2006 Hyundai Sonata: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1422 complaints
1422
Total Complaints
73,838mi
Median Mileage
Air Bags
Top Issue
55
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

48,000 25th Percentile
73,838 Median Mileage
107,756 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

Air Bags
375
Visibility
150
Seat Belts
96
Electrical System
81
Suspension
74
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
57
Service Brakes
51
Frontal
45
Engine
44
Vehicle Speed Control
38

Severity Assessment

55
Crashes
13
Fires
58
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"WE BOUGHT OUR 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA ON TUESDAY, JULY 19, 2005. WE WERE DRIVING ON A WINDY ROAD ON SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2005. WE WERE UNSURE AFTER JUST TURNING RIGHT FROM A STOP SIGN OF THE CORRECT DIRECTION SO WE WERE TRAVELING RELATIVELY SLOWLY FOR THIS ROAD AS WE WERE LOOKING AT THE MAILBOXES TO SE..."
"DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE OVER STEERS VERY BADLY. HE STATES THAT IF ONE BARELY TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL LUNGE INTO THAT DIRECTION. HAS TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE IN THE DIRECTION CONSUMER WANTS IT TO GO. THE VEHIC..."
"THE SEAT-BELT WARNING CHIME ON THIS VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE MOMENT THE DRIVER'S BELT IS UNBUCKLED EVEN IF THE CAR IS AT REST, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE IS IN PARK, AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS SET. THIS LOUD, GRATING CHIME REPEATS EVERY 6 SECS. ALTHOUGH I ASSUME THE SYSTEM MEETS CURRENT NHTSA RULES PER SE, ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

Air Bags 375 complaints
25th: 58,000 mi Median: 72,000 mi 75th: 104,500 mi
Visibility 150 complaints
25th: 50,000 mi Median: 63,950 mi 75th: 77,000 mi
Seat Belts 96 complaints
25th: 62,834 mi Median: 79,450 mi 75th: 111,500 mi
Electrical System 81 complaints
25th: 65,436 mi Median: 82,401 mi 75th: 112,726 mi
Suspension 74 complaints
25th: 87,439 mi Median: 120,500 mi 75th: 157,750 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 128 CA: 111 NY: 105 PA: 84 OH: 83 NJ: 66 TX: 64 IL: 61 VA: 51 MA: 47

Who Files Complaints?

7.7%
Original Owners
92.3%
Second+ Owners

Hyundai Sonata — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
1990250
1991413
1992431
1993461
19959317
1996370
1997746
1998683
199918725
200037822
200129334
200240750
200324728
200428536
200521744
200790545
200855424
200961029
201041523
20114582194
2012225486
20132602138
2014106148
2015161160
201696037
201796446
201851926
201918211
20202368
202115611
202212314
202313012
2024613

Active Recalls (11)

Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.

Switch
Campaign 09V122000 | 15/04/2009
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ALONE OR IN COMBINATION, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE HYUNDAI CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151.
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Campaign 18V026000 | 09/01/2018
An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a relay in the vehicle's main junction box to prevent the risk of an ABS short-circuit while the car is turned off, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2018. Owners may call Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this reca
Air Bags
Campaign 08V161000 | 10/04/2008
MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 09E012000 | 07/04/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Headlights
Campaign 08E021000 | 07/03/2008
IMPROPER AIMING OF THE HEADLAMP MAY RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
HYUNDAI-KIA DEALERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR SUPPLY TO HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. NONE OF THE HEADLAMPS WERE SOLD AS RETAIL. AS A RESULT, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED.
Rear
Campaign 13V354000 | 12/08/2013
Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair or replace the crossmember assembly. The recall began on October 8, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall number is 113.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 09V280000 | 21/07/2009
ANY OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
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.
Automatic (Asc)
Campaign 05V316000 | 07/07/2005
THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SLOW AND MAY AFFECT THE PATH THAT THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BY INADVERTENT ESC ACTIVATION MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ESC HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Labels
Campaign 06V234000 | 26/06/2006
IF THE LABELS ARE DISTORTED OR MISSING, THE DRIVER OR FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE THAT MAY HELP PROTECT THEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUNVISOR ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 2, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Recliner
Campaign 05V377000 | 29/08/2005
THE INADVERTENT RELEASE OF A FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL SEAT BACK RECLINER KNOB(S) FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Headlights
Campaign 06V180000 | 22/05/2006
AN IMPROPERLY POSITIONED TURN SIGNAL LENS MAY REDUCE THE INTENSITY OF THE TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATION, REDUCING ITS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Airbag Safety

Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.

  • Check for open airbag recalls at NHTSA.gov using your VIN
  • Never ignore the airbag warning light — get it diagnosed immediately
  • Don't install aftermarket steering wheel covers that block the airbag
  • Keep the area around airbag deployment zones clear of accessories

Compare Hyundai Sonata

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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28