Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. When the contact shifted the gear in reverse, the vehicle accelerated backwards on its own. As a result, the vehicle crashed into a brick wall. The driver then shifted into the drive position and the failure recurred. As a result, the vehicle drove forward through the neighbor's fence before crashing into a parked vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The driver stated that the brakes were inoperable during the failures. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 155,000.
At first I noticed that sometimes (randomly) when I started my car after sitting for a longer period like 6 or 8 hours that I'd turn the key and without pressing any pedals the vehicle's rpms start to climb up slowly. It max's out at 4000rpms and stays there for awhile then will decrease on its own after awhile (random timing always). If I step on the gas as its revving up it releases and goes back down. If I brake it does nothing. So after a few weeks of noticing this problem, taking it to the mechanic and having the throttle body cleaned, and a gasket replaced the vehicle has now started to rev up on its own after I release the gas pedal when driving at high speeds of 80 or over. I let off the gas then it revs up quickly to 4000 then again quickly shoots back down below normal. …
I have a 2006 Santa Fe 6 cyl. Front wheel drive. I purchased the car in 2007 from go Hyundai. The car has run very good, except the surging or acceleration problem. I took it back to the dealer two times specifically for this problem. They said they could find no problem. I took it to a second dealer, planet Hyundai, and they could find nothing. The problem got so bad even I was afraid to drive it. My wife was really scared to drive it. I finally took it back go and they called, said it was ready. When I picked it up, the service guy said they replaced a part and that I shouldn't have any more surging problems. Last night, my wife drove the Santa Fe to church. As she was parking it in the garage, (something she had done a thousand times), the car suddenly accelerated, slamming into our Volvo convertible, pushing it about five feet forward, jamming it under our stairs into the house. …
Four separate incidents within a 30 day period at higher speeds (>65 MPH on a freeway) of unintended acceleration, remediated by shifting into neutral and braking hard without pumping. These actions disengaged the acceleration without having to come to a complete stop and turning the ignition off. Unintended acceleration occurred again, in the latest incident while traveling at 40 MPH on a city street, however car would not come to a complete stop even with full weight on the brake, and while shifting into neutral solved the immediate acceleration problem, the ignition had to be turned off to bring the vehicle to a full stop. Driver almost wrecked several cars while trying to Dodge traffic as car accelerated very rapidly. This could have been had a tragic ending but fortunately only resulted in a mechanics' visit.
#1 car would not stop, rolled through a stop sign and pulled over into empty lot and tested brakes a few times and then it was okay. #2 was stopped behind a vehicle about 2 feet away, with my foot on the brake when car accelerated and felt like it jumped and I bumped the car in front. This was on 11-28-06 about 1 1/2 hours after bringing my car to the dealer to tell them that my brakes sounded like metal against metal and was told that it was normal on foggy mornings. The same thing happened the morning before but I was told to bring it in the next day because they were busy. I don't remember the date of the first incident when I rolled through the stop sign but it was about 4 weeks before the second time. Dealer had my car for 2 days but could not duplicate the incident.
Stopped at an intersection, foot on brake, engine began revving, then decelerated, but revved again, this time forcing my car forward. Another vehicle was approaching from the left, so I steered right. Impact on left front wheel, car careened into a lightweight plastic type fence and stopped. My foot remained on the brake the entire time. I was wearing my seat belt and was not injured. The other driver was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Both vehicles were inspected by the same insurance adjuster and totaled. I have filed a complaint with Hyundai, but so far, they have not sent an investigator to check out the vehicle.
Car races at idle while in park or neutral to 3,500 RPM. While in drive or reverse the car continues to race but at a lower level(1,200-1,500 RPM). The car surges while braking requiring harder pedal pressure than normal. Racing is continuous at all speeds requiring less accelerator pressure than normal. A complaint was filed today 1/19/15 with Hyundai and a case # 7614630 was provided. This owner expressed his concerns to Hyundai representative with safety of car due to racing and surging especially under wet or ice conditions. The rep. Scheduled a service appointment with the Hyundai shrewsbury, nj dealership for 1/22/15.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe. While driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle suddenly accelerated independently without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000. Updated 1/15/16 the consumer stated the dealer performed two ECM updates. Updated 01/25/16.
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 RPM's and half behind the MPH went out; the rest of the panel was still lit up; I was heading down the curvy road accelerating heading quickly towards an 18 wheeler when I tried to brake, my brake pedal would not move and my car kept accelerating (I was not stepping on the gas pedal). I quickly dropped my car into low gear and maneuvered around the 18-wheeler and trying the brakes, the emergency brakes, and as quickly as it started up, it stopped, and my car started to drive normal (except the panel lights). On my way home (March 5th), it happened again while driving down the curvy mountain road at night! …
Acceleration complaints in other Santa Fe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, 19% of the model year's 106 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 59,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.