1998 Hyundai Tiburon Owner Complaints

I WENT TO THE CAR LOT AND PICKED UP MY TIBURON. I DROVE IT HOME...AND TO WORK. AFTER I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS, I WALKED TOWARD THE CAR AND THE WIRELESS REMOTE ON THE KEYS WOULDNT BEEP SO WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE DOOR TO UNLOCK IT THE ALARM SOUNDED AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY SAID I PROBABLY NEEDED TO BUY A NEW BATTERY. I HADN'T EVEN PUT 100 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD SOMEONE CHECK THE BATTERY AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. MY CAR SAT AT MY WORKPLACE FOR 8 DAYS BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY SENT A TOWING TRUCK TO HAVE IT SERVICED. I COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE "TRANSPONDER" TO THE ALARM THAT IS FAULTY AND THEREFORE THE CAR WON'T START UNTIL IT IS REPLACED. IT IS STILL WAITING TO BE SERVICED. MY QUESTION IS WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THAT FIXED WHEN I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A FEW DAYS? THEY PROBABLY ALREADY KNEW IT WAS GOING OUT AND SOLD ME THE CAR ANYWAY. I'VE ONLY PUT DOWN A DOWN PAYMENT FOR THE CAR AND HAVE YET TO MAKE MY FIRST PAYMENT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? ARE THEY RIGHT TO CHARGE ME FOR THIS? IS THIS A FACTORY RECALL OR SOMETHING THAT GOES OUT OVER TIME? OR IN THIS CASE RIGHT WHEN I GOT THE CAR? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104895

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR, RESULTING IN STALLING. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC WHICH MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067348

Incident

Apr 19, 2004

Mileage

84,000 mi

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BREAKING HER ELBOW IN 6 PLACES AND HER HUMERUS DETACHED FROM THE ELBOW. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2003 AND SHE HAS LIMITED USE OF HER RIGHT ARM AS OF TODAY. SHE HAS HAD TWO SURGERIES AND GOES TO OCCUPATIONAL REHAB THREE TIMES A WEEK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT INJURIES FROM THE AIRBAGS IN THE 1998 TIBURON.

NHTSA ID

10069882

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10042902

Incident

Oct 14, 2003

Mileage

51,311 mi

1998 HYUNDAI TIBURON, AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES: CAR PURCHASED NEW IN 1998. EXPERIENCED ENGINE STUMBLE REFERENCED IN TSB 98-36-008, BUT NO ONE COULD EVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION- CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHEN HEADLIGHTS ON AND TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATED (TSB 98-40-006?) STILL DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS STORIES ON INTERNET FORUMS AT HYUNDAIPERFORMANCE.COM, YET HYUNDAI REFUSES TO INFORM ITS CONSUMERS OF THESE ISSUES. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. SERVICE DEALER IGNORED REQUESTS TO RETURN MY CALLS CONCERNING ITS STATUS. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041581

Incident

Oct 3, 2003

Mileage

85,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT IN HER DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, AND WHEN IT DID, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER LOSS OF POWER, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REGAIN POWER. THEN, VEHICLE RAN SLUGGISH FOR A WHILE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT REAPPEARING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10039718

Incident

Sep 10, 2003

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MARCH OF 2002 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT 6 WEEKS LATER. THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THERE WAS A "SHIFT FLARE" IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I WAS SOLD THE CAR WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THEN HYUNDAI PROCEDED TO GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND FOR 4 WEEKS SAYING I NEEDED PROOF THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 30,00 MILES. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER AND DID NOT HAVE THAT INFO. AFTER A MONTH OF NOT HAVING MY CAR, AND CONTACTING THE BBB, AND CONSUMER REPORTS, ALONG WITH HYUNDAI DIRECTLY......I WENT TO A LAWYER AT $125 AN HOUR AND HE MADE A FEW CALLS AND I HAD A "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION IN 8 DAYS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW, AND THIS "NEW" ONE IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. THE FLARE IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 GEAR, AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY TRANSMISSIONS I NEED TO GO THROUGH TO FIND ONE THAT REALLY "WORKS"!! I'M A 22YR. OLD FEMALE, WHO HAS'NT HAD THE CAR OVER 80MPH SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SB ON THIS PROBLEM, AND I'M SURE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS...SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO BE TRUE ON THEIR "WARRANTY" ...BE WARY OF THEIR "REMAINDER OF POWERTRAIN WARRANTY " ON USED CARS. THE SAD PART IS THAT THE CLOSET HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR ME IS 2 HOURS AWAY....VERMONT...IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO PLEASE EMAIL ME [email protected]. *AK

NHTSA ID

764608

Incident

May 15, 2002

WHEN DRIVING AT TIMES WILL HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATEING TO HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL START TO JERK BEFORE IT STARTS TO MOVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

8004352

Incident

Feb 1, 2002

RECALL 01V345000/MANUFACTURER RECALL 2001; FRONT LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT BACK. PROBLEM HAPPENED ONE YEAR AGO AND WAS NOT FIXED. NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SENT OUT IN DECEMBER 2001. *AK DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT CONSUMER ONCE A HYUNDAI TECHNICIAN CAME FOR A VISIT, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER HEARD FROM THE DEALER. *SLC

NHTSA ID

899740

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

HYUNDAI SAID THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS OR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WAS A LIE I HAVE RECORDED. MY SEATBELT POPS OFF EVEN THOUGH I DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN TIGHT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI SAID PUT IT IN TIGHTER OR SPRAY SILICON OIL IN IT. MY LOCKS WILL FREEZE WHILE I'M DRIVING AND I CANT GET OUT OF MY CAR UNLESS THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN. USALLY THE WINDOWS ARE FROZEN SHUT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI IT IS A NORMAL THING FOR HYUNDAIS TO LOCK PEOPLE IN THEIR CAR. HE SAID DONT DRIVE IT WHEN IT'S COLD OR SPRAY ICE GUARD INSIDE THE DOOR BEFORE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. MY CAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WELL REDLINE AND WONT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR.HATFIELD HYUNDAI SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR MY CAR TO REDLINE AND NOT GO PAST 69MILES AN HR. I TOOK IT TO DENNNIS HYUNDAI ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATLEY AFTER THAT SAME DAY AND HAD THEIR MANAGER RIDE WITH ME ON 6/29/01. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON JULY/2/2001 WHERE IT REMAINS. THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO GET IT TO ACT UP AGAIN EVEN THOUGH IT ALREADY ACTED UP BEFORE THEY WILL FIX IT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI FIXED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SAYS THEY WILL FIX THE SEATBELT SINCE I HAVE IT ON TAPE THEY LIED. I WANT YOU TO FORCE HYUNDAI TO FIX THINGS THEY PROMISED TO FIX IN THEIR WARRANTY FOR OTHER PEOPLES' SAFETY.*AK

NHTSA ID

747895

Incident

Jan 17, 2001

HE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON BOULEVARD AND IT WAS RAINING. VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM JAMMED THE BRAKES. HE STARTED HYDROPLANING, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. DUAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

875522

Incident

Nov 25, 2000

BRAKE SMAKE A DEEP GRINDING NOISE. ROTORS WERE CHECKED OUT BY 2 SERVICE CENTERS. SERVICE STATION SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THERE WERE MULTIPLE CRACKS IN EACH OF THE ROTORS. DEALER STATED IT WAS OKAY, BUT THERE WAS SOME FORM OF RUST. ALSO, SHOES HAD SCORED SEVERAL MARKS IN EACH ROTOR. DEALER SAID IT WAS SAFE TO RIDE ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

869395

Incident

Aug 24, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDDEN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST RELEASED ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 TIMES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND ONCE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

864608

Incident

Apr 10, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

724774

Incident

Apr 10, 2000

SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 1998 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WON'T DOWNSHIFT TO PASS, IT SLIPPED, AND SOMETIMES VEHICLE WOULD BARELY MOVE AFTER STOPPING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

864052

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE THROTTLE VALVES ARE RACING HIGH, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID

851762

Incident

Oct 25, 1999

THE CLUTCH CANNOT BE USED PROPERLY DUE TO DESIGN OF FLOOR MATS. MAKES THE GEARS TIGHT. ALSO, COVER TO FUEL TANK BROKE OFF WHEN OPENED. THE 1997 MICHELIN X TIRES ON FRONT OF VEHICLE BROKE OFF DUE TO ALL LUGS: NUTS SHEARING OFF TWICE. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

847387

Incident

Dec 2, 1998

THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO HYUNDAI DEALERS 4 TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. CAR HAS BEEN IN LITERALLY EVERY OTHER MONTH SINCE PURCHASE IN OCTOBER 1998. MAJOR PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER(S) AND TRANSMISSION. CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAVE BOTH GONE OFF. CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT AND WOULD HESITATE AT HIGHWAY AND SIDE STREET SPEEDS. CAR JUST RETURNED FROM DEALER YESTERDAY AFTER 4TH TIME IN FOR REPAIR. AT 65 MPH, THE RPMS SUDDENLY SHOT TO APPROX 5800. CAR HAS BEEN TERRIBLY UNRELIABLE. HOPEFULLY IT IS FIXED NOW, BUT I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I FEAR THAT IN ANOTHER 2 MONTHS THE PROBLEMS WILL OCCUR AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

708592

Incident

Jul 6, 1999

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITHIN THE ENGINE. DEALER KEEPS REPLACING ENGINE VALVES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

841655

Incident

Nov 4, 1998

3 WEEKS AFTER CAR WAS BOUGHT, BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. STARTING FIRST OF FEB. CAR WOULD TEMPORARILY STALL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON, CAR WOULD DROP TO 500 RPM'S, THEN RED LINE TO 5500 RPM'S.

NHTSA ID

708290

Incident

Jul 6, 1999

ENGINE KEEPS MISFIRING. YH

NHTSA ID

782361

Incident

Nov 27, 1998

THE FUEL VENT VALVE FAILURE CAUSED THE GASOLINE TO POUR OUT AFTER FILLING THE TANK. YH

NHTSA ID

782058

THE FIRST PROBLEM HAPPENED THE FIRST WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE SEAL BROKE ON THE TIRE THEY SAID AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT WITHOUT MY ACKOWLEDGEMENT AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE BECAUSE THE INSIDE TUBE WAS RUINED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO GET DIFFERENT TIRES RESEALED BECAUSE THE SEAL BREAKS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY FEEL ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE RIM. ON 12/31/98 I HAD TO GET ONE RESEALED AGAIN AND SINCE THEN THE TIRE STILL LOOKS LOW AND I HAVE TO PUT AIR IN IT ONCE A WEEK.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID

702546

Incident

May 1, 1998

CONSUMER WAS TURNING FROM THE HIGHWAY INTO AN EXIT, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SPINNED OUT OUT OF CONTROL AND LANDED ON THE GRASS AREA. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT CONSUMER'S EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

831107

Incident

Nov 17, 1998

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

NHTSA ID

700711

Incident

Sep 29, 1998