Hyundai Tiburon Problems by Year
NHTSA has 762 owner complaints and 17 safety recalls on file for the Hyundai Tiburon, across 12 model years (1997–2008). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (328). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
_Washington_DC_Metro_Area,_USA.jpg){kind=link}
Hyundai Tiburon years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tiburon year: 2003, 2004. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Tiburon: 328 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2004 Tiburon: 82 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2006 Tiburon: 64 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 Tiburon: 2 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2008 Tiburon: 19 complaints, 1 recall
- 1998 Tiburon: 26 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Hyundai Tiburon problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 314 | 11 | 4 |
| Air Bags problems | 161 | 12 | 78 |
| Electrical System | 70 | 11 | 5 |
| Seat Belts | 70 | 10 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 37 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility | 35 | 11 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 32 | 8 | 1 |
| Tires | 32 | 12 | 4 |
| Suspension | 31 | 8 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 27 | 10 | 11 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 | 6 | 1 |
| Equipment | 23 | 8 | 4 |
| Steering | 22 | 9 | 7 |
| Structure | 22 | 7 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| Wheels | 13 | 6 | 1 |
| Engine | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hyundai Tiburon problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2003: power train (164) · air bags (71)
All Hyundai Tiburon model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Tiburon | 19 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Tiburon | 42 | 1 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2006 Tiburon | 64 | 1 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 Tiburon | 43 | 1 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2004 Tiburon | 82 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Tiburon | 328 | 9 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Tiburon | 2 | 4 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2001 Tiburon | 36 | 1 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Tiburon | 58 | 1 | — | Seat Belts | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Tiburon | 26 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Tiburon | 26 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Tiburon | 36 | 4 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Hyundai: all Hyundai models · Hyundai VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Tiburon years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (328), 2004 (82) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tiburon year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Tiburon?
Power Train, with 314 complaints across 11 model years.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Tiburon have?
17 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.