2004 Hyundai Tiburon: common problems and reliability
The 2004 Hyundai Tiburon has 82 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and air bags. 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 2004 model year
82
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
11
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2004 Hyundai Tiburon vehicles (US, public record).
Where owners report problems
power train
39
air bags
21
electrical system
8
exterior lighting
7
steering
3
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 issues, describing them as r
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.
Premature clutch wear — Stock clutch rated for insufficient torque, leading to wear in under 12,000 miles on the V6 GT model. Frequency: isolated.
General OEM part quality/reliability — Dashboard switch failures, concerns about long-term durability of some components compared to Japanese rivals. Frequency: recurrent.
Difficulty sourcing parts — As a discontinued model, finding certain replacement parts can become challenging. Frequency: isolated.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Tiburon.
Typical used price
Used Tiburon listings typically run $4,393–$6,499 across 2001 to 2008 model years.