HyundaiElantra2006Overview/hyundai/elantra/2006/base/

2006 Hyundai Elantra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2006 Hyundai Elantra passenger car combines an Automatic 4-spd transmission with an engine requiring 4.2 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API oil to achieve EPA ratings of 21/29/24 mpg. Ownership records for this model year document 155 total owner complaints focused primarily on Air Bags, along with a single recall. Positioned within the model's complaint history from 1992-2026, where annual figures range from a low of 21 in 2025 to a high of 1325 in 2013, the 2006 variant's total indicates a reliability standing distinctly lower than the vehicle's peak complaint years.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy21/29/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 500 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-60R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length177.2 in
Overall width67.7 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight2635 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined21 / 29 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume95 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.0–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2002 GT 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2002GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.00 sec16.30 sec135 hpFWD
2002GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec138 hpFWD
2001GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0-33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts120-125 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-40 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0-33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159-192 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub148-192 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.52-.64 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance7480-10,120 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.039-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15-21 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.44-1.55 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.73-5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)50.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13-16 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145
Engine Oil Pressure35.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-24 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle51-62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. · M10 Bolts:

118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
260 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees; M12 Bolts:60 degrees
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
260 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees60 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Injector Sleeve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant Thermostat (test) · Engine Oil Pan (inspect) · Valve Cover Gasket (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Hyundai Elantra records 155 complaints, just 1 recall, zero investigations, and 36 TSBs, placing it at the quietest point of the mid-2000s arc on the federal ledger. It sits at the bottom of a clear downward trend from the generation's complaint peak of 349 in 2002 and 330 in 2001, having fallen steadily through 2003 (234), 2004 (182), and 2005 (137) — and notably, it is the only year in the 2001–2008 stretch with a single-digit recall count and no open investigations. The dominant complaint cluster is air bags at 44, followed by exterior lighting at 23 and service brakes at 6, with 28 crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints on file, though the dataset does not specify a confirmed root cause for any of these categories. The trajectory reverses sharply immediately after: 2007 jumps to 266 complaints, 6 recalls, and 3 investigations, and 2008 climbs further to 315 complaints and 7 recalls, indicating that 2006 represents a calm island just before a renewed wave of regulatory and consumer activity in this generation. For a used-buyer, this makes the 2006 model year one of the cleaner choices within the 2001–2008 window — it carries the lowest recall burden of the era, no open investigations, and modest complaint volume relative to its neighbors, though a pre-purchase inspection focused on the air bag and lighting systems is still warranted given those are the named pain points.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
36
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
155
Owner complaints
28 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 155 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags44
Exterior Lighting23
Exterior Lighting,Service Brakes8
Service Brakes6
Visibility6
Vehicle Speed Control5
Electrical System4
Power Train4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09V280000Exterior LightingReported 21/07/2009

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… 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.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 36 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-BD-001H2024-02-14VisibilityThis bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade…
23-EM-005H2023-10-13Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Elantra get?

EPA figures are 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined mpg.