FaultScore

2004 Hyundai Tiburon airbag problems

22 of the 108 complaints about the 2004 Hyundai Tiburon are about the airbag system — 20% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 35,500 miles.

F

22

Complaints

11

Crashes

0

Fires

7

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 14 63.6%
Frontal 4 18.2%
Sensor/Control Module 4 18.2%

Airbags across every Hyundai Tiburon year

2003 71 61.2%
2004 22 19.0%
2007 13 11.2%
2008 10 8.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 3,000 miles Caguas, PR

AIR BAGS

MY CAR TURN ON THE AIR BAG, ALL THE TIME, I TAKE TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE WARRANTY WAS ACTIVE, AFTER THE THIRD YEAR THEY SAID THAT THIS DON'T HAVE NO MORE WARRANTY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STEEL ON ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10957845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 137,000 miles Sandy, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY WIFE WAS IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. MY WIFE GOT WHIPLASH FROM THE ACCIDENT. READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I'M ALMOST GLAD THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE HER INJURY COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. HYUNDAI NEEDS TO FIX THE ISSUE WITH THEIR AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA complaint #10892561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 102,000 miles Hagerstown, MD

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS WILL NOT PROPERLY WORK OR WORK AT ALL WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON. WHY SHOULDN'T THE 2004 MODEL BE INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL SINCE ALL OTHER TIBURON YEARS EXCEPT FOR 2004 WERE RECALLED?

NHTSA complaint #10649267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colonial Heights, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE REMAINING ON; SEATBELT AND BUCKLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE REPLACED. EIGHT MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROCESS OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10545596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leominster, MA

AIR BAGS

THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAS DEFECTIVE SEATBELT SENSORS. THESE SEATBELT SENSORS ARE WIRED INTO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND IN THE EVENT OF A SEATBELT SENSOR SHORTING OUT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR'S AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10499302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,000 miles Holden, ME

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON - WON'T GO OFF DEALER REPLACED DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASEMBLY - LIGHT CAME BACK ON AT 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #10442689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Cleburne, TX

AIR BAGS

I AM ALMOST SCARED TO DRIVE MY TIBURON. I HAVE READ MANY STORIES ABOUT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING WHEN THE LIGHT HAD BEEN SHOWING. BOTH MY TIBURON, AND MY MOTHER'S SONATA HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT STEADILY ON. I WAS ABLE TO FIX HERS BY ADJUSTING A FEW CORDS, MINE TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO GET IT DIAGNOSED BECAUSE PROBLEM RETURNS.

NHTSA complaint #10440909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Santa FE, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHE SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.

NHTSA complaint #10408616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Bath, PA

AIR BAGS

HAD AIR BAG LIGHT FIXED AT DEALERSHIP LAST YEAR (2010). THEY SAID IT WAS SEAT BELT . NOW IT IS BACK ON AGAIN , LESS THAN A YEAR LATER.

NHTSA complaint #10383383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shrewsbury, PA

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10365632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 77,000 miles Gainesville, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTION. THE ALARM HAS BEEN RESET WITH NO REPORTED CODE PROBLEMS, BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL IMMEDIATE FAULT WHEN CAR IS DRIVEN AGAIN. THUS WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON, THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK. INTERNET RESEARCH INDICATES THIS FAILURE HAPPENS TO HYUNDAI TIBURON'S OF THE SAME YEAR AS MY CAR. HYUNDAI HEADQUARTERS AND LOCAL DEALER WERE CALLED AND INDICATED THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR AND THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL OR INVESTIGATE FURTHER. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC DETAILS OTHER THAN THERE ARE SOME AIR BAG ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING/SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CARS IN MY MODEL YEAR RANGE, BUT AGAIN MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM...

NHTSA complaint #10328290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Lehigh, FL Crash 1 killed

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON. IN 2006, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH WITH A SCHOOL BUS. THE SEAT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF THE SEAT AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, HIS SON WOULD STILL BE ALIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT APPLICABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10224630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,600 miles Charlotte, NC Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT COLLIDED, BUMPER TO BUMPER, WITH A STOPPED PASSENGER VEHICLE AT 5-10 MPH. IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT A 40 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE VEHICLE CENTERLINE. BUMPER DAMAGE WAS MINOR AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES NOR REALISTIC POTENTIAL FOR INJURY. THE VEHICLE'S SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) DEPLOYED THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER, PRESENTING A RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TIBURON'S SRS COMPUTER ACTIVATED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PREMATURELY AND WAS TOO SENSITIVE TO A MINOR, NON-THREATENING IMPACT; THAT IS, DEFECTIVE. BUMPER COVER REPLACEMENT $500, AIRBAG REPAIR $4,500. DEFECTIVE DEVICES ARE IN MY POSSESSION. HYUNDAI OWNERS WITH A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE ARE INVITED TO JOIN A POTENTIAL CLASS ACTION BY E-MAILING CONTACT@AIRBAGCLAIMS.COM, ESTABLISHED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10184761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,000 miles Fayetteville, AR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THE CONSUMER 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON . *TS THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND HIT A TREE. THE PASSENGERS FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER CHEST, NECK AND BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10171208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Lowden, IA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIRBAG SENSOR WITHIN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10166225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Plano, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

MY AIRBAGS BLEW IN A VERY LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT (5 MPH). MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY UNDAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A BROKEN LICENSE PLATE BRACKET AND DAMAGE TO MY INTERIOR, CAUSED BY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. ACCORDING TO MY AUTOMOBILES USER MANUAL, THE AIRBAGS ARE ONLY MADE TO DEPLOY ON HIGH SPEED IMPACT, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE IN MY ACCIDENT. I WENT THROUGH HYUNDAI'S COMPLAINT AND RESOLUTION PROCEDURE, BECAUSE I FELT THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OFF. I ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND A HYUNDAI MECHANIC, AND THEY BOTH AGREED THAT, JUDGING BY THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE EXTERIOR OF MY CAR (BROKEN LICENSE PLATE BRACKET). THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE WENT OFF. HYUNDAI CLAIMED THE AIRBAGS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY, AND CLOSED THE FILE. I STARTED SEARCHING FOR A NEW DASHBOARD, AND I WAS TOLD REPEATEDLY THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE SENSITIVE AND WENT OFF VERY EASILY. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC STANDS FIRM THAT MY AIR BAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS LITERALLY NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR FROM THIS LOW IMPACT ACCIDENT, EXCEPT THE DEPLOYED AIRBAGS AND BROKEN LICENSE PLATE BRACKET. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY THE AIRBAGS. MY MECHANIC AND ALL THE SALVAGE YARDS I HAVE SPOKEN TO CLAIM THE SENSOR IS OVERLY SENSITIVE. HYUNDAI''S MANUAL STRESSES OVER AND OVER, THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL ONLY DEPLOY ON HIGH IMPACT. WHEN I CALLED HYUNDAI TO ASK WHAT THE VEHICLE IMPACT THRESHOLD LEVEL IS FOR THE AIRBAGS, THEY COULD NOT TELL ME. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. HYUNDAI SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE, AS THEY DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR AIR BAGS GOING OFF. .THEIR ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD TO FORK OUT MONEY FROM THEIR OWN POCKETS BECAUSE OF THIS, OR HAVE HAD TO CLAIM THIS ON THEIR INSURANCE. IT JUST IS NOT RIGHT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PLEASE HELP. SINCERELY, TAMARA THORNTON.

NHTSA complaint #10164112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,500 miles Cosby, TN

AIR BAGS

DT: CONTACT STATES DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF HIS VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE REAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER; THEY TOLD HIM TO CONTACT THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. UPON EXAMINATION, THE MICHELIN DEALERSHIP STATED THE REAR END WAS OUT OF ALIGN CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS OF YET. THE CONTACT IS GOING TO CALL ON WEDNESDAY TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. *NM THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. DEALER FIXED; BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10128254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, AR Crash

AIR BAGS

2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THE AIR BAG OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE MECHANIC WILL NOT RELEASE THE CAR BECAUSE AFTER ALL THE REPLACEMENTS THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THIS CAR. *BF

NHTSA complaint #10119295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Romeoville, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I REAR-ENDED SOMEONE ON AN ICY ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER'S DID, WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT. HYUNDAI CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL- DESIGNED TO DEPLOY AT SLOWER SPEEDS WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED, BUT BASED ON THE RESEARCH DONE ON INJURIES WITHOUT A SEAT BELT WORN, I FIND THIS DESIGN TO BE FAULTY, OR I MUST WONDER IF THEIR CLAIM IS TRUE.

NHTSA complaint #10111824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Romeoville, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

I REAR-ENDED SOMEONE ON AN ICY ROAD GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER'S DID, WITH NO ONE IN THE SEAT. HYUNDAI CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NORMAL- DESIGNED TO DEPLOY AT SLOWER SPEEDS WITHOUT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLED, BUT BASED ON THE RESEARCH DONE ON INJURIES WITHOUT A SEAT BELT WORN, I FIND THIS DESIGN TO BE FAULTY, OR I MUST WONDER IF THEIR CLAIM IS TRUE.

NHTSA complaint #10111824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,500 miles Jacksonville, AR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS ON DECEMBER 24, 2004 MY CAR SLIDE DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A CAR IN THE DITCH. DRIVER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT PASSENGER SIDE DID. NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR. SAFETY CONCERNS OVER AIR BAG NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10104628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,800 miles Calhoun, LA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

MY 2004 HUNDAI TIBURON WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON 11/16/04. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. MY PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH NO ONE WAS IN THE SEAT. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ALTHOUGH THE IMPACT WAS MOSTLY ON THE DRIVER FRONT. I SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT I AM NOT SURE I WILL EVER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10100845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Hyundai Tiburon problems

← Full 2004 Hyundai Tiburon report