10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,461 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Hyundai Santa Fe electrical problems

electrical problem

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2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner Comments

problem #9

Jun 012017

Santa Fe

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air bag light keeps coming on and off(every day, several times on a 30-45 mins drive ) on dashboard as I am driving on regular basis.. seems like airbag won't deploy while light is on, and if there is an accident and light is on I think the driver airbag will not deploy. Hyundai dealers already know the issue and apparently is a bad electric connection on the seat belt click that needs to be replace... they are willing to "diagnose it" for $125.. but many people says the cost of repair is $490. They wont acknowledge is a defect on the wiring and want people to pay for it.is very scary driving knowing that my airbag may not deploy

- Warminster, PA, USA

problem #8

Sep 012013

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 65,700 miles
This happens more often than none now. I can be pulling out into traffic of just cruising along when I press gas to go whenall of a sudden the car jerks, looses power! like its going to stop and stall in one quick second and throws me forward even with my seatbelt on it jerks me I only had it stall one time, so far. If I let off the gas and press it again it seems to help and power comes back, sometimes. I almost got hit pulling out into traffic because the car lost power and wasn't going anywhere when I had gas peddle pushed. When all this happens the engine light will come on and than go off, sometime now the engine light comes on and stays on for a few days and the car has a lot less power or feels like its going to stall, than the light will go out on its own. I had it checked out and they told me I needed an alternator so I bought one when my son and my neighbor was going put it in they checked the alternator and battery and they were fine and have been checked several times and are fine. Also at night when I press the break to stop or slow down the head lights will dim and I can feel the jerking of the care just a little bit. I am so afraid to drive this care sometimes or on the beltway because I am afraid its going to stall/shutdown or shut off that its going to get me killed and I am also afraid to drive my grand children because of the same reasons. Please help me! I can't afford to keep getting it looked at when it doesn't happen all the time they can't find anything wrong with it. What can I do to fix this problem. When this happens I have no steering or control of the car for that split second and I am an emt/firefighter I know that split second can kill me and anyone else in my car. I had bought the car used last year and it was doing it just a very little bit at first and I called the used dealer and he said its bad gas.

- Gibson Island , MD, USA

problem #7

May 282014

Santa Fe

  • 155,000 miles
While traveling @ 50 mph, remove foot from accelerator and car failed to slow. Depressed brake an car still failed to slow. Turned key to off and pulled to side of road to full stop. Restarted engine an it again over accelerated so turned it off. Depressed accelerator several times and restarted, drove to work area to have inspection of problem.

- Placitas, NM, USA

problem #6

May 122010

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 32,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This complaint is in reference to my 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. Approximately in the month of May 2010, I began noticing problems with my vehicle's electrical system that were numerous in distinction. To summarize a list of the problems, I will begin with the door locks on the vehicle. During the incident in May 2010, I attempted to unlock my vehicle with the portable lock/unlock/alarm keypad and for some odd reason the pad would only unlock the driver side door. I got in my vehicle and started the car while I ran inside to get some things to bring home with me. When I came back out, all the doors were locked on the car so I had to have my brother-in-law take me back to my house to get my spare key to rectify the problem. After this incident, I began noticing a medley of electrical problems with the car. The compass that use to read out on my overhead dome light stopped working. The blower fan for the heating/cooling system began to work erratically. With the fan set to off, it would still come on despite that fact. For example, if it is set to off and I put my vehicle in reverse, the fan more often than not switches on until I put the car back into drive. I also began having and issue with my ABS brakes. Now this could be that I need to have the sensors cleaned, but I figured I'd mention it nonetheless. My ABS system frequently kicks in even on a dry, sunny day. It's sporadic when it does this, so it's impossible for me to gauge when the next incident may happen. Nonetheless, this is the most dangerous of the problems because I have almost rear-ended another vehicle numerous times due to my brakes not being engaged properly. I've called Hyundai to see if there were any recalls regarding my vehicle in this matter and they informed me that there had been not.

- Shirley, NY, USA

problem #5

Aug 102010

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 11,137 miles
After engine is warm, about 20 minutes later, there is a gurgling in the fuel tank when the key is turned on (before and after the engine is started). I think it is fuel being returned from the engine. I have had it in two different Hyundai service shops, with the fuel pump replaced twice, and a fuel pressure regulator replaced. Having given up, both shops contacted the district Hyundai office and a field service adviser told the local shops to show the event as "normal". it is not normal and I think the Hyundai district office is hiding the problem. Could be a fuel system problem and could be a safety hazard if fuel starts leaking. Both local service departments now show the problem as "normal" and nothing more will be done on this problem. I believe a recall for this problem is appropriate.

- Prescott, AZ, USA

problem #4

Jul 252011

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 52,312 miles
I was traveling on I-295 and approximately half mile from the exit I needed, my battery light, brake light came on. When I neared the off ramp and slowed down to 60 mph, I started to turn the steering wheel and it was unresponsive and I had lost power steering. I was able to slow down adequately, and with both hands continually fighting with the steering, I managed to get the vehicle to an area safely where I could contact my mechanic and have it towed to their premises. Upon his inspection the following day, he called me to let me know that the front engine mounting bolts had broken off in front of the block, and the holes are damaged. I did contact Hyundai, and they seemed very unconcerned by the incident. I wouldn't have thought that bolts breaking at only 52,000 miles without reason would be an issue that they would like to pursue. Even though I had purchased the car used, at the time of the purchase there was nothing in the carfax report to indicate that there were any problems, and of course, the car warranty under Hyundai expired in April. I am not sure if this is a one off incident, or a possible pattern. Thank you for looking into this matter.

- Highland Springs, VA, USA

problem #3

Jan 012010

Santa Fe

  • 62,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that whenever there is a heavy rain or the vehicle is taken through a car wash, the vehicle would stall. The dealer advised the problem could be caused by the electrical system getting too wet from exposure to excessive water and replaced the electrical system sensor. Two weeks following repairs, the failure recurred while driving at speeds of 55 mph. The vehicle stalled and there was no power steering. The contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle without steering capabilities and the vehicle proceeded to crash into the wall of an overpass. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop where the contact was awaiting an assessment of the damages. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 83,000.

- Lindenhurst, NY, USA

problem #2

Nov 222007

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. When driving over a small puddle of water, the brakes would lock. Usually when the failure occurs, the brake light and battery lights would illuminate for about 35 seconds and then the steering wheel would lock. After a short time, the brakes and steering column would unlock. The vehicle was taken to the dealership on many different occasions. The technician finally concluded that water was entering into one of the pulleys. However he stated that he could not remedy the failure. She called the manufacturer and a representative was sent out to inspect the vehicle. No assistance has been provided. The current mileage was 41,763. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. Updated 01/1410 updated 01/20/10.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #1

Nov 092006

Santa Fe 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 15,000 miles
: the contact stated while driving any speeds at night, the headlights failed to illuminate. This occurred without warning. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined an electrical sensor failed and needed replaced. After the repair, the problem persisted. The manufacturer was not alerted.

- Columbia, SC, USA

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