Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the exterior brake lights remained illuminated even when the brake pedal was not depressed. The dealer was not contacted. Upon conducting research, the contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 13V113000 (service brakes, hydraulic, exterior lighting) as a possible explanation for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not associated with the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. Contact stated that the vehicle was being serviced for an oil change when it was observed by an independent mechanic that the brake lights failed to illuminate. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 09V280000 (exterior lighting). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 50 MPH, the brake lamps failed to illuminate when operated. The failure occurred once. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the stop lamp switch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V280000(exterior lighting). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,354.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. While driving various speeds, the police informed the contact that the brake lights were inoperable. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The contact stated that the failure was similar to NHTSA campaign number: 09V280000 (exterior lighting). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 133,676.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. The contact was driving approximately 50 MPH with the cruise control activated. The brakes were engaged but the cruise control did not deactivate and the vehicle would not stop. The vehicle came to a stop once the cruise control button was engaged. In addition, the exterior brake lights would not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where recall repairs were performed under NHTSA campaign id number: 09V280000 (exterior lighting) yet the exterior lighting and cruise control failures recurred within a year. The dealer was contacted and advised that because the vehicle was repaired once for the failure under the recall, any further repairs would be at her expense. The contact stated she was unaware the repairs that were performed where for a recall. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
My wife noticed her brake lights were not working. I looked into and found that there is a recall for the stop light switch for her make, model, and year. The recall is NHTSA campaign 09V122000. We contacted Hyundai customer service and gave them her VIN, and they said her vehicle had no recalls. We took her car to the local mechanic to get repaired. It turns out that it was the stop light switch that was defective and it was replaced. It cost us $70 to have fixed. The mechanic stated that he could not believe our vehicle wasn't covered under the recall because he has had alot of vehicles with that same issue. I would like this to be reviewed further and I would like Hyundai to cover our repair cost for this defective part.
On a Friday all of the braking lighting quit working on our 2006 Hyundai Elantra. Checked fuse and bulb and all are working. Searched this website and found a recall for 2006 Elantra for this exact problem. The issue is a safety switch and it says it will be fixed free of charge per the recall. Drove the car 55 miles without brake lights to the dealership in missoula montana. Missoula Nissan/Hyundai where we have purchased two Hyundai's. Dealer refused to honor recall by first saying it was car specific and second by saying it did not apply to 2006 models. The recall number from this site is 09V280000.
Tl contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that she was driving behind a vehicle when she noticed that the brake lights were not working. She replaced the bulbs for the brake lights but they failed to function. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where the mechanic confirmed that all of the fuses were working properly. An authorized dealer informed the contact that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA recall campaign id number 09V280000, exterior lighting. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure continued to occur. The failure and current mileages were 100,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that when depressing the brakes, the brake light would not illuminate. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted and advised her that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 09V280000 (exterior lighting). The failure and current mileages were approximately 120,000. .... Updated 02-20-13 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired, with the exception of the brake light failure. The repairs were paid in full by the consumer. Updated 02/25/2013
Related recalls
Exterior lighting
Hyundai is recalling 3,011 model year 2005-2007 elantra, tucson, sonata, azera and accent vehicles. 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2009. Owners May contact Hyundai of puerto rico customer service at 1-787-999-4310.
Headlight complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2006 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the lights of the 2006 Hyundai Elantra, 25% of the model year's 155 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights › switch (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Hyundai Elantra headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-280 (exterior lighting, Jul 21, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Hyundai Elantra headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.