Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Tiburon vs Chevrolet Silverado
How the Hyundai Tiburon and Chevrolet Silverado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Tiburon vs Chevrolet Silverado: The Tiburon averages 76 complaints per year with 19 recalls, while the Silverado averages 823 complaints per year with 101 recalls. Both have 3 deaths reported, but the Silverado has more crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Tiburon or Chevrolet Silverado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Tiburon
The Hyundai Tiburon is a sporty coupe that, based on owner complaints, can be a mixed bag for used-car shoppers. Over nine years, it averaged about 76 complaints per year, with the most frequent issues involving the power train, air bags, and seat belts. Many reports describe transmission shifting problems, air bag warning lights, and seat belts that won't retract or seats that slide unexpectedly. These are not just minor annoyances—they can affect safety and lead to costly repairs.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado is a full-size pickup that, according to NHTSA data, generates a much higher volume of complaints—about 823 per year over ten years. The most common trouble spots are the engine, power train, electrical system, and service brakes. Owners report serious issues like engines shutting off while driving, sudden loss of braking, and transmission problems even on nearly new trucks. While the Silverado is popular, the frequency and severity of these complaints suggest that buyers should be cautious and inspect thoroughly.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Tiburon | Chevrolet Silverado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 681 Better | 8,227 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 19 Better | 101 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 86 Better | 233 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 75.7 Better | 822.7 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 62 Better | 160 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Hyundai Tiburon
- 01POWER TRAIN295
- 02AIR BAGS147
- 03SEAT BELTS58
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM54
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING35
Owners report transmission problems such as the transaxle not shifting and staying in third gear, requiring TCM replacement. There are also reports of the hydraulic clutch pedal sticking in the depressed position, which can make the car hard to control. These issues can leave you stranded or cause expensive repairs.
Complaints include the airbag warning light coming on repeatedly and the airbag control module failing. Some owners say the airbags did not deploy in accidents where they should have. This is a critical safety concern that should be checked before buying.
Drivers report seat belts that won't retract or extend properly, and seats that slide forward or backward unexpectedly while driving. This can be dangerous because it may affect your position and the belt's effectiveness in a crash.
Electrical gremlins include the alarm going off while driving and dealers refusing warranty repairs for issues like catalytic converter replacement. These problems can be frustrating and costly to diagnose and fix.
“AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER, I HAVE 4 TRANSMISSION REPAIRS FOR MY HYUNDAI TIBURON: 05/28/04 JIM BURKE HYUNDAI SERVICE INVOICE COMMENTS: ?CUSTOMER STATES TRANSAXLE WILL NOT SHIFT ? STAYS IN 3RD GEAR ? STATES HAS BEEN ADVISED NEEDS TCM REPLACED ? CHECK TRANSAXLE OPER…”
“The contact owns 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the hydraulic clutch was depressed and ceased in the depressed position. The contact was able to switch lanes and pulled the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was restarted…”
Chevrolet Silverado
- 01ENGINE2,521
- 02POWER TRAIN2,347
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1,513
- 04SERVICE BRAKES1,222
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER858
Owners of newer Silverados report engine shutdowns while driving, sometimes with messages like 'Return to Neutral' or 'Press Start.' There are also cases of excessive soot accumulation in the diesel particulate filter, requiring dealer service. These issues can leave you stranded and may be expensive to repair.
Complaints include transmissions suddenly going into neutral while driving, even at low speeds, and engines shutting off. This loss of power can be dangerous in traffic and points to potential transmission or software problems.
Drivers report sudden loss of normal braking, with the brake pedal feeling firm but the vehicle not stopping effectively. Others mention screens going blank and the truck shutting off. These electrical glitches can affect critical safety systems.
Braking problems are reported, including a sudden severe loss of braking ability. In some cases, the truck shuts off and cannot accelerate, though it can be restarted. Brake issues are a major safety concern and should be inspected immediately.
“I purchased the 2026 Chevrolet Silverado with a 6.2L motor "new" from the dealer with 5700 miles on XXX. Roughly a month and 2500 miles later, my family and I were in the vehicle, 750 miles from home, returning from a vacation to [XXX] from the [XXX]/[XXX] ar…”
“My 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 with the 6.6L Duramax diesel has experienced three separate P2463 Diesel Particulate Filter excessive soot accumulation events at approximately 4,300, 5,500, and 10,280 miles. Each event required a Chevrolet dealer to perform…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Hyundai Tiburon — 19 recalls
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCU…
The risk: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD CONTACT BOTH STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKET…
The risk: FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE TUBES IN THE AREAS WHERE CONTACT…
The defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburo…
The risk: 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…
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. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
The defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburo…
The risk: 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…
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. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Chevrolet Silverado — 101 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 vehicles. These vehicles may not have received an owner's manual during production. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, “Child Re…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will provide the owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 30, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252532020. Vehicle Identifi…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500 vehicles with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks (RPOs L8T and N2N). The rear fuel pump may not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, causing an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The vehicle's engine control module (ECM) will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 vehicles equipped with the enhanced towing option and 20-inch accessory tire/wheel package. The tire information label may state the incorrect rear tire pressure, resulting in underinflated tires an…
The risk: Driving with underinflated tires can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, update the engine control module (ECM) software, apply a tire label overlay, inflate tires to the correct pressure, and perform a tire pressure monitor system (TPMS) re-learn process as necessary, free of charge. Owne…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Tiburon or Chevrolet Silverado: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Tiburon has far fewer complaints per year (about 76) compared to the Chevrolet Silverado (about 823). In practice, this means you're less likely to encounter frequent problems with the Tiburon, but when issues do arise, they can still be serious, especially with air bags and transmissions. The Silverado's higher complaint rate suggests a greater chance of experiencing engine, transmission, or brake problems, which could lead to more downtime and repair costs.
Key differences
- The Tiburon averages about 76 complaints per year, while the Silverado averages about 823—more than ten times as many.
- Tiburon owners frequently report transmission shifting problems and air bag warning lights; Silverado owners report engine shutdowns and sudden brake loss.
- The Silverado has 101 recalls versus 19 for the Tiburon, indicating more widespread safety-related fixes.
- Both have 3 deaths reported, but the Silverado has more crash-related complaints (233 vs 86) and injuries (160 vs 62).
- Check for transmission issues: test drive at various speeds and ensure it shifts smoothly; look for warning lights or delayed engagement.
- Inspect air bag system: ensure the airbag light comes on briefly when starting and then goes out; if it stays on, there may be a fault.
- Test the brakes thoroughly: at low speeds, brake firmly to check for normal stopping; any softness or loss of braking is a red flag.
- Check for engine stalling: during a test drive, pay attention to any hesitation, shutdowns, or warning messages like 'Return to Neutral'.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to check for recalls and accident damage.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the transmission, brakes, and electrical system.
- Test drive for at least 20 minutes, including highway and stop-and-go traffic, to replicate common failure conditions.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed by checking the NHTSA website with the VIN.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for transmission and brake services.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Hyundai Tiburon or Chevrolet Silverado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Tiburon vs Chevrolet Silverado
- Hyundai Tiburon total complaints
- 681
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 8,227
- Hyundai Tiburon total recalls
- 19
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 101
- Hyundai Tiburon avg complaints/year
- 75.7
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 822.7
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Tiburon
- Hyundai Tiburon top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE