RoadVitals

2006 Hyundai Elantra Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Feb 7, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 155 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Hyundai Elantra submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Feb 7, 2020

AFTER OWNING TWO '06 ELANTRAS, I'VE COME TO REALIZE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. WHEN THE TURNER INDICATOR IS ENGAGED, THE REST OF THE DASHBOARD HAS A TENDENCY TO SHORT OUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL.

NHTSA ID
11307675
Incident
Feb 6, 2020
Mileage
140,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2018

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IN THE CENTER HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I'VE GOTTEN THE CAR, THE LIGHT NEVER USED TO GO OFF WHEN AN ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH MEANS THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLED. NOW THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND DOES NOT EVER GO OFF, MEANING ALL AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. IT CAME ON UPON STARTING UP MY VEHICLE AND HAS NOT GONE OFF SINCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, BUT IS NOT REPORTED PROPERLY VIA NHTSA, INSTEAD MANY COMPLAINTS ARE MADE VIA FORUMS. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, TURNING THE WHEEL AND USING THE BLINKER CAUSES ALL DASH LIGHTS AS WELL AS MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO FLICKER BRIEFLY. REAR WINDOWS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE ROLLED DOWN VIA THE MAIN CONTROL ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, ONLY CAN BE ROLLED UP.

NHTSA ID
11129314
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
Mileage
103,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed May 24, 2017

MY CAR HAS HAD ENGINE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF FOR YEARS ON THEIR OWN, WINDOWS THAT YOU USE ONE SWITCH FOR THAT MAKE A DIFFERENT WINDOW GO DOWN AND THEN SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GO UP, MY BRAKES HAVEN'T RELEASED THE CRUISE CONTROL AT TIMES AND NOW MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF SO I CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH AND WANT IT FIXED, IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ID
10991428
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 19, 2015

I HAVE A BAD BRAKE SWITCH, AND NOTICED THAT THE ONLY RECALL IS IN PUERTO RICO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HYUNDAI AMERICA SHOULD BE RECALLING ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES. I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW AND MAKE HYUNDAI FIX THIS "SAFETY "ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID
10735035
Incident
Jul 19, 2015
Mileage
114,071 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jan 25, 2015

PRIOR TO THIS DATE HAD ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SUCH AS BACK LIGHTING OF STEREO AND ASH TRAY, CD PLAYER MALFUNCTIONING PAST FEW YEARS, MORE RECENTLY ODOMETER BACK LIGHT ALSO DOES NOT LIGHT. PREVIOUS REPORT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN NOBODY WAS SITTING IN SEAT, OR IF PURSE ON SEAT, LESS THAN 10 LBS. THEN AT ABOUT 206,000 MILES, MY ESTIMATE DRIVER INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR ON FIRST SOME TIMES, THEN SHORTLY AFTER ON ALL THE TIME. AFTER READING NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS AND SEEING YEARS PRIOR AND POST MY 2006 HAD RECALLS AS DID OTHER SIMILAR CARS AND THAT AIRBAGS FAILED, I AM VERY CONCERNED. HYUNDAI SEEMS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED AND A SPONTANEOUS ELECTRICAL FIRE IS A MAIN CONCERN. I HAD MY STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER A RECALL. THE REPLACEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREE HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS ONLY AND ADVISORY AND NOT A RECALL AND WAS MADE TO PAY $50 TO REPLACE THE $7.00 STOP LAMP SWITCH PART. I LATER WENT ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT INDEED IT WAS A RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD SCAMMED ME BY CHARGING LABOR TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. I BELIEVE THESE VEHICLES ARE A DANGER, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE MAY ALSO BE ISSUES WITH CRUISE CONTROL BY STOP LAMP, AND I AM NOT CERTAIN WITH SEVERAL YEARS AND MILES DRIVING THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS STILL FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE RECALL OF 2006 & A DESIGN CHANGE WITH AMPLE TESTING TO PROVE THESE IMPORTS ARE NOT CUTTING CORNERS AGAIN. I WAS CONSIDERING ANOTHER, SUCH AS A TOYOTA, HOWEVER THE RECALLS ON TOYOTA AND DEATHS HAVE MADE ME CAUTIOUS OF THEIR QUALITY AS WELL. IF AIRBAGS ARE MANDATED BY YOU THEN THEIR REPAIR WHEN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE SHOULD REST ON THE MANUFACTURERS. OWNED 2 2003 LANCERS 2.0L AND WERE TOTALED, ONE ROLLOVER ONE FRONT DEER COLLISION. VEHICLE BODY SAFE BUT NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678772
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
206,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 28, 2014

REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE 'AIR BAG' LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD GOES OFF - PROBLEM BEGAN UPON INITIALLY STARTING CAR, AND IS NOT LINKED TO ANY ACCIDENT EVER OCCURRED. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS RIDING IN THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575453
Incident
Mar 28, 2014
Mileage
80,363 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 30, 2013

ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, I CALLED HYUNDAI, BECAUSE I HAD SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COVER IT, SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10546319
Incident
Sep 30, 2013
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2012

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE. PART NUMBER 93810-3K000. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED IN PUERTO RICO ONLY, BUT FAILURE OF THIS PART MAY INDICATE A MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN HAWAII. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490254
Incident
Dec 27, 2012
Mileage
105,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Dec 23, 2012

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CAUSE WAS A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY TSB 09-01-018. *TR

NHTSA ID
10489582
Incident
Dec 23, 2012
Mileage
52,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 16, 2011

BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS NOT PART OF RECALL 09V28000 BUT IT IS THE SAME ISSUE. HOW DOES THIS NOT FIT THE RECALL???? *TR

NHTSA ID
10436109
Incident
Nov 16, 2011
Mileage
51,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Nov 3, 2011

PROBABLE FIRE HAZARD: PROBLEM WITH FREQUENT BURNING OUT OF FUSES TO CIGARETTE LIGHTER (CHARGER), SOME DASH LIGHTS (BACK LIGHT FOR DIGITAL RADIO CHANNEL INDICATOR) EITHER NO LONGER WORK OR COME OFF AND ON (ASH TRAY LIGHT), AC AND FAN KNOBS--USED TO HAVE TO TAP ON THEM TO GET THEM TO LIGHT, ACTED ALMOST LIKE A DIMMER SWITCH, SOMETIMES HAD TO TAP SEVERAL TIMES TO GET TO TURN ON, AND SOMETIMES KNOB BACK LIGHTING ON, BUT DIM, AND HAD TO TAP TO GET FULL POWER TO BULBS, CD PLAYER OVERHEATING AND STOPPED WORKING--GIVES ERROR MESSAGE, (HAD SIMILAR CD PLAYER OVERHEATING WITH A 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER I OWNED IN EARLY TO MID-2000S, BUT CD PLAYER CONTINUED TO WORK--ELANTRA DOES NOT WORK MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE EJECTING CD.) HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT TOO FREQUENTLY (INCLUDING LAST TIME, WHEN HEADLIGHT REMOVED ON PASSENGER SIDE, LIGHT WENT OUT ON DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL.) HEADLIGHT HAD SHORT AND WOULD COME BACK ON WHEN I BANGED ON LENS WITH FIST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT UNTIL IF FINALLY BURNED OUT. CONCERNED OF RISK OF ELECTRICAL FIRE AS ENGINE AREA BECOMES HOT. NOTE THAT CLEAR-COAT ON HOOD OVER EACH HEADLIGHT AREA AND OVER FUSE RELAY BOX AREA BECAME YELLOW, THEN BRITTLE, PEELING OFF IN PAST 6 MONTHS. PURCHASED VEHICLE IN JULY 2008 OR 2009? BELIEVE IT HAD ABOUT 63,000 MILES ON IT THEN--CURRENTLY 138,000 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT SAYS OFF WHEN 200 LB. HUSBAND SEATED ON PASSENGER SIDE ON OCCASION RECENTLY NOTICED IN LAST YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10434171
Incident
Dec 1, 2010
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 26, 2011

MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA MANUFACTURED IN KOREA IN DECEMBER 2005 FALLS OUTSIDE THE HYUNDAI RECALLS FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES (IT IS NOT A PUERTO RICAN-MADE 2006, OR A 2007+ ELANTRA COVERED BY RECALLS), BUT USES THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART # (93810-3K000) UNDER RECALL, AS DETAILED IN TSB 09-01-018. MY CAR'S BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK, GIVING ONLY 0.5V TO THE BULB SOCKETS WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. I TESTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AND IT FAILED TO GIVE CONTINUITY BETWEEN ANY OF ITS 4 CONTACTS IN OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10427163
Incident
Sep 22, 2011
Mileage
64,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 23, 2011

FIRST TIME I WAS PARKING THE CAR AND IT JUST ACCELERATED MAKING THE CAR JUMP. THE NEXT TIME I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I ALMOST ENDED UP IN THE INTERSECTION. THIS HAS HAPPEN AT LEAST 6 OR 7 TIMES WHEN I WAS PARKING OR STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. I NEVER KNOW WHEN I STOP OR PARK THE CAR IF IT WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I HAVE COME SO VERY CLOSE TO HITTING A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, SLIDING INTO THE INTERSECTION AND/OR JUMPING A PARKING BUMPER. I HAVE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER. I'VE HAD IT CORRECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP A COUPLE OF TIMES ONLY TO HAVE IT STOP WORKING WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2006 AND NEEDLESS TO SAY IS STILL NOT WORKING. THE SPEED ON THE CAR IS WRONG. IT SHOWS ME GOING FASTER THAN I'M ACTUALLY GOING. FOR EXAMPLE, IT SHOWS I'M GOING 57 MPH WHEN I'M ACTUALLY GOING 54 MPH.

NHTSA ID
10384997
Incident
Dec 25, 2009
Electrical
Filed May 12, 2009

I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS IN MY 2006 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WHICH I JUST DISCOVERED. I REPLACED THE FUSES BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. WHILE RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, CAME ACROSS A NOTIFICATION THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IN THESE MODELS ARE BEING RECALLED. I CALLED CONSUMERS AFFAIRS WITH HYUNDAI AND WAS REFERRED TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP. TODAY, 5/12 WENT TO THE NEW PORT RICHEY HYUNDAI DEALER AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THERE IS NO RECALL AND ALL OF THIS WAS INTERNET GARBAGE. I LEFT WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. WENT TO THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS AND THEY CAN NOT GET THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AS OUT OF STOCK. LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT RECOGNIZE A RECALL AND AUTO PARTS STORE CAN NOT GET THE PART. NEED ASSISTANCE PLEASE. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR TOM KINSELLA

NHTSA ID
10268572
Incident
May 11, 2009
Mileage
61,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 13, 2006

WE PURCHASED 2 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS 2006 MODELS IN MAY 2006 AS GIFTS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. WITHIN 1 WEEK OR LESS, THE PHONE CHARGER IN THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING ON EITHER CAR. THEY REPLACED THE FUSES IN EACH VEHICLE AND TOLD US THAT WHEN WE CHARGE THE PHONES, THEY SHOULD BE PLUGGED IN PRIOR TO STARTING THE CAR IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FUSES FROM "BLOWING". 13 OCT 2006 - 1 OF MY DAUGHTERS BLEW A FUSE AND REPLACED IT PER THEIR PROTOCOL. SHE PLUGGED IN HER CELL PHONE TO CHARGE AND THE CRANKED HER CAR. THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE 2 BRAND NEW 2006 ELANTRAS THAT ARE BOTH BLOWING FUSES. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLUG IN A SIMPLE CELL PHONE CHARGER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BLOWING THE FUSE EVERY TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10170802
Incident
May 23, 2006
Electrical
Filed Oct 13, 2006

WE PURCHASED 2 HYUNDAI ELANTRAS 2006 MODELS IN MAY 2006 AS GIFTS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS. WITHIN 1 WEEK OR LESS, THE PHONE CHARGER IN THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING ON EITHER CAR. THEY REPLACED THE FUSES IN EACH VEHICLE AND TOLD US THAT WHEN WE CHARGE THE PHONES, THEY SHOULD BE PLUGGED IN PRIOR TO STARTING THE CAR IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FUSES FROM "BLOWING". 13 OCT 2006 - 1 OF MY DAUGHTERS BLEW A FUSE AND REPLACED IT PER THEIR PROTOCOL. SHE PLUGGED IN HER CELL PHONE TO CHARGE AND THE CRANKED HER CAR. THE FUSE BLEW AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE 2 BRAND NEW 2006 ELANTRAS THAT ARE BOTH BLOWING FUSES. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLUG IN A SIMPLE CELL PHONE CHARGER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BLOWING THE FUSE EVERY TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10170801
Incident
May 23, 2006

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .