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CarsLore / Makes / Hyundai / Tiburon

Hyundai Tiburon

Model years 1996–2008 in the US safety record. Years that drew the most complaints: 2003. Fewest complaints: 1998, 2002, 2008.

762owner complaints
17recall campaigns
575service bulletins
13model years on record

Complaints by model year

Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2003. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.

’96’98’00’02’03’04’06’08328’96’99’02’03’05’08328

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026

New York safety inspections

Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2003.

0.0%3.9%7.9%’00’03’05’07’081.7%0.0%3.9%7.9%’00’03’04’07’081.7%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

Year by year

Model yearComplaintsRecallsBulletinsCrashes · fires
2008 Tiburon191282 · 0
2007 Tiburon421289 · 0
2006 Tiburon641296 · 0
2005 Tiburon431348 · 1
2004 Tiburon8204011 · 0
2003 TiburonMost complaints328910733 · 7
200224281 · 0
2001 Tiburon361486 · 1
2000 Tiburon5814610 · 0
1999 Tiburon263535 · 0
1998 Tiburon261513 · 0
1997 Tiburon364665 · 0
199600170 · 0

A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections

Most common problems

  • Power train314
  • Air bags161
  • Seat belts70
  • Electrical system70
  • Exterior lighting37
  • Visibility35
  • Tires32
  • Engine and engine cooling32

NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 74 Tiburon vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 59 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.

Model yearVehicles in fatal crashesDeaths in the vehicleRolled over
200815112
2007850
200620194
2005650
2004860
20031172
2001110
2000332
1999110
1998111

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count

Fuel consumption by year

Official Canadian test results for 11 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 9.9–10.4 L/100 km.

YearVariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
2008Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.68.510.2235
2007Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.68.510.2235
2006Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.48.510.1232
2005Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.48.510.1232
2004Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.48.610.1232
2003Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.68.310.1232
2001Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.58.210.0230
2000Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M511.48.09.9228
1999Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M512.08.310.4239
1998Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline2.0 L, 4 cyl.M512.08.310.4239
1997Tiburon 1.8L · Subcompact · Regular gasoline1.8 L, 4 cyl.A411.88.210.2235

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

In New Zealand

121 Tiburon cars are on the New Zealand register; 29% arrived as used imports.

Model yearRegisteredSold new in NZUsed imports
2010101
2009110
20081091
200715114
20061293
200518162
200427205
200316133
200221516

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

Recalls

17 campaigns cover the Tiburon; the latest 12 are below.

13V113000 · Exterior lighting1 Apr 2013 · 2006, 2007, 2008

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 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

09V125000 · Suspension16 Apr 2009 · 2003

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. ROAD SALT USED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS MAY RESULT IN INTERNAL CORROSION AND THINNING OF THE STEEL IN THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CORROSION MAY PROGRESS TO THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM'S UPPER AND LOWER PANELS BECOME PERFORATED. A PERFORATED FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM MAY FRACTURE BETWEEN ITS BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT AND THE FORWARD AND REARWARD PIVOT ATTACHMENTS TO THE CHASSIS.

05V187000 · Steering28 Apr 2005 · 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THREADED PORTIONS OF THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLY'S LEFT AND RIGHT INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN INTERNAL CRACKS IN THE MATERIAL STRUCTURE.

04V369000 · Fuel system, gasoline26 Jul 2004 · 2002, 2003

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 OCCUR.

04V178000 · Fuel system, gasoline9 Apr 2004 · 2002, 2003

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

03V496000 · Service brakes, hydraulic3 Dec 2003 · 2002, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.

03V321000 · Air bags26 Aug 2003 · 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS MOUNTED BENEATH THE RIGHT PORTION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL'S PADDED SURFACE. TEAR LINES ARE FORMED INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL'S PADDED SURFACE DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TOP PAD. THESE TEAR LINES ALLOW A PORTION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SURFACE TO FOLD UPWARD IF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYS.

03V290000 · Seat belts5 Aug 2003 · 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM. DAMAGED DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WIRING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAG FUSE (CAVITY NUMBER 5) TO OPEN, PREVENTING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DAMAGED DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WIRING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAG FUSE (CAVITY NUMBER 5) TO OPEN, PREVENTING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

03V257000 · Service brakes, hydraulic22 Jul 2003 · 2002, 2003

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 BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET. CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING BRACKETS COULD CAUSE WEAR AND CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

02V290000 · Seat belts5 Nov 2002 · 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM.

02V044000 · Unknown or other8 Feb 2002 · 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LEFT LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL BRACKET WAS NOT INSTALLED.

01V345000 · Seat belts6 Nov 2001 · 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS MAY NOT EXTEND AND RETRACT SMOOTHLY THROUGH THE D-RING GUIDES MOUNTED ON THE BODY PILLARS AFT OF THE DOORS. IF THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT EXTEND AND RETRACT SMOOTHLY, THEY MAY TWIST IN THE D-RING GUIDES AND MAKE IT INCONVENIENT TO EXTEND AND RETRACT THE SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA recalls