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Vehicle Stats/Hyundai/Tiburon Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

Hyundai Tiburon Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 681 complaints and 19 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Hyundai Tiburon options? We analyzed 9 model years (2000–2008) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

681
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
19
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
86
Crash-Related
crash complaints
9
Fire-Related
fire complaints
62
Injuries Reported
across all years
9
Years Analyzed
2000–2008

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Found a Hyundai Tiburon? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Hyundai Tiburon has 681 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls across model years 2000–2008. The most reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. 2003 drew the most complaints; 2002 drew the fewest.

Hyundai Tiburon — key reliability facts
Make
Hyundai
Model
Tiburon
Model years analyzed
2000–2008 (9 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
681
Safety recall campaigns
19
Crash-related complaints
86
Fire-related complaints
9
Worst model year (by complaints)
2003 (328 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2002 (8 complaints)
Top reported issue area
POWER TRAIN
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Aug 24, 2026
This Tiburon has 19 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

Hyundai Tiburon: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2003328 complaints200482 complaints200664 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20028 complaints200819 complaints200136 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The HYUNDAI TIBURON has 681 NHTSA complaints and 19 recalls on record. 86 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 681 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 19 federal recall campaigns
  • 86 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2000
59
2001
36
2002
8
2003
328
2004
82
2005
43
2006
64
2007
42
2008
19

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

19 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

#13V113000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHJanuary 4, 2013
Safety recall

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

#13V113000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHJanuary 4, 2013
Safety recall

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

#13V113000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHJanuary 4, 2013
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

#04V178000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYSeptember 4, 2004
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

#04V178000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYSeptember 4, 2004
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

#03V290000SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYMay 8, 2003
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

#03V496000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSMarch 12, 2003
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

#03V496000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSMarch 12, 2003
Safety recall

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

#02V044000UNKNOWN OR OTHERAugust 2, 2002
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

#02V290000SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYMay 11, 2002
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

#01V345000SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBINGJune 11, 2001
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

#01V345000SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBINGJune 11, 2001
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

#04V369000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

#03V257000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Safety recall

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

#05V187000STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
Safety recall

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

#09V125000SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

#04V369000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

#03V257000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

#03V321000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2000–2008. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 681 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
POWER TRAIN295 complaints
02
AIR BAGS147 complaints
03
SEAT BELTS58 complaints
04
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM54 complaints
05
EXTERIOR LIGHTING35 complaints
06
SUSPENSION30 complaints
07
TIRES29 complaints
08
EQUIPMENT28 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

681 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

AIR BAGSOct 2025

air bags deployed for no reason while driving.

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKESJul 2021

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 however, the failure persisted. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a complete clutch failure. The mechanic was able to repair the clutch except for the linkage. The failure persisted after the repair. After the clutch repair was performed, the steering and the brakes became inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

AIR BAGSNov 2020

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP ITS ALSO HAD AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON

AIR BAGSMar 2020

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND NO ONE CAN FIX THE ISSUE BUT THE DEALER WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS YEAR HAVE A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSMay 2019

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. ERROR CODE LEADS TO PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT ISSUE. DEALER JUST RESET COMPUTER AND LIGHT CAME BACK ON. KNOWN CAMPAIGN #094 ON THIS BUT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VIN. UNKNOWN IF AIRBAG WILL ACTUALLY DEPLOY IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. LIGHT IS ON AND DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $350 FOR THE PART ALONE (SEAT BELT LATCH)

SEAT BELTS,SEATSSep 2016

STARTED NOTICING THE ISSUE IN MID MAY 2016. I DON'T USUALLY MOVE MY SEAT FROM THE ORIGINAL POSITION OF COMFORT BUT DRIVER SEAT HAS SHIFTED INADVERTENTLY SLIDING FORWARD OR BACK WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING (15 - 50MPH). ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT ON OCCASION UNBUCKLED WHILE MOVING SOMETIMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEAT MOVEMENT, OTHER TIMES ALONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LATELY AND I HAVE TAKEN MORE CARE TO HEAR THE CLICK & TUG ON BELT BUT THIS SOMETIMES DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE (UP TO 75MPH), A SHIFTING OF WEIGHT IN SEAT, OR LOOKING OVER SHOULDER FOR TRAFFIC WHILE CHANGING LANES CAN PULL CLIP OUT OF CLASP.

Read 14 more owner reports
VISIBILITYAug 2016

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH A PHOTO TO THIS FORM FOR SOME REASON BUT DO HAVE THEM AND CAN EMAIL.... UPDATED 08/23/16 *BF *TR

AIR BAGSAug 2016

AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW (8 YEARS) AND IT STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING AIRBAG LIGHT AND THEY DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND IT DISAPPEARS FOR A WHILE. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH SO HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS LIGHT INDICATES THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY OR NOT.

AIR BAGSMay 2016

PURCHASED NEW, ORIGINAL OWNERS. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON VARIOUS TIMES REQUIRING REPAIR, AND DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE (NORTH PARK HYUNDAI) HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO REPAIR DEFECTS UNDER WARRANTY COVERAGE ON VEHICLE. AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED FOR NO REAL REASON (DEALERSHIP SAID MOISTURE CAUSED FAILURE - VERY HOT AND HUMID IN SOUTH LOUISIANA) AND REFUSED TO COVER THE PART SO WE PAID OVER 600 BUCKS TO CHANGE THE MODULE BECAUSE OUR COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER IS USING THIS VEHICLE. NOT LONG AFTER THIS REPAIR (THAT WAS TOLD TO US, BY THIS DEALERSHIP, WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. OUR LATEST VISIT TO THIS DEALERSHIP WAS THE SAME - THIS TIME THEY SAID IT IS THE AIRBAG SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT (NOT THE CENTER CONSOLE ONE THAT FAILED LAST TIME) AND (WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT) THEY WANTED ANOTHER 600 DOLLARS TO CHANGE THIS MODULE! THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY ISSUES WITH THE 2008 TIBURON AIRBAG SYSTEM (THIS CAR ONLY HAS AROUND 60K MILES ON IT), AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WHEN WE ARE IN IT. LUCKILY THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

AIR BAGSAug 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

CrashAIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)Jun 2015

MY 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS (NONE MY FAULT). THE IMPACT WAS OF ENOUGH SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE FIRST COLLISION INVOLVED A DEER THAT WAS BEING CHASED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND IT HIT MY CAR SO HARD, THE DEER EXPLODED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD THE CRASH WAS EQUIVALENT TO 80 MPH HEAD ON. ALSO, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IT CONTINUALLY REVVS ITSELF AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT STOP WHILE ITS REVVING LIKE THIS. I HAVE TO THROW IT IN NEUTRAL, HIT THE GAS, THEN IT WILL STOP REVVING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS (AND VERY ANNOYING) IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WILL RANDOMLY SHUT ITSELF OFF AND QUITE FREQUENTLY. I DID NOT BUY THIS AS A USED CAR.

AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSSep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TIRESNov 2013

ON 5/19/13 I PURCHASED 4 NEW GOOD YEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX TIRES. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON THE TIRES MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES, &WHEN I CHECKED THEM, ALL 4 HAD GONE LOW (BY 5-7LBS OF PRESSURE EACH TIME) . AFTER THE 3RD TIME OF THIS HAPPENING, IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, I DECIDED TO SEARCH ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIES. THE RESULTS WERE SCARY; I FOUND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF BLOGS & REVIEWS STATING THESE TIRES WERE SLOWLY LOOSING AIR, BUBBLING &/OR BURSTING. MOST STATED CRACKS WERE FOUND ON THE SIDEWALL INSIDE THE TIRE, CAUSING PRESSURE TO GO LOW. AFTER SEEING THESE RESULTS, I WENT OUTSIDE AND INSPECTED MY TIRES MORE CLOSELY, AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HAD A SMALL BUBBLE IN IT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT BACK TO GOOD YEAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BUBBLE WAS A ROAD HAZARD ISSUE CAUSE BY HITTING A POT HOLE (AND THIS WAS BEFORE ANYONE EVEN TOOK THE TIRE OFF TO INSPECT IT). I ASKED WHY ALL 4 TIRES HAVE BEEN SLOWLY LOOSING AIR, AND THEIR REPLY WAS "THAT IS ODD, THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN LIKE THAT." BASED ON MY FINDINGS FROM THE INTERNET, I ASKED THEM TO INSPECT THE INTERNAL SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES, JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO CRACKS THAT COULD BE CAUSING THE SLOW AIR LEAKS. I OPENED A FILE WITH GY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ASKED THE STORE TO INSPECT THE INSIDE OF ALL 4 TIRES, AND TO SEND THEM AN INSPECTION REPORT, BUT ALL THE TECH DID WAS SPRAY THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE TO CHECK FOR AIR BUBBLES/LEAKS (BUT DID NOT REMOVE THE TIRES TO CHECK THE INSIDE WALLS). THE TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE WAS REPLACED, BUT I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO KEEP THE TIRE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THE MANUFACTURER WOULD INSPECT IT, BUT THAT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS. I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE NUMBER OF REVIEWS/BLOGS ONLINE WITH THE SAME/SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES, SO I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. I'VE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2008 AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY OLD TIRES. *TR

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICOct 2010

THE SWITCH FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT GET STUCK LIKE THE ONE ON THATGOT RECALL ON THE 2007 HYUNDAI'S OR 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON IS NOT LIST IT ORA 2007 TIBURON. WHEN ISTHE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE 2007 HAD THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES TO TURN IT OFF THEN IT WONT TURN ON AT ALL. WE CALL PART STORE AND WE ORDER THE PART AND IT TOOK A WEEK TO COME IN DURING THE TIME OF ALL THIS WE ALMOST GOT IN TO 8 AUTO CRASHER BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT SEETHE LIGHT COME ON OR THEY WERE ON WHEN WE WERE DRIVING. *TR

POWER TRAINSep 2010

POOR CLUTCH PERFORMANCE ON HYUNDAI TIBURON CLUTCH "WORN OUT" AFTER 25KMILES ACCORDING TO DEALER OWNER IS EXPERIENCED STANDARD DRIVER. *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)Aug 2010

I WANT TO REPORT THIS HYUNDAI DEALER(S): ALLEN SAMUELS HYUNDAI 7724 N.E. LOOP 820 NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180 (817) 276-7700 LOCATION WHERE I PURCHASE MY CAR AND TRIED TO HAVE WARRANTY SERVICE ON 08/14/10. THEY REFUSED WARRANTY SERVICE TO REPLACE A CATALYST AND AN O2SENSOR THAT CAUSED ME TO NOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION .I ALREADY PAID FOR AT A LICENSED KWIK KAR LOCATION IN DENTON TEXAS. THE CAR FLUNKED THE STATE INSPECTION THAT I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY AND SAY I NEED REPAIR. MY CAR HAS 14000 MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE RAN OVER 500 MILES ON MY CAR ON THE ADVISE OF [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER AT THE EKERT HYUNDAI IN DENTON WHERE I TOOK MY CAR ON WEDNESDAY. THEN, TODAY I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TALKED TO WITH [XXX] AND A WOMAN THERE AT ALLEN SAMUELS IN PERSON READY TO GET CAR FIXED. HE TOLD ME SAME THING THAT THE OTHER TOLD ME ABOUT RUNNING THE MILES ON IT. ALSO, HE SAID THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI THERE IS NO FIX ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD CAR THAT NEEDS WARRANTY WORK AND IS NOT PASSING TEXAS INSPECTION AND A HYUNDAI DEALERS SAY THAT THERE IS NO FIX. THEY WANT TO CHARGE 100.00 OR MORE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO SEE IF IT WILL FIX. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. WHAT ABOUT THE WARRANTY HE SAID TO DRIVE UP TO 1000 MILES AND IF THE O2 SENSOR WAS NOT FAILED HE AND YOUR COMPANY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR. I AM QUESTIONING THE WARRANTY ON MY CAR AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN DENIED A STATE INSPECTION STICKER AND CANNOT GET IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IS HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA P.O. BOX 20850 FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92728-0850 (800) 633-5151. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

SEAT BELTSAug 2010

DRIVER'S SEATBELT. THE SEATBELT WILL NOT STAY IN THE RED CLASP OF MY 2008 TIBURON, HYUNDAI. *TR

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGApr 2009

MOISTURE IS CONDENSING ON THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE HEADLAMP AND TAIL LAMP HOUSINGS. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN A DAY OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE (BRAND NEW) VEHICLE. CONTACTED LOCAL HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS. THEY HAVE NOTED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER LIKE MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES. HYUNDAI DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGERS ARE ALSO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT, SO FAR, HYUNDAI MOTOR CO. HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. NOT ONLY IS CONDENSED MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE OF LAMP HOUSINGS UNSIGHTLY, I WOULD THINK MOISTURE INSIDE THE HOUSINGS COULD CAUSE LONG TERM HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT RELIABILITY/SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR

CrashAIR BAGSAug 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. AN ESTIMATE HAS NOT YET BEEN GENERATED CONCERNING THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

POWER TRAINJan 2008

CLUTCH WAS SLOW TO ENGAGE; SLIPPING. SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALER SAID CLUTCH WAS NO GOOD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 29,700 MILES. THE NEW CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL PLUS LABOR COST ME OVER $1600. *TR

Showing 20 of 681 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Hyundai Tiburon

These pages show model-year patterns across 9 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Hyundai Tiburon, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Hyundai Tiburon has 681 complaints on record across 9 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Hyundai Tiburon has 19 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 86 of the Hyundai Tiburon's 681 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Hyundai Tiburon vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Hyundai Tiburon vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Hyundai Tiburon has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Hyundai Tiburon by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Hyundai Tiburon.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Hyundai Tiburon reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Hyundai Tiburon reliable?

Poor. The Hyundai Tiburon has 681 NHTSA owner complaints and 19 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is POWER TRAIN. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Hyundai Tiburon years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2003 (328 complaints), 2004 (82 complaints), 2006 (64 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Hyundai Tiburon problems?

Top reported issues: POWER TRAIN (295 complaints); AIR BAGS (147 complaints); SEAT BELTS (58 complaints).

Does the Hyundai Tiburon have recalls?

Yes — 19 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Hyundai Tiburon. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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