Model year
2006 Hyundai Sonata
NHTSA lists 9 recalls and 1,047 complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (375), VISIBILITY (150), SEAT BELTS (96). NHTSA lists 5 investigations. NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 21–25 mpg combined depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,700–$3,200, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2000 276 complaints
- 2001 205 complaints
- 2002 320 complaints
- 2003 199 complaints
- 2004 202 complaints
- 2005 165 complaints
- 2006 1,047 complaints
- 2007 696 complaints
- 2008 425 complaints
- 2009 460 complaints
- 2010 345 complaints
- 2011 3,378 complaints
- 2012 1,558 complaints
- 2013 1,916 complaints
- 2014 750 complaints
- 2015 1,153 complaints
- 2016 728 complaints
- 2017 766 complaints
- 2018 374 complaints
- 2019 162 complaints
- 2020 181 complaints
- 2021 134 complaints
- 2022 94 complaints
- 2023 88 complaints
- 2024 46 complaints
- 2025 17 complaints
- 2026 3 complaints
- 2027 0 complaints
Recalls
18V026000 · Jan 9, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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 .
13V354000 · Aug 12, 2013
SUSPENSION:REAR
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,…
09V280000 · Jul 21, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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…
09V122000 · Apr 15, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
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…
08V161000 · Apr 10, 2008
AIR BAGS
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…
06V234000 · Jun 26, 2006
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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.
06V180000 · May 22, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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.
05V377000 · Aug 29, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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.
05V316000 · Jul 7, 2005
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
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…
Complaints
1,047 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 43, fire flag on 9, injury field 38, deaths field 1. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE09003 | STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE · ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH; POWER… | Jan 14, 2009 | Apr 24, 2009 |
| PE13007 | Rear Control Arm Failure · SUSPENSION:REAR | Mar 25, 2013 | Aug 20, 2013 |
| PE14023 | Seat Belt Buckle Electrical Malfunction · AIR BAGS; SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY; SEAT BELTS | Jul 22, 2014 | Dec 1, 2014 |
| DP21003 | Throttle control system vulnerabilities · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE | Nov 12, 2021 | Jun 20, 2023 |
| DP22003 | Loss of Motive Power · ENGINE | Sep 12, 2022 | Dec 12, 2023 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonata · 2.4L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 30 | 24 | — | — | $2,800 |
| Sonata · 2.4L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 21 | 31 | 25 | — | — | $2,700 |
| Sonata · 3.3L · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 18 | 27 | 21 | — | — | $3,200 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2006 Hyundai Sonata at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.