Avoid: 2003 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2002
9 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 11 model years, the Hyundai Tiburon has 744 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 23 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and air bags. 2003 drew the most complaints (328), 2002 the fewest (8).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Hyundai Tiburon vehicles (US, public record). Typical used asking price $4,940–$8,245.
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2003 (328 complaints). Lowest: 2002 (8).
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on ownership expectations and maintenance history.
The timing belt and water pump require service every 5 years/60,000 miles as a critical maintenance item; failure leads to catastrophic engine damage.
Random failures including window motors, battery cable/connector failures at the fuse box leading to no-start conditions, and other unspecified electrical gremlins.
Dashboard switch failures, concerns about long-term durability of some components compared to Japanese rivals.
Stock clutch rated for insufficient torque, leading to wear in under 12,000 miles on the V6 GT model.
As a discontinued model, finding certain replacement parts can become challenging.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Tiburon. Individual model years are broken down above.
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