10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,482 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 Sonata engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Hyundai Sonata Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #40

Feb 022022

Sonata

  • miles

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

May 2019: Battery light came on and off for a few minutes. Car sputtered and engine quit. Replaced alternator and battery; problem went away. Feb 2022: Battery light came on and off for a few minutes. Car sputtered and engine quit. Replaced alternator and battery. This time the mechanic noticed that oil was leaking from the front valve cover gasket and was getting into the alternator; thus the most likely source of damage to alternator.

- Winston Salem, NC, USA

problem #39

Aug 072020

Sonata

  • miles
Driving on the highway and my car just died out of no where took it to get looked at only to find out the engine died car got so hot it had to sit over night to cool. Also was driving one day and rook a turn amd my brakes wouldn't stop took it in and found out the entire brake line was corroded had to spend thousands to get it fixed.

- Warwick, RI, USA

problem #38

Feb 172019

Sonata

  • miles
My vehicle was moving upon coming to a stop. I tried the brake system but my car wouldn't stop and caused an accident. That's what I remember.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #37

Aug 092019

Sonata

  • miles

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

I heard really loud sound in the engine but there's no check engine light. After of few days of driving and the day I decided to bring it to the mechanic, few miles away from the shop the the loud noise in the engine is gone then check engine show up and the oil pan appears. The mechanic said it was the oil pump and they said there's a metal shaving inside the engine, when they drain the engine oil.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #36

Feb 172019

Sonata

  • 211,000 miles
The brakes on my 2006 Hyundai Sonata failed on me as I was driving. My car seemed to have not been working properly.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #35

Jul 142018

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owned a 2006 Hyundai Sonata. While driving highway speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal noise and smoke emitted from the engine compartment. The failure occurred without warning. The contact was able to safely maneuver from the highway to a parking lot. The contact exited the vehicle and observed flames underneath the vehicle. The fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed a total loss. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. There were no injuries. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V026000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Plainfield, NJ, USA

problem #34

Feb 152018

Sonata

  • 136,861 miles

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

The check engine light starting going on and off. Our 19-year-old daughter was driving on the freeway at night when the light came on and it started making a loud noise. She stopped on the side of the freeway, turned it off and never could restart it. The engine died. It blew a rod. The car had regular maintenance. We hadn't had any work done recently that could have led to engine problems. The mechanic said it had oil and he couldn't explain what happened.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #33

Jan 052018

Sonata

  • 104,000 miles
Car Hyundai Sonata V6 2006 started developing engine noise when I was driving it in my parking lot after I made a turn.. cyclic noise similar to the one mentioned in https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/Hyundai-Sonata-engine-failures-prompt-recall it has 104000 miles and is not low on oil. Mechanic says engine has to be replaced.. it's noise from inside the engine and dangerous to drive with it.

- Arlington Hts, IL, USA

problem #32

Feb 012017

Sonata

  • miles
It is having the same problems that the engines are being recalled for now. It is making tapping and pinging sounds. I have looked the vehicle and have seen people have been complaining about their 2006 Hyundai Sonatas doing the same thing. Scrap yards have these cars there with blown engines. My son is having to pay on a loan on a car that he can not even drive. We have called the banks and insurance. It will cost more to fix the engine than what he owes. Why are 2006's not being recalled also?

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #31

Oct 142016

Sonata

  • 87,260 miles
My wife and I purchased the vehicle on 10/11/2016 at J.D. byrider of mansfield and noticed that there was a clicking type sound when starting vehicle. On 10/14/2016 while my wife was leaving work she went to turn the vehicle and it was very hard but managed to get home and woke me up, I then went out and viewed that the serpentine belt was very loose and that there was a pulley laying by the engine; jd byrider fixed the issue of pulley and belt; after we received the vehicle back we noticed that the clicking type noise was still there.

- Mansfield, OH, USA

problem #30

Aug 022016

Sonata

  • 50,000 miles

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

Purchased this Sonata used 3 months ago with 45,800 miles on it, drove it 4,000 miles and it developed a engine ticking noise which now has turned into a knocking sound at 1800 rpms goes away, then comes back at 2200 rpms. I contacted Hyundai customer service to establish a case number. The dealer has removed the oil pan and found shavings saying it needs a "short block" motor replacement at a cost of $5,800. Hyundai motor America denied the request for repair totally. I find that at 50,000 miles and being only the second owner, this motor had a defect that should be acknowledged as a defect and they should stand behind there product! this is my third Hyundai, new 2005 and new 2007 and I'm seriously in the market for a new SUV but if Hyundai won't stand behind a costly defect like this they will loose a 10 year very loyal customer forever.

- Brooklyn Park, MN, USA

problem #29

Jul 142016

Sonata

  • 32,564 miles
While driving, the damper pulley seperates and the power steering fails along with the water pump and the alternator. This damper as it is called is a device that drives all the belt powered devices on the engine. I asked the dealer if there was a recall on this and the reply was no. How can a power steering failure not be a recall? when you are turning and the power steering fails I would say the majority of drivers would not be able to steer the vehicle out of this situation. Look online and view all the places that list this problem. This is a big safety issue the vehicle steers very hard and is difficult to control.

- Fond Du Lac, WI, USA

problem #28

Dec 162015

Sonata

  • miles
When I start up my car my car sounds like in grinds then it stops its the chain tensioner replacement

- Fort Irwin, CA, USA

problem #27

Apr 262016

Sonata

  • 118,500 miles
Vehicle was in motion on Chicago city streets and temp gauge started to rise slowly and I began smelling anitfreeze. Later the temp gauge rose signigigantly the antifreeze began leaking heaily from beneath and smoke began rising from under the hood very heavily. Upon auto shop inspection the repairman noticed that the smoke was coming from an area by the engines' heating core rubber hoses. The repairman removed the heating core rubber hoses for inspection and found that the engines' heating core metal tubing nosles/nipples appeared as though they have been dipped in acid. The repairman concluded that heater core metal tubing nosle/nipples severe corrosion is not normal wear or tear or a common automobile problem.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #26

Jan 082016

Sonata 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
My Sonata 3.3L V-6 engine with what appears to be a very common and dangerous problem. This vehicle seems to begin stalling and slamming into 3rd gear fail safe mode, luckily I have not been rear-ended due to this yet! I have read up extensively on this and found many with the same complaint on www.carcomplaints.com website. It appears many dealerships are aware as they have had vehicle in to be problem solved with what appears to be an electrical problem more so than a mechanical problem. After having my car into 4 different shops including a dealership the first time it happened with no fix and only a 'if we can't replicate the problem we can't fix it' response I get mad. We have ruled out everything possible; transmission, engine, relays, etc. For 4 months it has been in and out of shops trying to diagnose the problem. Which is happening so often now it is not safe and I am having to take out a loan to try and buy a new care. I cannot trade this in due to the problem. When it is running it runs great, until it slams into 3rd gear with no warming and you loose all acceleration or it dies completely. You can shut it off and restart it and it runs as if nothing happened, until it stalls again. The last mechanic having verified everything he was told to check has determined it must be in the computer. Some individuals said early on they had the computers replaces (at a big cost) only to have it happen again. My car is 10 years old and only has 118,000 miles on it. I hate having to get rid of this car but there is no way it is safe to drive in this condition. Hyundai seems to be ignoring this complaint as no recall has been issued and no help in repairing the problem. Too many cars at the aprx mileage with the same problem and leads me to believe a recall is in order or financial reimbursement for the months of repair to fix it should be made. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #25

Mar 182016

Sonata

  • miles
First, oil is leaking on alternator and area around, car needs a valve cover gasket, driver airbag light stays on, passenger sun visor wont stay up, the vehicle has 149000 miles on it. There are to many complaints for these subjects, a recall needs to be issued.

- Petersburg, VA, USA

problem #24

Nov 202015

Sonata

  • 40,000 miles
On lambda/lambda II mpi series engines, engine oil can leak onto the alternator, which could affect charging system function and potentially cause the engine to stall and not restart. This would result in a loss of motive power as well as affect power braking and power steering system function, which would unexpectedly increase steering and brake pedal effort, potentially increasing stopping distances and the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Every make/model of vehicle that has this engine has oil leaks on the alternator and other critical components (I've replaced 3 alternators so far! ~$200 each! + labor!!!) yet only a certain year of the "vera cruz" received a recall because the cost to Hyundai would be higher to fix this issue on all affected vehicles (Azera, sante fe, and my Sonata etc. Models)

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #23

Dec 102012

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
I own a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, at 100,000 (hwy miles) the front upper control arms became squeeky and detatched from the rubber bushings, making a horrible ride and clunking sound when I would put the car into gear. This problem makes the car bouncy and unstable. There is also a knocking or loud clicking sound in the engine at crusing speeds, when I barley push the gas pedal. It sounds like the air intake control valve. It goes away when I accelerate. The radio and cruise control electornics seem to work only when they want too!

- Placerville, CA, USA

problem #22

Nov 012015

Sonata

  • 100,000 miles
Oil leak from engine valve cover - left (front) side of 3.3 V6. This is directly above alternator. Eventually alternator fails due to severe oil/dirt contamination. First noticed when battery light comes on at idle, showing charging problem. By then damage is done. Valve cover must be replaced along with alternator or problem will quickly recur. *there is currently a recall for Hyundai veracruz with same engine for the same problem. Sonata is not included, but a quick internet search shows this to be a common, well-known problem for many years.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #21

Jan 092015

Sonata

  • 105,000 miles
In Jan. 2015 it was on a 100 mile highway trip. Upon arrival he noticed the engine developed a knocking noise. I found many 2.4L Hyundai's with the same problem on the internet. The engine was made in Indiana. It sounds the same as nhsta campaign #15V-568. It needs a new engine. I can't upload it, but I have video of the knocking. I believe the recall needs to be expanded to earlier years

- Midland, MI, USA

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