Hyundai Tiburon Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Hyundai Tiburon model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2002 drew the fewest (2) and the 2003 the most (328).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 4 | Air bags | — | 19–23 |
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
19 | 1 | Air bags | — | 19–23 |
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
26 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 22–23 |
| 1999 | 26 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 22–23 |
| 1997 | 36 | 4 | Power train | — | 21–23 |
| 2001 | 36 | 1 | Air bags | — | 22–24 |
| 2007 | 42 | 1 | Power train | — | 19–23 |
| 2005 | 43 | 1 | Power train | — | 19–23 |
| 2000 | 58 | 1 | Seat belts | — | 22–24 |
| 2006 Among the most complaints |
64 | 1 | Power train | — | 19–23 |
| 2004 Among the most complaints |
82 | 0 | Power train | — | 19–23 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
328 | 9 | Power train | — | 19–23 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Hyundai Tiburon years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2003 Hyundai Tiburon: 328 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 164 (50%); Air bags 71 (22%); Electrical system 34 (10%).
Reports mention 33 crashes, 7 fires, 21 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 44,295 miles. 9 recall campaigns listed.
2004 Hyundai Tiburon: 82 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 39 (48%); Air bags 21 (26%); Electrical system 8 (10%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 7 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 42,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2006 Hyundai Tiburon: 64 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 42 (66%); Air bags 6 (9%); Tires 5 (8%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 32,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Hyundai Tiburon years with the fewest complaints
2002 Hyundai Tiburon: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (50%); Service brakes 1 (50%); Tires 1 (50%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Hyundai Tiburon: 19 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (53%); Seat belts 4 (21%); Electronic stability control 2 (11%).
Reports mention 2 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 32,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
1998 Hyundai Tiburon: 26 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 6 (23%); Power train 6 (23%); Electrical system 5 (19%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 injury. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Hyundai Tiburon owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32,000 |
| 2007 | 42 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 41,000 |
| 2006 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 32,000 |
| 2005 | 43 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 53,000 |
| 2004 | 82 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 42,000 |
| 2003 | 328 | 33 | 7 | 21 | 1 | 44,295 |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 63,000 |
| 2000 | 58 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 70,000 |
| 1999 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Hyundai Tiburon recalls
- Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently (2006–2008 model years; 1,712,336 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2013; 13V113000)
- HYUNDAI/BRAKE HOSE (2002–2003 model years; 312,292 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2003; 03V257000)
- HYUNDAI/FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE/FMVSS 301 (2002–2003 model years; 263,968 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2004; 04V178000)
- FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING (2003 model year; 160,904 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2009; 09V125000)
- HYUNDAI/FUEL TANKS (1997 model year; 84,020 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2000; 00V095001)
All 17 Hyundai Tiburon recall campaigns · Hyundai Tiburon problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Hyundai Tiburon years FAQ
Which Hyundai Tiburon year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2002 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Hyundai Tiburon years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2003, 2004 and 2006 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the power train. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Hyundai Tiburon problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the power train (314 of 762 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Tiburon have?
NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns covering the Hyundai Tiburon. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Hyundai Tiburon recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.