2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 30 of 106 complaints (28%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 216 in 2005 to 106 in 2006.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | vs. 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,100–3,650 | 3,100–3,650 | 3,100–3,650 | 2,950–3,300 | 3,100–3,300 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–20 | 17–20 | 17–20 | 19–21 | 19–20 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–18 / 19–25 | 15–18 / 21–25 | 15–18 / 21–25 | 17–18 / 23–24 | 17–18 / 23–24 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 444–523 | 444–523 | 444–523 | 423–468 | 444–468 | |
| Complaints filed | 303 | 216 | 106 | 683 | 541 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 32 | 18 | 11 | 30 | 17 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 7 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 | |
| Injuries reported | 35 | 14 | 8 | 32 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?
Airbags & Restraints: 30 of 106 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe get?
EPA rates it 17–20 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg (high) | 24 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 18 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 2.7L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 17 mpg | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 16 mpg | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 2.7L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 16 mpg | 21 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic 5-spd | 6 | 3.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 30 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS · Campaign 14V435000 · Jul 18, 2014
Defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model Year 2001-2006 Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from March 31, 2000, through February 15, 2006, that are registered and operated, or which were originally sold and registered, in the following 20 salt belt" states and the District of Columbia: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The affected vehicles may experience front coil spring corrosion from road salt, causing the coil spring to fracture and make contact with the tire.
Consequence: If the front coil spring fractures due to corrosion it could cause the coil spring to make contact with the tire, possibly puncturing the tire and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the coil spring, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2014. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 124.