Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train164
- Air bags71
- Electrical system34
- Seat belts23
- Exterior lighting14
- Visibility13
- Suspension13
- Structure10
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Engine and engine cooling8
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 21 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 11 2003 Tiburon vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon failed the safety check 1.69% of the time — 19% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 106,713 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
16 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 19% arrived as used imports, 81% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 10.1–12.3 L/100 km (about 19–23 mpg US), CO₂ 232–283 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 8.3 | 10.1 |
| Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.5 | 8.6 | 10.2 |
| Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.8 | 11.9 |
| Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.7 | 11.9 |
| Tiburon · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 9.7 | 12.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon.
| 2009121 23 Apr 2009 | Suspension On certain vehicles operated in areas of heavy road salt usage (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador),… |
| 2004130 13 Apr 2004 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel tank assembly valve may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll… |
| 2003224 10 Sept 2003 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the thickness of the instrument panel pad at the tear lines is 0.74mm, which is thicker than the specified 0.4 =/- 0.05mm. The thicker mat… |
| 2003173 22 Jul 2003 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the rear brake tubes may contact the steering gear box mounting brackets resulting in rear brake tube wear and corrosion. Severe rear brak… |
| 2002210 14 Nov 2002 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring may be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism. Damaged driver s… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LEFT LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL BRACKET WAS NOT INSTALLED.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636888 | INFORMATION ON ADJUSTING MECHANICAL VALVES ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L 4-CYLINDER BETA ENGINE. *TT |
| 636813 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING THE HDS CABLE. *TT |
| 635823 | THIS TSB PROVIDES PARTS CATALOG CLARIFICATION FOR OXYGEN SENSOR. *TT |
| 635821 | THIS TSB PROVIDES SHOP MANUAL CORRECTIONS FOR CAMSHAFT TIMING CHAIN TIMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 633921 | SUBJECT REGARDING ETM CORRECTION TO DIGITAL CLOCK SCHEMATICS. *JG |
| 633907 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUN ROOF MOTOR AND CONTROLLER REPLACEMENT. *JG |
| 633877 | SUBJCT REGARDING SUNROOF MOTOR AND CONTROLLER REPLACEMENT. *JG |
| 633826 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHOP MANUAL CORRECTION FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1372 DIAGNOSIS. *JG |
| 633820 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTALLING THE HDS CABLE. *JG |
| 633816 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFTRONIC DIAGNOSIS. *JG |
| 633807 | SUBJECT REGARDING THE SUN-ROOF. *JG |
| 633798 | EMISSION LABEL REPLACEMENT (CAMPAIGN 054). *JG |
| 633785 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH AND/OR DELAYED SHIFTS. *JG |
| 633770 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE RPM FLUCTUATION - CRUISE CONTROL CABLE ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE. *JG |
| 633757 | SUBJECT REGARDING CD CHANGER INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. *JG |
| 632172 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE SUNROOF WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. *TT |
| 631851 | SUBJECT REGARDING 2.0 L MECHANICAL LASH ADJUSTER MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND SHOP MANUAL CORRECTIONS. *SLC |
| 631418 | CONCERNS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFTRONIC DIAGNOSIS. *YH |
| 629513 | SUBJECT REGARDING POSSIBILITY OF MISSING LOWER LEFT INSTRUMENT PANEL BRACKET. *SLC |
| 628952 | SUBJECT REGARDING 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSAXLE REPAIR POLICY. *TT |
| 10251285 | This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades. |
| 10247189 | This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services. |
| 10235566 | Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint. |
| 10230904 | This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation. |
| 10217258 | Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)