Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 23 | 22% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 8% |
| Suspension | 9 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 3% |
| Power train | 3 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exhaust muffler detached and fell off the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I was driving my 2006 Subaru forester vin #[XXX] around 5 PM. I was waiting in an offramp lane to make a left turn, behind numerous cars. Suddenly, a car pulled up next to me and told me to pull over because my car wa
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bags warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but it was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
got in a roll over accident where the air bags did not deploy and caused serious injuries.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
Gas tank rusted and started leak in June of 2000. Minor at first then worse. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, LUCKILY NEW CAUGHT FIRE OR EXPLODED. MANUFACTURER DID NOT NOTIFY US OF EXTENED WARRANTY,
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph when the vehicle began to accelerate without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact was able to pull over and no
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
The contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The contact discovered that there was fuel leaking underneath the
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
ON MARCH 4, 2020, HEADING HOME AT NIGHT ON A CURVY MOUNTAIN ROAD MY CAR (2006 HYUNDAI SANTA FE) SUDDENLY JERKED, STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 80 MILES HOUR. AT THE SAME TIME HALF OF THE PANEL LIGHT BEHIND PART OF THE RP
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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 1-8
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 66 | good |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 23 of them (22%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2006 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.