Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09V280000 · 2009 · reported 07/21/2009
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2006 Hyundai Elantra Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Air Bags — runs 4.0× the fleet median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
155Complaints
1Recalls
28Crashes
0Fires
23Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Air Bags (28.4% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.
Air Bags complaints here are 4.0× the median for that category across the 1998 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 44 · 28.4% | not available | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 33 · 21.3% | Recalled | Recall 09V280000 |
| Service Brakes | 23 · 14.8% | not available | — |
| Electrical System | 14 · 9% | not available | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 · 7.1% | not available | — |
| Air Bags:frontal | 8 · 5.2% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 155 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 1 campaign
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH IS LIT ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS RESET THE LIGHT ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK AFTER A…”NHTSA complaint 10927903 — filed 11/25/2016 · AIR BAGS
“AIR BAG LIGHT ON / EMMISIONS AIR BAG ALL SENORS WERE SWAPPED AND NOW I'M BEING TOLD THE CUSHION SHOULD BE REPLACED SINCE THE SENSOR…”NHTSA complaint 10915933 — filed 10/13/2016 · AIR BAGS
“OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) SHOULD BE REPROGRAMMED. NHTSA TSB#0590003 AND HYUNDAI TSB#06-90-010 COVER THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHEN SMALLER STATURED ADULT…”NHTSA complaint 10746709 — filed 08/06/2015 · AIR BAGS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Hyundai Elantra?
Air bags issues are the most-reported category, cited in 44 of 155 NHTSA complaints (28.4%), followed by exterior lighting (33), service brakes (23), electrical system (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra have?
155 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 28 involved a crash, 0 involved a fire, and 23 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2006 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA safety recall campaign, including campaign 09V280000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2006 Hyundai Elantra's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
