2006 Hyundai Sonata electrical system problems

The 2006 Hyundai Sonata has 146 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

146

Electrical System complaints

10%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Sonata electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

05V316000Electrical SystemJuly 7, 2005 · 1,970 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.3 LITER ENGINES AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), THE ESC MAY HAVE BEEN PROGRAMMED TO BE OVERSENSITIVE TO THE ONSET OF OVERSTEERING WHILE DRIVING ON BANKED CURVES, CAUSING INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF THE FRONT OUTSIDE BRAKE WHEN ESC ACTIVATION MAY NOT BE NEEDED.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

What owners report

“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.”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 17, 2019 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2006 Hyundai Sonata have?

NHTSA has 146 complaints about the 2006 Hyundai Sonata electrical system — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2006 Hyundai Sonata electrical system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the electrical system: 05V316000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.