RoadVitals

1997 Hyundai Tiburon Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
36
Latest Jun 5, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 15, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 36 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 36 · page 1 of 2

Fuel system
Filed Jun 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V095001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), THERE WAS A PERSISTENT STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BACK SEAT TO INSPECT THE ACCESS PORT FOR THE FUEL TANK AND DISCOVERED A 4 INCH FRACTURE ON THE STEEL FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE DEALER TO INFORM THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V095001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE DEALER DECLINED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 243,420.

NHTSA ID
10596491
Incident
May 28, 2014
Mileage
243,420 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 4, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V095002 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INSPECTION THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INSPECTION PERFORMED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL, SO THE VEHICLE WAS DENIED A FREE REMEDY REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ID
10290954
Incident
Jan 3, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Mar 26, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK AS DETERMINED BY A PRESSURE CHECK. HYUNDAI WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10222386
Incident
Mar 24, 2008
Mileage
125,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 22, 2005

SMELLED GAS FUMES STRONGLY UPON FILL-UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK CAR IN. MECHANIC SAID RECALL #00V095002 WAS IN EFFECT ON MY VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS (TANK & CAP). DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED CAP BUT DID NOT TELL ME AT THE TIME. WENT TO SMOG CAR NEXT YEAR AND COMES UP WITH EVAPORATIVE LEAK. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME "THERE IS A HUGE LEAK ON THE TOP OF YOUR GAS TANK." WILL NOT REPLACE FOR FREE. CALLED MANUFACTURER WHO SAID THAT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE WAS NO LEAK AT TIME OF ORIGINAL INSPECTION. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY ARE NOT UNDER OBLIGATION TO REPLACE TANK DUE TO THEIR CLAIM THAT IT WAS NOT CRACKED AT THE TIME OF FUEL CAP REPLACEMENT. SPOKE WITH KASEY AT HYUNDAI ON 9/22 AT 2:15 PM. RECALL NOTICE CLEARLY STATES THAT "TANK MUST BE REPLACED IF CRACKED, REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE'S AGE OR MILEAGE." *NM

NHTSA ID
10137351
Incident
Jun 3, 2005
Mileage
83,539 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Dec 28, 2004

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND CAR BEGAN TO HEAT UP, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG CAME ON AS WELL;TOOK IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE AIRBAG PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED AND REMAINS ON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10104616
Incident
Nov 15, 2004
Electrical
Filed Oct 22, 2004

CONNSUMER STATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10097505
Incident
Oct 21, 2004
Mileage
103,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 17, 2004

CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON FRONT SEAT BELT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10059170
Incident
Feb 17, 2004
Interior & seats
Filed May 11, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD FLEW UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, DESTROYED THE HOOD AND LATCHES, DAMAGED THE ROOF, AND INJURED DRIVER. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10018530
Incident
May 11, 2003
Mileage
71,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 17, 2002

6 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WITHIN 40,000 MILES...ALL REBUILT AND ALL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING AND VERY HARD SHIFTING. I WOULD LIKE A TRANSMISSION THAT WORKS THE ENGINE AND ALL OTHER PARTS OF CAR ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. NOW DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIP IS JUST THE WAY IT 'SMOOTHES' INTO THE NEXT GEAR. EVEN MY PASSENGERS COMMENT ON THE WAY THE CAR THE SHIFTS. I HAVE BEEN INCONVIENCED FOR AT LEAST A DAY OR MORE TO FIND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION SO THAT THEY CAN INSTALL REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS. SOME OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT HYUNDIA HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY REBUILDING TRANSMISSIONS. THE HUYNDAI REPRESETATIVE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALL TRANSMISSIONS ARE GIVING OUT BEFORE THEIR 12,000 WARRENTY EXPIRES. ALL REPALCEMENTS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THEIR HONORING THE WARRENTY. MY LAST SERVICE CALL THE MANAGER KEN BEARD TOLD ME HE WOULD AGAIN CONTACT HUYNDAI AND ASK ABOUT TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND CONTACT ME BUT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IN 3 WEEKS. I HAVE CONTACTE DTHE OWNER AND HIS CONTROLLER FRENCHETTA THOMPSON HAS ASSURED ME THAT HE WILL RETURN MY CALL THIS WEEK. I ONLY OWN ONE CAR AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON IT TO GET TO WORK, THERE IS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE. EVEN WHEN ASKED THE DEALER REFUSES TO LET ME USE A LOANER CAR. ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I HAVE READ AN ARTICLE IN A CAR MAGAZINE STATING THAT HUYNDAI MADE MUCH NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR 2003 TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID
765774
Airbags
Filed Jul 5, 2002

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. LIGHT FLASHES FIRST AND THEN STAYS ON. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME GOING IN FOR REPAIRS TO DEALER IN 6MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013342
Incident
Jun 17, 2002
Transmission
Filed May 13, 2002

WHILE DRIVING GEARS SKIP BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, AND ENGINE RACING UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009689
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Jan 10, 2002

ALL FOUR SEAT BELTS; DRIVER/ FRONT PASSENGER, AND TWO REAR ONES WILL NOT RETRACT AFTER BEING PULLED OUT, WHICH WILL NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001975
Incident
Jan 8, 2002
Transmission
Filed Dec 31, 2001

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN MAY OF 2000. CAR HAD APPROX. 40,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. IN JULY OF 2001, THE NEW TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO A NEW DEALER (TOM O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF DANVERS). THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WE TOOK IT BACK IN AUGUST OF 2001. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. ONE MONTH LATER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK. THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 11, 2001, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER AND THE CAR STALLED. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THEY CLAIM THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERFILLED WITH FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER TOUCHED BY ANYONE BUT THEM. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMP SNAPPED OFF AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD IT FIXED FOR $1500. WE HAVE SINCE TRADED IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
756265
Incident
Dec 11, 2001
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Dec 21, 2001
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND COMING OFF RAMP WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO BACK OF OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8001040
Incident
Dec 20, 2001
Airbags
Filed Oct 10, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. CLOCK SPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED A YEAR AGO. CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING THAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
897590
Incident
Sep 24, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Sep 19, 2001

CONSUMER IS CALLING TO REPORT THAT VEHICLE HAS A FUEL LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
896496
Incident
Sep 1, 2001
Driver assistanceElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 3, 2000

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED A PULSE GENERATOR SENSOR, HOWEVER, THE PART ONLY LAST ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDED A SPEED SENSOR OUTPUT. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THAT PART UNDER THE WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST PAY THE LABOR WHICH WILL RUN ABOUT $95. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS AMOUNT SINCE I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE JUNE, 1999 WHEN THE CAR HAD 40,978 MILES ON IT. I ALSO TOOK THE CAR IN ON FEBRUARY 24, 1999 AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO DAYS. AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SWITCH. THE LAST 5 VISITS HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN I AM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THEN FIANLLY IT WILL SHIFT VERY HARD. IT WILL ALSO DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY TOLD ME THAT HAD TO ORDER A PART AND IT WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO GET IT IN SO I WENT AHEAD AND DROVE IT UNTIL THE PART CAME IN. DURING THAT TIME THE CAR SEEMED TO LOSE ACCERLATION WHEN STARTING UP THEN FINALLY IT WOULD "KICK" IN AND TAKE OFF. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER IF THIS WAS RELATED TO THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS TOLD PROBABLY. I FEEL THAT THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BACK IN FEBRUARY OR AT LEAST JUNE OF 1999 AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO KEEP TAKING THE CAR BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON AUGUST 4, 1999 WITH 45,723 MILES ON IT AND AGAIN ON MARCH 24, 2000 WITH 57,332 ON IT AND AGAIN ON AUGUST 30, 2000 WITH 68,899 AT WHICH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE ORDERING THE PART. I TOOK IT BACK ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2000 AND WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT IT NEEDED THE SPEED OUTPUT SENSOR (WHICH IS THE PART THAT I THOUGHT WAS BEING ORDERED AND HAD ARRIVED). SO I AGAIN PICKED UP MY CAR UNREPAIRED AND AM NOW WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. CAROL SUMMERS. *AK

NHTSA ID
733320
Incident
Feb 24, 1999
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 12, 2000

THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND ALMOST DIES DUE TO FOULED #4 WIRE AND PLUGS. NLM

NHTSA ID
552662
Incident
Sep 12, 1997
Fuel system
Filed May 26, 2000

THIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS HAD 2 RECALLS ISSUES BOTH RELATED TO THE GAS TANK. PRIOR TO THE RECALLS BEING ISSUED I HAD A SEAL SOMEWHERE IN THE GAS TANK REPLACED BECAUSE WHEN I FILLED THE TANK ALL THE WAY GAS CAME OUT THE BOTTOM. I COULD SMELL THE FUMES OF GAS THEN TOO. I REPLACED THE GAS CAP WITH THE FIRST SAFTY RECALL. I STILL SMELLED GAS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED FOR THE RECALL. THEY REPACED THE FUEL CAP AGAIN AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME SAYING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS BECAUSE IT NEEDED 30,000 MILE MAINTENCE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SMELL OF GAS INSIDE. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I TOOK THE CAR BACK FOR THE FIRST RECALL. I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL IN THE MAIL. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK THAT HAD APROX. A 5 INCH CRACK IN THE SEAM AT THE TOP. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACK THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT IN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. IT STATES IN THE LAST RECALL THAT THE CAR CAN CATCH ON FIRE. I DON'T THINK THE DEARLERS ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUS. THE FUMES THAT BUILD UP INSIDE THE CAR FORCED ME PUT PUT BOTH THE WINDOWS DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
723236
Airbags
Filed Feb 16, 2000

DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO REPLACED FOR DRIVER AIRBAG WHICH IS CAUSING AIRBAG TO BE INOPERATIVE, AND AIRBAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
857008
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. FRONT END WAS TOTALLED, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT A BODY SHOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
856410
Incident
Jan 16, 2000
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH OR OVER VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT INDICATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURHTER INFORMATON. *AK

NHTSA ID
849748
Visibility
Filed Sep 27, 1999

I PARKED THE CAR. GOT OUT OF THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SHUT THE DOOR. THE WINDOW SHATTERED. DOOR WAS NOT SHUT FORCEFULLY. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW OFF TRACK AND RAISES TOO HIGH. THIS MAY CAUSE WINDOW TO SHATTER ALSO. I BELIEVE THIS MAY HAVE BEEN WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
712308
Incident
Sep 25, 1999
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Sep 16, 1999

WHEN DRIVIHG AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE IS STALLING AND JERKING AND THE CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, BRAKES WENT OUT, AND THE GAS WENT OUT. MANUFACTUREER CAN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
847877
Incident
Aug 20, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 16, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF, AND CONSUMER HAS LOST ALL POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
847876
Incident
Aug 20, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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