FaultScore

2003 Hyundai Tiburon transmission problems

172 of the 429 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon are about the transmission — 40% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 30,625 miles.

F

172

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Clutch Assembly 123 71.5%
Manual Transmission 33 19.2%
Power Train 7 4.1%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 4 2.3%
Bell Housing 2 1.2%
Automatic Transmission 1 0.6%
Axle Assembly 1 0.6%
Driveline 1 0.6%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Hyundai Tiburon year

2003 172 58.7%
2004 41 14.0%
2005 18 6.1%
2006 43 14.7%
2007 19 6.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 58,000 miles Ashburn, VA

POWER TRAIN

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AUTOMATICD TRUNK RELEASE NOT WORK AS WELL AS MY DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING. MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS 12 YEARS OLD, HOWEVER IT ONLY HAS 64,000. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER TIBURON OWNERS WHO HAVE AND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I SEE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS WE HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL SALVAGE PLACES TO LOOK FOR A MOTOR AND THE TIBURONS WHICH WERE ON PROPERTY ALL HAD THE WINDOW MOTORS SOLD ALREADY. THIS MADE ME WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE POWER WINDOW ISSUE. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10714508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,213 miles Aston, PA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AFTER STOPPING BEHIND A LINE OF STOPPED CARS, I SLOWLY REMOVED MY FOOT FROM BRAKE PEDAL (HAVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND LOOKED INTO MY REVIEW MIRROR AS CAR IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN MOVING. SUDDENLY I HEARD MY ENGINE RACE AND IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BEFORE I COULD REACT. MY CAR LOOKS LIKE I HIT SOMETHING GOING AT LEAST 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS ONLY 6 - 8 FEET IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HAD STARTED TO REMOVE MY FOOT OFF MY BRAKE PEDAL. ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY - WAS AS IF MY CAR JUST "LEAPED" FORWARD. STATE POLICE AND TOW OPERATOR BOTH STARTED UP MY VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT ENGINE RACING WHILE THROTTLE PEDAL WAS IN NORMAL POSITION. I DID NOT RECEIVE A DRIVING VIOLATION TICKET BECAUSE OF NOTED THROTTLE ISSUE. TOYOTA UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE NOW WITH TIBURONS?

NHTSA complaint #10545436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Florissant, MO

POWER TRAIN

SHIFTING GEARS HAS LED TO SLIPPING, GRINDING, AND LOCKING. IT'S GRADUALLY GETTING WORSE. NOW, EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY SHIFTING CAN LOCK UP. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO FORCE THE SHIFT INTO GEAR. REVERSE IS THE WORST. HAD THE MASTER AND SLAVE CYLINDERS REPLACED AND STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH CLUTCH.

NHTSA complaint #10464273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Cheshire, CT Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN

THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED BY AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST AT THE REQUEST OF THE VEHICLE'S INSURANCE CARRIER. VEHICLE WAS PROCEEDING IN THE LEFT LANE OF A 4-LANE (2 LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, DIVIDED BY A DOUBLE-YELLOW CENTER-LINE) STATE HIGHWAY WHEN OPERATOR'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE THEN DRIFTED LEFTWARD ACROSS CENTER-LINE AND BOTH ONCOMING LANES, AND CAME TO REST AFTER MOUNTING THE CURB AND COLLIDING WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. EVENT WAS WITNESSED BY TWO, SEPARATE, INDEPENDENT AND INVOLVED MOTORISTS. VEHICLE'S OWNER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND WAS INJURED. OWNER PURCHASED USED VEHICLE IN JANUARY, 2012 REPORTED PREVIOUS TROUBLE WITH CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION, AND THAT MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT IS ON KNOWN DUE TO THE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE OPERATOR'S CONSOLE, AND WAS THEREFORE ESTIMATED. ITS SPEED AT THE TIME IS ALSO ESTIMATED AT 40 MPH, THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT.

NHTSA complaint #10463423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Newburgh, NY

POWER TRAIN

- THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING - THE MOTOR FOR THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW HAS FAILED AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS FAILING. - THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK, AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS FAILING.

NHTSA complaint #10462898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Columbia, SC

POWER TRAIN

THE ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT FAILED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE SHIFTING UP A HILL. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH SYSTEM WHICH HYUNDAI HAS APPARENTLY KNOWN ABOUT SINCE THE MODEL RELEASE. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM FOR THIS EXACT MATTER, HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO THINK THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING IT. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE RECALLED AND HYUNDAI HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILING THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEN CHARGING UPWARDS OF $3000 TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW EXISTS. BECAUSE THE CLUTCH SYSTEM IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPULSION OF THE VEHICLE, HAVING FAULTY ONES ON THE ROAD IS AN EXTREME HAZARD. MINE FAILED WHILE SHIFTING UP A HILL ON A NORMALLY BUSY ROAD. IT WAS VERY FORTUNATE THERE WAS LIGHT TRAFFIC THAT DAY AND I HAD A PARKING LOT CLOSE BY TO COAST INTO. THE WAY HYUNDAI IS HANDLING THIS ISSUE IS NOTHING SHORT OF THEFT, AND A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

NHTSA complaint #10438029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Corona, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I HAVE 90,000 MILES ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED 3 TIMES. ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AT 29,000 MILES, THE SECOND POCKET AT 43,200 MILES AND THIRD AT 69,500 MILES. NOW AT 90,000 MILES IT IS GOING OUT AGAIN. THE FIRST TWO I MADE HYUNDAI PAY FOR THEM BUT THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS TWO FLYWHEELS AT 400.00 DOLLARS EACH AND TWO KITS AT 385.00 EACH. THERE HAS GOT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SLAVE CYLINDER HAVE NEVER NEEDED REPLACEMENT ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THEY FLUSH AND FILL EVERY TIME. I THINK THIS IS A SCAM BY HYUNDAI OR OTS DEALERS THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR DEFECT. ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS CAR? PLEASE HELP THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10367224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,286 miles Knoxville, TN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE OTHER DAY I TOOK MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON IN TO BE SERVICED. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE NEXT DAY I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY VEHICLE NEEDED ANOTHER CLUTCH. THIS WOULD BE MY THIRD CLUTCH IN THREE YEARS CONSIDERING I HARDLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE HARD. I WAS SHOCKED AND COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE PART. IN ADDITION, WHEN I DROVE MY CAR HOME IT WAS MUCH WORSE THAN WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF THE PREVIOUS DAY. I REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE HYUNDAI HAS BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ME AND MY WALLET. IN THE PAST YEAR I HAVE SPENT OVER 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON MY VEHICLE. MY CAR IS KEPT IN IMMACULATE CONDITION AND I FEEL LIKE THE PARTS THAT HYUNDAI PEDDLES IS OF LOW QUALITY. I STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY , BUT ALL THE MALFUNCTIONS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY I HAVE...COINCIDENCE? PROBABLY NOT.

NHTSA complaint #10365307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH HYUNDAI TIBURON 2003 CLUTCHES. MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL BROKE ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. AT AROUND 10,000 MILES, AT AROUND 30,000 MILES AND AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. EACH TIME THE HYUNDAI DEALER TOLD ME IT BROKE BECAUSE I'M A POOR DRIVER, HOWEVER THIS IS JUST NOT TRUE AND IT APPEARS TO ALSO BE A PROBLEM WITH EVERYONE ELSE WHO BOUGHT THIS MODEL AS WELL. I HAVE JOINED THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST HYUNDAI FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE CLUTCHES WHICH WAS RECENTLY AWARDED MONEY FOR WHICH I AM FILING A CLAIM FORM. HOWEVER, I AM CONTACTING YOU NOW BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS ON DANGEROUS HIGHWAYS TWO OF THE THREE TIMES THIS HAPPENED AND WAS PUT IN VERY PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS. THE SECOND TIME THE CLUTCH WENT OUT IT JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE PEDDLE WENT INTO THE FLOOR AND I ONLY BARELY HAD THE MOMENTUM TO CARRY ME OVER A HILL AND GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING BACKWARDS DOWN THE HILL OR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A FAST MOVING HIGHWAY. FURTHERMORE, THIS LEFT ME STRANDED IN A VERY BAD AREA OF TOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK. ANOTHER TIME THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON AN UPHILL CURVED INTERSTATE RAMP WHICH WAS BRINGING ME TO MERGE FROM THE BELTWAY TO ANOTHER INTERSTATE AND INSTEAD OF LOSING THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY AT ONCE, I COULD JUST BARELY GO 30MPH (AND DETERIORATING) AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT UP THE HILL AND MERGE AS CARS WERE ZOOMING BY ME. WHILE THIS CLUTCH ISSUE MAY NOT BE AS DETRIMENTAL OF A SAFETY CONCERN AS FOR EXAMPLE BRAKE FAILURE, IT STILL PUT ME IN A VERY SCARY SITUATION. IT SERIOUSLY CONCERNS ME THAT HYUNDAI HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CLUTCHES, DESPITE THE FACT THAT BASED ON THE RECENT SETTLEMENT THEY ARE CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND HYUNDAI KNOWS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10360561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Holly Springs, NC

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CLUTCH DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT OFTEN CAUSES SHIFTER TO GET STUCK IN GEAR OR WILL NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10353088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dover, NH

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

FOR SOME TIME, I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH HARD SHIFTING IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT. I HAVE SEARCHED ALL OVER THE INTERNET GOING THROUGH FORUMS AND EVEN TALKING TO MY MECHANICS TO TRY AND FIND A SOLUTION TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE AND HAS GONE FROM NOT ONLY HARD SHIFTING BUT TO ALSO GRINDING OF GEARS WHEN SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD NORMALLY. WHEN PARKING AND SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS OVER NIGHT IS THE WORST WITH ALSO HAVING TO "PUNCH FORCE" THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE AND THEN INTO 1ST GEAR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP, THE SYMPTOMS APPEAR TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE SUBTLE BUT STILL PERSIST. ONLY AFTER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST HYUNDAI FOR CLUTCH RELATED ISSUES IN MY VEHICLE HAS THERE BEEN REPORTS AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE ISSUE THAT WAS KNOWN TO HYUNDAI. UNFORTUNATELY, I PURCHASED THE CAR USED AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY OF THIS INFORMATION OUT BEFORE I PURCHASED AND I AM A VERY THOROUGH INVESTIGATOR WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING EVERYTHING.AND TO TOP IT OFF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT ONLY HELPS THOSE THAT HAVE PAID FOR REPAIRS AND NOW I AM LEFT IN THE DARK WITH THIS SITUATION LOOKING TO HAVE TO DISH OUT WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF TO BEGIN WITH AND I WILL ALSO NEVER GET COMPENSATED FOR EXCEPT FOR A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT ADMITS WHAT PARTS ARE FAULTY AND ONES I'LL HAVE TO REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10341048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,479 miles Rumford, ME

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 2 WEEKS, HAVE NOT PUT 200 MILES ON IT. BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS TIBURON UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS A BIT STIFF AND WHEN I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, I HAD A HARD TIME FINDING IT, IT WOULD NOT LET ME PUT IT INTO REVERSE AND I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE CLUTCH AND RETRIED IT, MANAGED TO GET IT INTO REVERSE THIS TIME, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFOREHAND, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND CAR HESITANTLY MOVED OUT OF THE GARAGE. STOPPED VEHICLE, PUT IT INTO 1ST GEAR AND STARTED TO DRIVE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I PUT IT INTO 2ND GEAR, THE CAR JERKED AS I LET GO OF THE CLUTCH BUT CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. GOT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING FINE WHEN THE TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN, WENT FROM 6TH GEAR DOWN TO 5TH GEAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, TRIED TO GIVE IT SOME GAS TO ACCELERATE AND WOULD NOT MOVE, TACHOMETER WOULD SHOW ENGINE REVVING BUT WAS NOT ACCELERATING AT ALL. MANAGED TO COAST CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CAME TO A STOP. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND STARTED ENGINE UP AGAIN AND AGAIN SMELLED THE BURNING RUBBER; TRIED TO PUT IN FIRST GEAR, WENT IN BUT WOULD NOT MOVE, TRIED REVERSE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A TOWING SERVICE SO ENDED UP CALLING AAA, TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED ME BY THE SMELL THAT IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY THE CLUTCH HAD GONE IN IT AND HAD SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THIS AS HE HAS TOWED SEVERAL OF THESE CARS FOR THE SAME REASON. CAR IS IN REPAIR SHOP WILL BE WORKED ON MONDAY 5-24-10. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10331835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,000 miles Tallahassee, FL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

FAULTY CLUTCH RESULTING IN UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10323852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 82,000 miles Kettering, OH

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT 2.7 L, I REPLACED THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL AT 75,000 MILES. IM NOW AT 88,000 MILES AND THE CLUTCH IS OUT AGAIN! I RELEASE THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY OUT AND WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE THE RPM'S GO UP AND VERY SLOWLY IT ACCELERATES. THIS IS A $1800 REPAIR AND TWICE WITHIN 13,000 MILES IN UNACCEPTABLE!

NHTSA complaint #10318765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,181 miles Lancaster, OH

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CLUTCH FAILURE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE CAR FROM THE FREEWAY. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE WERE IT IS CURRENTLY SITTING INOPERABLE. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH IN THIS YEAR VEHICLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $2300.00 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR CAR WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, AND TO TOP IT OFF I HAVE ALSO FOUND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELEASED BY HYUNDAI FOR DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PARTS IN THE SAME YEAR VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10314931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Milford, CT

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON V6 6 SPEED EARLY CLUTCH FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10304271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Blaine, MN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT WITH A 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT TWICE IN LESS THAN 60K MILES. I'VE DRIVEN MANUALS MY WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH GO OUT UNTIL THIS CAR. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I'VE FOUND THAT THIS CAR HAS AN UNBELIEVABLY HIGH NUMBER OF CLUTCH FAILURES. HYUNDAI EVEN STOPPED MAKING THE ORIGINAL "FACTORY" PART AND REPLACES IT WITH A DIFFERENT PART NOW BUT THEY WON'T ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST ONE. THANKS, JON

NHTSA complaint #10297120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 184,554 miles FAG, 00

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

TSB RECOMMENDING OLD CLUTCH REPLACEMENT WHICH IS GARBAGE, CLUTCH IS GARBAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10295312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Norristown, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

3 CLUTCH FAILURES WITHIN 25,000 MILES OF CAR OWNERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WON'T COVER REPAIRS SAYING IT IS DRIVER ERROR.

NHTSA complaint #10284783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Lindenhurst, NY

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CLUTCH FAILURE AT 55,000 MILES COST OF REPAIR $1200.

NHTSA complaint #10265369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,000 miles Marianna, PA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

HELLO, I'M 26YRS OLD. I OWN A 2003 TIBURON GT V6 6SPEED WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT OFF OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH ONLY 9,000 MILES. WITHIN THE 70,000 MILES I'VE DRIVEN IT, IT'S HAD THREE CLUTCHES.? I'VE OWNED ALL MANUAL DRIVEN CARS SINCE I WAS 16, I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE WITH ONE. WE ALL KNOW I BURNED THAT CLUTCH UP A LITTLE BIT YET I STILL DIDN'T BURN THAT CLUTCH OUT. THE FIRST CLUTCH I HAD TO REPLACE I PAID FOR THE PARTS. HYUNDAI TOOK CARE OF THE LABOR WHICH WAS NICE BUT, I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR A PART THAT I WASN'T AT FAULT FOR RUINING. NOW I'M ON MY THIRD CLUTCH, I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS ONE IN FULL BECAUSE I'M THE SECOND OWNER AND HYUNDAI ONLY COVERS 60,000 MILES. AS OF 01\06\09 THIS ONE IS NO LONGER WORKING. THERE HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT OF SOME KIND. WHETHER IT IS THE HYDRAULIC LINES PUMPING TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH FLUID, THE REVERSE DUAL MASS CLUTCH, OR IT BEING THE FIRST YEAR THEY MADE THE CAR, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HYUNDAI HAD TO TAKE CARE OF. I NEED HELP PLEASE. I'VE READ MORE REVIEWS ON "2003" TIBURON'S THAN I CAN HANDLE TO READ, AND AT LEAST 90% SAID THEY HAD CLUTCH PROBLEMS. I STARTED LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION AND THE ONLY THING I COULD FIND WAS CONSUMER AFFAIRS #, E-MAIL, AND A FEW OTHER #'S. I CALLED THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS #, AND NOW THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T HELP GO FIGURE. THEIR REASON WAS IT BEING TO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY ALTHOUGH IT WAS AT ONLY 31,000 MILES. NOW AT 77,000 IT GOES AGAIN, WHAT A COINCIDENCE. THIS DISASTER OF A CAR HAS COST ME AROUND $4,000 AND HAS ALSO PUT A HALT ON MY LIFE. I HAD A JEEP PAYMENT THAT I HAD TO SURRENDER BACK TO THE BANK BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER PAY FOR REPAIRS ON THE TIBURON AND MY JEEP. I'M WRITING THIS IN HOPE THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF GOOD WILL, RECALL, ECT. TO HELP REIMBURSE MY LOSES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

NHTSA complaint #10257590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,292 miles Mesa, AZ

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

IN AUG OF 2008, WITH 90K MILES ON THE CAR, WE HAD NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BECOMING HARD TO IN-GAGE IN ORDER TO SWITCH GEARS. WE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND IT WAS INDICATED THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER SEALS WERE FAILING. DURING THIS REPAIR THE SLAVE CYLINDER WAS ALSO REPLACED . BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THESE COMPONENTS THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS PHYSICALLY INSPECTED DURING DISASSEMBLY. THE CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL AND PRESSURE PLATE APPEARED BURNED AND AT A POINT OF FAILURE, WHEN DISASSEMBLED A RING ON THE FLYWHEEL WAS NO LONGER IN EVIDENCE. IF THE FLYWHEEL DOES NOT HAVE THIS RING THERE IS NOT ANYWAY FOR THE CLUTCH TO WORK SO IT WAS DEDUCED THAT IT DECOMPOSED IN USE AND WITH NO EVIDENCE OF IT IN DISASSEMBLY. THIS IS A DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL WHICH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE PROBLEMATIC IN OTHER BRANDS OF VEHICLES. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $2300. THE COMPANY AND DEALERS CONTINUE TO CLAIM THAT THE FAILURES ARE NOT THE FAULT OF THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN BUT ARE THE FAULT DRIVER ABUSE. BELIEVE ME, MY WIFE AND I HAVE DRIVEN DOZENS OF CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS SOME OF WHICH WERE HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTS CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH IN ANY CAR, THREE OF WHICH WERE USED FOR AMATEUR RACING (OTHERS HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OVER 180K MILES AND SOLD WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT.) RESEARCH ON THE NHSTA SITE AND OTHERS SHOW OVER 700 IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 2003-2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT'S AND ALMOST ZERO ON 2005-2007. THE REPLACEMENT FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY (PUT IN THE CAR IN AUG.2008) HAD A TOTALLY DIFFERENT FLYWHEEL RETAINING DEVICE THAN THE ORIGINAL. THESE TWO THINGS WOULD INDICATE THAT HYUNDAI MADE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH LATER MODEL VEHICLES AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OR REBATE REPAIR COSTS TO THOSE OWNERS OF THE 2003 AND EARLY 2004 6 SPEED CLUTCH ASSEMBLIES. A FULL INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE MADE IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM AND RESTITUTION SHOULD BE MADE TO THE OWNERS AND FORMER OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10240132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Belchertown, MA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL BOTH FAILED. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR MY VEHICLE MODEL YEAR SAYING THERE ARE "DEFORMED CLUTCH COMPONENTS", HYUNDAI QUOTED ME OVER 2,000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP WHERE I PAID 1,700 INSTEAD. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE COMPANY HAVE YIELDED NO RESULTS.

NHTSA complaint #10237186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Benton, ME

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

HAVE BEEN HAVING CLUTCH PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER LAST JULY 2007,.DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND CHARGED ME LABOR TO LOOK. THE PROBLEMS ARE GETTING WORSE...JUMPING INTO GEAR, STICKING IN REVERSE, ETC. I'VE READ EVERYWHERE THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL. CAN I GET ANY HELP?

NHTSA complaint #10233523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Blaine, MN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2003 TIBURON GT WITH A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH TWICE IN UNDER 30K MILES. I'VE CHECKED WITH OTHER TIBURON OWNERS AND THEY SAID IT'S A DEFECT IN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. HYUNDAI WON'T ADMIT A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE APPARENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10229706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,625 miles Tucson, AZ

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT V6 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH FAILED AFTER ONLY 30000 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR 20 YEARS. THIS ONE WAS NO ABUSED OR USED FOR RACING. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH GO OUT AFTER SO FEW MILES. THE PROBLEM SEEM TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THERE IS A RESTRICTOR VALVE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH TO FULLY ENGAGE UNTIL 1 SECOND AFTER THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS FULLY RELEASED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SCALE PROBLEM. THERE ARE POSTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10229037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,625 miles Tucson, AZ

POWER TRAIN

2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT V6 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH FAILED AFTER ONLY 30000 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS FOR 20 YEARS. THIS ONE WAS NO ABUSED OR USED FOR RACING. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH GO OUT AFTER SO FEW MILES. THE PROBLEM SEEM TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CLUTCH SYSTEM. THERE IS A RESTRICTOR VALVE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THE CLUTCH TO FULLY ENGAGE UNTIL 1 SECOND AFTER THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS FULLY RELEASED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SCALE PROBLEM. THERE ARE POSTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10229037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Citrus Heights, CA 1 killed

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

CLUTCH FAILURE! I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING THE CLUTCH IN THIS CAR FOR THE THIRD TIME. AFTER DOING MUCH RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST HYUNDAI REGARDING THE CLUTCH ISSUE. I HAVE 85K ON THIS CAR AND IT HAS HAD CLUTCH ISSUES SINCE ABOUT 1800 MILES. THE ENTIRE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL WAS REPLACED AT 27,618 MILES AND AGAIN AT 60K AND NOW AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THE "DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL". THEY KNOW AND ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH AND EXPLAIN IT AWAY AS THE WAY THE USER DRIVES. BUT, HOW CAN THOUSANDS DRIVE SO BAD THAT A CLUTCH LAST ONLY 27K MILES? MY HUSBAND DIED 2 WEEKS AFTER THE CAR BROKE DOWN OUT OF TOWN WITH THE 2ND CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. DUE IN PART TO THE ADDED STRESS THAT THIS PUT ON US. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS BEFORE HYUNDAI TAKES THIS SERIOUSLY. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO INJURED PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY OR FINANCIALLY BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY A 18 WHEELER WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED THE 2ND TIME. AGAIN, HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES HYUNDAI HAVE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!!!!!!! THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE 3RD CLUTCH INCIDENT DATE. I HAVE PROOF OF MANY MORE DEFECTS WITH THIS CAR!!!!! I ATTRIBUTE THE DEATH OF MY HUSBAND IN PART TO THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10227141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,000 miles Jacksontown, OH

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

OK SO THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON AND HAS SOUNDED LIKE IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE I AM 18 AND JUST MADE A NEW PURCHASE OF A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT 5 SPEED IT IS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE REALLY EVER REALLY BABIED AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR 3 WEEKS I HAVE NOT DROVE THE CAR HARD OR ANYTHING AND THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING BAD THE CAR RAN AND DROVE FINE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NOW IM LOOKING AT A 2,000 DOLLAR CHARGE FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE WENT WRONG IN THE FIRST PLACE I LEAVE FOR THE ARMY IN JULY 2008 AND NOW I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO MESS ANYTHING ELSE UP ON IT SO I AM JUST KIND OF STUCK LOOKING AT AND NICE RED CAR THAT ISN'T DRIVABLE AND I CALLED HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID ITS MY PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS.....

NHTSA complaint #10225551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,854 miles RIO Rancho, NM

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH. IT IS HAVING TROUBLE ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. THE CLUTCH DOES THIS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND EVEN AT TIMES WHEN IT IS NOT COLD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER DUE TO DEFECT BUT CLAIMED THAT THE CLUTCH ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR. MY CAR HAD 59,800 MILES WHEN IT TOOK IT IN FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE FIX IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10225372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2003 Hyundai Tiburon problems

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