Is the 2006 Hyundai Azera a bad year?
188 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Azera years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Azera are in line with other Azera years. Air bags and exterior lighting stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 Azera owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 52,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 57 (30%) | 21k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 47 (25%) | 10k–70k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 33 (18%) | 37k–83k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 25 (13%) | 37k–91k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 14 (7%) | 36k–140k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seats | 11 (6%) | 43k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 8 (4%) | 19k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 20 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 13 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 9 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 52,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 188 complaints: 9 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Nov 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2006 Hyundai Azera: 6
Water may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short . An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the car is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
Road salt and water can enter portions of the rear crossmember, leading to corrosion of the crossmember steel. This may lead to detachment of one of the rear control arms. Control arm separation may suddenly change the rear wheel alignment, affecting the handling of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The wiring harness for the right front seat belt tension sensor may sustain damage after repeated use of the seat belt. If the seat belt tension sensor wiring becomes damaged the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating front air bag deployment. The seat occupant is at an increased risk of injury should the air bag not deploy as intended.
The wiring harness for the right front seat belt tension sensor may sustain damage after repeated use of the seat belt. If the seat belt tension sensor wiring becomes damaged the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating front air bag deployment. The seat occupant is at an increased risk of injury should the air bag not deploy as intended.
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. Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.
These headlamp assemblies may not have been aligned properly and fail to conform to the photometric requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. Improper aiming of the headlamp may result in poor visibility possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 36
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Hyundai Azera. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2
DTC P2135/P0638 or cold engine RPM fluctuation; tps replacement and ECM update
Check engine light P2138, P2127, P2122 DTC with P2106
Ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes P0740, P0741, P0742, P0743, P0746, P0748, P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765, P0770
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Rear Control Arm Failure
Neighbouring years
2007 Azera: 131 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Azera year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · All Azera years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Hyundai Azera a bad year?
188 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Azera years. At 52,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Hyundai Azera?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (57), exterior lighting (47), electrical system (33), seat belts (25), brakes (14).
How many recalls does the 2006 Hyundai Azera have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 18V-026), Suspension (NHTSA 13V-354), Seat belts (NHTSA 10V-007), Seat belts (NHTSA 09V-497) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.