2003 Hyundai Tiburon

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2003 Hyundai Tiburon
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2003: 328 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1997	36
1998	26
1999	26
2000	58
2001	36
2002	2
2003	328
2004	82
2005	43
2006	64
2007	42
2008	19

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

POWER TRAIN 38%

38% of complaints: power train — 123 distinct reports on file.

AIR BAGS 13%

13% of complaints: air bags — 41 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

THIS REPORT IS BEING FILED BY AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTIONIST AT THE REQUEST OF THE VEHICLE'S INSURANCE CARRIER.

NHTSA ODI report, 20120628

THE VEHICLES HOOD POPPED UP WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI report, 20030409

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB *TS

NHTSA ODI report, 20030228

POWER TRAIN 10%

10% of complaints: power train — 33 distinct reports on file.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%

9% of complaints: electrical system — 28 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY

Show complaint excerpts

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...

NHTSA ODI report, 20191028

CONSUMER STATES HIS DAUGHTER HAD AN HEAD ON IMPACT WITH ANOTHER AUTO AND HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROX 35 MPH. DRIVER WAS INJURIED, SHE HURT HER HEAD AND NECK. NLM

NHTSA ODI report, 20021002

AIR BAGS 6%

6% of complaints: air bags — 19 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20020304 — unknown or other

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE BRACKET HAS BEEN INSTALLED. IF THE BRACKET HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL THE LEFT LOWER INSTRUMENT PANEL BRACKET. OWNER NOTIFI

Campaign 02V044000 — check if this car was fixed

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 328

R 20030324 — seat belts

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE, IF NECESSARY, AND WILL PLACE A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN

Campaign 02V290000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20030923 — seat belts

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 C

Campaign 03V290000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20031013 — service brakes, hydraulic

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 A

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL T

Campaign 03V257000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20031013 — air bags

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 INSTRUMEN

Remedy: HYUNDAI WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE

Campaign 03V321000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20040122 — service brakes, hydraulic

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE REAR BRAKE TUBES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT H

Campaign 03V496000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20040630 — fuel system, gasoline

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Campaign 04V178000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20041005 — fuel system, gasoline

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.

Campaign 04V369000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090717 — suspension

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, MARYLA

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT LOWER

Campaign 09V125000 — check if this car was fixed