My son was driving our 2006 Hyundai Elantra and crashed into the end of a guardrail. The air bag did not deploy. The car was declared a total loss by the insurance company. I am concerned that the airbag did not deploy with the severity of the crash. I have uploaded three pictures of the car and one of the end of the guardrail that was impacted. The estimate for speed at impact was 35 mph. The weather was sunny, dry and above 80 degrees. about 6:30PM Eastern time.
The worst 2006 Hyundai Elantra problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags56
- Lights38
- Brakes32
- Electrical16
- Acceleration11
- Body8
- Transmission8
- Visibility7
- Engine6
- Seats5
- Fuel system3
- Steering3
- Driver assistance2
- Suspension2
- Wheels2
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2006 Hyundai Elantra
Airbag light 32No deployment 15Adaptive cruise 6Sudden acceleration 6
Trouble codes owners of the 2006 Hyundai Elantra mention
B1448 3
Recalls 1
Exterior lighting
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
- 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 number 09V280000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2006 Hyundai Elantra 38
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- The federal safety agency has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit...
- The federal safety agency has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag...
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover...
- This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships
- Follow the guidelines outlined in
- Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for...
2006 Hyundai Elantra fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21-23 | 29-31 | 24-26 |
What 2006 Hyundai Elantra owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Went for an inspection and was told my front sub frame was rusted and rotted. They told me it was under recall, but upon further research I found there have been recalls on this same part for other years of this car but apparantly the 2006 was not included, even though I have the same issues, and they charged me for other repairs under the pretense that the sub frame would be fixed by a dealership for free due to the recall.
Extensive rust on the lower engine subframe crossmember: the subframe has rotted loose and the front suspension control arms rattle the subframe from where they are attached. This elantra was purchased new and only has 44000 miles. The control arms will tear away from the loose subframe and cause a loos of control accident.
I noticed that my airbag light stays on near my dashboard where are the speedometer is and when I have passengers in my car the passenger airbag light is off I don't believe my sensors work for my airbags
My brake lights are stuck on but my fuses are not blown.
After owning two '06 elantras, I've come to realize a recurring issue with the dashboard electrical components. When the turner indicator is engaged, the rest of the dashboard has a tendency to short out for a second or two before returning to normal.
Air bag light on brake lights stay on after car off and foot not pushing them on
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai elantra. While the vehicle was parked, the air bag deployed without impact and smoke was detected inside the vehicle. The contact sustained burns and injuries to the eyes, chest, and chin. Medical attention was not received. There were no warning indicators illuminated. A police report was filed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 135,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai elantra. While driving various speeds, the police informed the contact that the brake lights were inoperable. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact stated that the failure was similar to the federal safety agency campaign number: 09v280000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 133,676.
I rear-ended someone at around 30-35 MPH. The vehicle I hit was stationary. The air bag did not deploy but the air bag warning light was left on. No one was injured.
Compare the 2006 Hyundai Elantra
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2006 Hyundai Elantra
Is the 2006 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
Owners have filed 155 complaints about the 2006 Hyundai Elantra, fewer than a typical Elantra model year.
What is the 2006 Hyundai Elantra year score?
The 2006 Hyundai Elantra scores 81 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Elantra: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 Hyundai Elantra?
Airbags, with 56 complaints, typically around 61,000 miles. Next is lights (38).
How many recalls does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra have?
1 recall, covering exterior lighting.
What year does the Hyundai Elantra have bad airbags?
The Hyundai Elantra model years with the most airbags complaints are 2013 (168 complaints), 2012 (124 complaints) and 2001 (118 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra get?
Official estimates for the 2006 Hyundai Elantra range from 24 to 26 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21-23 city and 29-31 highway.
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Check its historyHyundai Elantra in the news
- Hyundai recalls 2026 Elantra and 2026 Tucson Hybrid over macpherson strut problem (24 vehicles)
- Hyundai recalls 2026 Elantra, 2026 Venue and 2026 Elantra Hybrid and other models over wheels lugs/nuts/bolts/studs problem (17 vehicles)
- Hyundai extends warranty coverage on 2015-2019 Sonata, 2015-2018 Elantra and 2017-2021 Tucson and other models (unknown or other)