FaultScore

Hyundai Tiburon engine problems

45 of the 1,057 complaints filed about the Hyundai Tiburon are about the engine — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

45

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1997 Tiburon 5 11.1%
1998 Tiburon 6 13.3%

Median failure at 51,311 miles

1999 Tiburon 3 6.7%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

2000 Tiburon 8 17.8%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2001 Tiburon 5 11.1%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

2003 Tiburon 12 26.7%

Median failure at 52,000 miles

2004 Tiburon 1 2.2%

Median failure at 40,061 miles

2005 Tiburon 2 4.4%

Median failure at 125,593 miles

2006 Tiburon 1 2.2%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2007 Tiburon 2 4.4%

Median failure at 73,042 miles

What owners said

2001 Hyundai Tiburon at 77,000 miles Belleview, FL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE NOISE LEVEL INCREASED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 2010 UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HOWEVER, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED JENKINS HYUNDAI OF OCALA (1602 SW COLLEGE ROAD, OCALA, FL 34471, (352) 815-2533) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS WHERE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA complaint #11361779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Hyundai Tiburon at 186,187 miles Manassas, VA

ENGINE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN 3 PLACES

NHTSA complaint #11318579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Hyundai Tiburon Sylacauga, AL

ENGINE

2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEAT BELT SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.

NHTSA complaint #11315314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Hyundai Tiburon at 140,000 miles Glendale, OH

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE NOISE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #11277165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Hyundai Tiburon at 135,125 miles Winton WAY, CA Fire

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING TO MY BROTHER PLACE WHEN A WIRE STARTED TO SMOKE AND COUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS SMOKEY WHERE I COULD NOT SEE FROM THE SMOKE AND I HIT A PARKED CAR FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT EXPOSED AT ALL. IT WAS ON A CITY STREET NO ONE GOT HURT JUST THE CAR

NHTSA complaint #11271576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Hyundai Tiburon at 109,085 miles SAN Antonio, TX

ENGINE

HARMONIC BALANCER SHEDDED CAUSING THE CAMSHAFT TO BREAK STALLING OUT WHILE TRYING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY RAMP.THE CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE PARTIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AND RAMP TO ENTER CAUSING A CLOSE CALL FROM BEHIND.A CAR WAS SPEEDING UP TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO LOCK UP HIS BREAKS ALMOST SMASHING INTO ME AT A VERY HIGH SPEED THE A TRUCK NEARLY STRUCK ME ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO PREVENT CRASHING INTO ME AT 70 MPH. I HAD NO WARNING. NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT EVER WARNED ME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR ,FORE I WOULD HAVE SERVICED IT IMMEDIATELY .I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT THE COMPUTER MAYBE WAS NOT SENDING THE CORRECT CODES TO THE WARNING INDICATORS. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM I ALMOST HAD A HIGH SPEED CRASH WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I DID NOT TAKE ANY PICTURES I WAS TO SHAKEN UP AND NOBODY STOPPED TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION. I THEN FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO START AND LIMPED IT OF THE HIGHWAY AND THEN HOME AS I LIVED VERY CLOSE BY. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER AND HAD MY CAR TOWED THERE AT MY OWN EXPENSE . THEN A FEW DAY'S LATER THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED ME AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY NO WARNING OF ANY KIND INFORMED ME OF THE DANGER. THEY DID SAY IT WOULD COST ME $1,200.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF THE TOW $85.00 .MY CAR IS AT "RED MCCOMBS HYUNDAI N.W. 1366 IH-10 WEST SAN ANTONIO,TX. 78249 " (844)218-7288 WHERE IT WILL SET UNTIL THE MATTER IS DEALT WITH. I HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THE FIX . I AM ON DISABILITY AND A SENIOR CITIZEN AT 58 YR.'S OF AGE AND NEED MY CAR TO SEE MY DOCTORS

NHTSA complaint #11161850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Hyundai Tiburon at 170,000 miles Thonotosassa, FL

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON DOOR HANDLES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CONSTANTLY BREAK OFF EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY FACTORY PARTS LEAVING OCCUPANTS TRAPPED IN CAR ALSO REPLACED CAMSHAFT CONTOLLER CAUSE WIRING IS MELTING. CONTACTED BRANDON HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE DEPT THEY TOLD ME HANDLES HAD BEEN ALREADY REPLACED BEFORE AND REFUSED TO REPAIR ALSO THEY LIED AND TOLD ME THERE WERE NO FURTHER RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE BUT WHEN I GOOGLED THERE ARE ACTUALLY AROUND 10 RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND HYUNDAI REFUSES TO FIX OR EVEN ADMIT THERE IS A RECALL..MY CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACING ALSO.

NHTSA complaint #10825518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Hyundai Tiburon at 65,000 miles Albany, OR

ENGINE

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH, DUAL FLY WHEEL ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM 3 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME ANYWHERE FROM $2400,- $3,400. NO WAY SHOULD A CLUTCH NEED REPLACED THAT MUCH THAT SOON, EACH CLUTCH LASTED APPROX 13 MONTHS. HYUNDAI WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM YET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. WHO CAN AFFORD THIS MUCH WORK EVERY YEAR? NO ONE. I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $10,000 ON 3 CLUTCH JOBS IN 3 YEARS. I'M TAKING IT TO BBB AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10760218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Hyundai Tiburon at 80,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL FAILURES THAT PROGRESSED AND RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANISTERS TWICE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED IN WHICH THERE WERE STRONG FUMES THAT EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE KEY WAS STILL NOT COMMUNICATING TO TURN OVER INTO A START POSITION WITHOUT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WHICH THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLICKERED, WERE LOW AT TIMES, AND WERE REPLACED MORE THAN TEN TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V345000 (SEAT BELTS) AND RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT WAS CONSTRICTING WHILE MOVING AND IT WOULD NOT RETRACT UNLESS THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS UNBUCKLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 04V369000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 04V178000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10713426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Hyundai Tiburon at 30,000 miles Winter Park, FL

ENGINE

BRAND NEW CAR AND ENGINE WENT OUT. DEALER SAID I DIDN'T HAVE THE OIL CHANGED WHICH CAUSED CRITICAL FAILURE WITH ENGINE. AFTER ALMOST 2 YEARS FIGHTING WITH DEALER I GAVE UP. I SAVED 5K TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED WITH AN OUTSIDE DEALER WITH THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MILEAGE. TODAY CAR IS OVERHEATING AND ACTING LIKE THE ORIGINAL ENGINE I HAD. GUESS WHAT ..THIS ENGINE JUST TURNED 34000K ...YOU CAN TELL I DON'T DRIVE MUCH WHICH IS EVEN MORE REASON WHY I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR MODEL 4CYL ENGINE.100K MILE WARRANTY MY [XXX]. I AM FED UP WITH THIS CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10548606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Hyundai Tiburon at 90,450 miles Junction City, OH

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED SOMETHING BEING SPEWED FROM UNDER THE PEDAL. ALSO, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PAN BOLT HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE OIL PAN BOLT BUT STATED THAT THE METAL IN THE AREA WHERE THE BOLT WAS LOCATED HAD BECOME STRIPPED AND THE BOLT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,450.

NHTSA complaint #10487410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Hyundai Tiburon at 85,000 miles Florissant, MO

ENGINE

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.

2000 Hyundai Tiburon at 70,000 miles Ventura, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,200.

NHTSA complaint #10390251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Hyundai Tiburon at 20,000 miles Como, MS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIED... THEN IN NOVEMEBER OF 2006 REPLACED CONVERTER ONCE AGAIN, THEN APRIL OF 2007 REPLACED CONVERTER AGAIN, REPLACE 4 O2 SENSORS THEN MARCH 2008 REPLACED CONVERTER 2 O2 SENSORS AND A FRONT AXLE.

NHTSA complaint #10260434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Hyundai Tiburon at 37,000 miles Mckinney, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE RPM'S. AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER FOR TWO DAYS, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RPM'S HAD BEEN REPLACED AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE CLUTCH IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE AS HIS YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. HE PRESENTED HIS FINDINGS TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN UPDATED 01/02/09.*JB UPDATED 01/02/09.

NHTSA complaint #10248315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Hyundai Tiburon at 40,061 miles Huntsville, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THREE ENGINE'S HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE LAST ENGINE REPLACEMENT SEVERAL BOLTS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET. SEVERAL OTHER BOLTS ATE LOOSE OR READY TO FALL OUT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. I HAVE FILED A CASE WITH THE BBB.

NHTSA complaint #10212510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Hyundai Tiburon at 89,000 miles Hyattsville, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD TAPPING NOISE, ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. I HAD A FRIEND THAT WORKS ON CARS LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS VALVE TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE USED SOME OIL TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT SAID PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ENGINE IS MOST LIKELY REPLACED?!?! I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN 2003 AFTER BEING TOLD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THAT IT WAS JUST MY AIR CONDITIONER! IT IS PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CAR WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE SEATBELT RECALL, WHAT KIND OF COMPANY DID I BUY A CAR FROM?

NHTSA complaint #10189738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Hyundai Tiburon at 19,000 miles Rockaway, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 HYUNDAI TIBRON GT, HAD SEV STALLING PROBLEMS AND CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 19,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND ALL POWER ON DASH BOARD WAS LOST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED THAT THE STALLING RESULTED DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE CLUTCH, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A COMPLETE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 11/06 THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE FAILURE, AND THAT THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING WAS BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE WEEK OF 1/15/07 THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD HER IT WAS THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WITH FILE # 1031455. THE CONTACT TOOK THE OLD FLYWHEEL TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT IT WAS FROM OWNER'S ERROR.

NHTSA complaint #10180984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Hyundai Tiburon Kernersville, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

I TOOK MY TIBURON INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ONE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MANIFOLD. ON THE PAPER WORK IT WAS CALLED A "EXHAUST RECALL". A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE MANIFOLD AND THIS WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD BOUGHT MY CAR FROM HAD NOT SENT ME ANY INFO ON THIS RECALL. I STILL HAVE YET TO FIND ANY INFO ON THIS RECALL. WHY IS THIS?

NHTSA complaint #10147143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Hyundai Tiburon Vidor, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW WE HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE, THE CLUTCH, FLY WHEEL, SLAVE CYLINDER,THREE TIMES, A COOLANT LEAK FIXED, THE WINDOW MOTOR AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE REPAIR SHOP. WE ALSO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND HAVE THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON AT THIS TIME. THE THING THAT MAKES ME ANGRY IS THAT A SERVICE TECHNICIAN HAS SEEN OR VEHICLE TWICE AND SAID OUR VEHICLE WAS FINE. SO, WHY DID THE CLUTCH GO OUT 10 DAYS LATER?

NHTSA complaint #10135800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Hyundai Tiburon problems