2006 Hyundai Tucson: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2006 Hyundai Tucson: 5 recalls, 135 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #06V445000 · 2006 · 128,300 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, during static air bag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated if a small statured adult driver, not wearing a seat belt, is involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, deployment of the driver air bag May result in an insufficient margin of compliance as measured by the test dummy used in the NHTSA test.
Why it matters: This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module. The recall began on January 29, 2007, and will be conducted through six mailings.
Airbags Vehicle recall #07V197000 · 2007 · 2,967 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain vehicles, static air bag deployment testing conducted by NHTSA using fifth percentile female dummies indicated that a small stature adult driver not wearing a seat belt and involved in a frontal or near frontal crash, the deployment of the driver air bag May not occur.
Why it matters: This can cause increased risk of injury to the driver under certain crash conditions.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver air bag module with one that is designed to provide an increased margin of compliance for low risk deployment for small stature adults who are not properly wearing the seat belts. The recall began on September 6, 2007, and will be performed in two mailings.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #09V122000 · 2009 · 532,633 vehicles
What's wrong: The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles May malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch May cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or May cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. A stop lamp switch malfunction May also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission shifter would not be able…
Why it matters: Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, May lead to a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2009.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #09V280000 · 2009 · 3,011 vehicles
What's wrong: A malfunctioning stop lamp switch May cause the brake lights to fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or May cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. A defective stop lamp switch May also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission would not be able to be shift out of the "park" position. It May also cause the…
Why it matters: Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2009.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #13V113000 · 2013 · 1,712,336 vehicles
What's wrong: Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 accent and tucson, model year 2007-2010 elantra, model year 2007-2011 santa fe, model year 2008-2009 veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis coupe, and model year 2011 sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of…
Why it matters: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'on' position, the transmission shifter May be able to be moved out of park without first applying the brake. This May lead…
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 17 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (37): the most common themes are warning light on (11), fails to deploy (7), deploys unexpectedly / inflator (5).
- Electrical (16): the most common themes are electrical failure (10), stalls / loses power (5), won't start (4).
- Steering (13): the most common themes are steering problems (8).
- Suspension (13): the most common themes are rust / corrosion (9), noise or vibration (2), steering problems (2).
The 2006 Hyundai Tucson has 135 owner complaints, ranking #13 of 22 Tucson model years for complaints (well below the 286 average). Complaints peaked in 2014 (16 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 65,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2005 (185 complaints, 8 recalls), 2007 (65 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2006 Hyundai Tucson.
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FAQ
Does the 2006 Hyundai Tucson have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2006 Hyundai Tucson. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2006 Hyundai Tucson problems?
Owners have filed 135 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (37), electrical (16), steering (13).
What gas mileage does the 2006 Hyundai Tucson get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2006 Hyundai Tucson repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.