1998 Hyundai Tiburon: common problems and reliability

The 1998 Hyundai Tiburon has 30 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine and engine cooling. Owners most often flag timing belt failure: 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. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 1998 model year

30
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
3
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1998 Hyundai Tiburon vehicles (US, public record).

Is 1998 a good year for the Tiburon?

Across the 5 Tiburon model years we track, complaint volume runs from 8 (2002) to 82 (2004). With 30 complaints, the 1998 Tiburon sits about the same asthe model's median of 33.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

power train
6
engine and engine cooling
6
electrical system
5
seat belts
4
fuel system
4

Recalls affecting the 1998 Tiburon

seat belts:front:webbing

Campaign 01V345000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS MAY NOT EXTEND AND RETRACT SMOOTHLY THROUGH THE D-RING GUIDES MOUNTED ON THE BODY PILLARS AFT OF THE DOORS. IF THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT EXTE

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on ownership expectations and maintenance history. Long-term owners frequently report high reliability and durability, with many vehicles reaching 150,000 to 230,000 miles with minimal major…

  • Timing belt failure: 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. Frequency: very frequent.
  • Electrical issues: Random failures including window motors, battery cable/connector failures at the fuse box leading to no-start conditions, and other unspecified electrical gremlins. Frequency: recurrent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Tiburon. See the full Tiburon owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used Tiburon listings typically run $4,393–$6,499 across 2001 to 2008 model years.

Other Tiburon model years

Compare every Tiburon year side by side to see how 1998 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Tiburon against its rivals