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATION, REDUCING ITS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V377000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component: Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 36,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2005-08-29
Owners notified: 2005-10-24

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT MAY INTERFERE WITH THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB AND COULD CAUSE THE FRONT MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER TO INADVERTENTLY RELEASE.

Safety risk

THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF A FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB(S) FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V316000

Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)

Component: Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 1,970
Reported to NHTSA: 2005-07-07
Owners notified: 2005-07-29

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 LITER ENGINES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), THE ESC MAY HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED TO BE OVERSENSITIVE TO THE ONSET OF OVERSTEERING WHILE DRIVING ON BANKED CURVES, CAUSING INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF THE FRONT OUTSIDE BRAKE WHEN ESC ACTIVATION MAY NOT BE NEEDED.

Safety risk

THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLOW AND MAY AFFECT THE PATH THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESC ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESC HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	375	72,000 mi
Visibility	150	63,950 mi
Seat belts	96	79,000 mi
Electrical system	81	79,900 mi
Suspension	75	120,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	57	94,511 mi
Service brakes	51	87,200 mi
Engine	46	100,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	45	59,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	38	102,085 mi
Steering	35	106,000 mi
Exterior lighting	33	74,400 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	30	44,322 mi
Unknown or other	30	106,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	30	81,000 mi
Structure: body	21	90,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	20	4,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	17	47,200 mi
Power train	15	84,903 mi
Seats	12	95,000 mi
Structure	12	40,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	11	48,000 mi
Wheels	10	112,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	9	67,400 mi
Equipment	8	59,000 mi
Suspension: rear	8	30,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	7	60,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	6	25,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	5	13,500 mi
Suspension: front	5	23,000 mi
Tires	5	18,650 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	4	60,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor	4	19,830 mi
Structure: body: door	4	55,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	4	50,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	4	2,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys	3	4,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	3	5 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	3	52,000 mi
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	3	127,000 mi
Tires: sidewall	3	2,440 mi
Air bags: side/window	2	6,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	2	5,000 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)	2	209 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	2	2,100 mi
Equipment: other: labels	2	60,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	2	37,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	2	10 mi
Seat belts: front	2	123 mi
Suspension: front: control arm	2	10,000 mi
Air bags: on-off switch assembly	1	—
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification	1	—
Child seat	1	29,780 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	1	59,158 mi
Electrical system: ignition	1	30,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	5,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	1	3,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	200 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	83,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	—
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	1 mi
Lane departure: sensing system: radar	1	140,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	1	6,000 mi
Parking brake	1	75,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)	1	18,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	1	—
Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft	1	1 mi
Power train: driveline	1	47,200 mi
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices	1	—
Seat belts: front: webbing	1	—
Seats: front assembly: recliner	1	60,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp	1	130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	168,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	1	40,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	68,000 mi
Traction control system	1	196,986 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	1	230,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	1	25,560 mi
Visibility: windshield	1	100,450 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	1	15,710 mi

The 2005 model has 7 times as many complaints as this one. The 2007 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.