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.
328
Latest Aug 29, 2022
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.
40
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 Oct 2, 2002
What this page shows
Our database holds 328 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 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 328 · page 1 of 14
Fuel system
Filed Aug 29, 2022
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, gasoline started spilling from the filler neck. The contact stated that the vehicle was refueling very slowly. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the fuel tank detached from the vehicle. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V369000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 04V178000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that the interior door handles had detached from the vehicle The ABS warning light was also illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer who replaced the fuel tank; however, the other repairs were not performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.
NHTSA ID
11481727
Incident
Jan 14, 2018
Mileage
147,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 19, 2020
Fire reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GOING TO TURN THE BATTERY OFF UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO THE DRIVER HAZARD LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED WINNER HYUNDAI (591 S DUPONT HWY, DOVER, DE 19901) WHERE THEY INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,641.
NHTSA ID
11318671
Incident
Sep 22, 2016
Mileage
196,641 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Dec 8, 2019
VAPOR PURGE CANISTER MALFUNCTION FRONT END FAILURE BAD GASKETS
NHTSA ID
11287744
Incident
Oct 16, 2018
Mileage
158,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Oct 28, 2019
Fire reported
I WAS DRIVING TO MY BROTHER PLACE WHEN A WIRE STARTED TO SMOKE AND COUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS SMOKEY WHERE I COULD NOT SEE FROM THE SMOKE AND I HIT A PARKED CAR FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT EXPOSED AT ALL. IT WAS ON A CITY STREET NO ONE GOT HURT JUST THE CAR
NHTSA ID
11271576
Incident
Feb 28, 2019
Mileage
135,125 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 4, 2019
IN MOTION ON CITY STREET
NHTSA ID
11266437
Incident
Oct 4, 2019
Airbags
Filed May 9, 2019
THE AIRBAG IN MY CAR IS ON PERMANENTLY. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. IT IS CAUSED BY A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE UNDER THE SEAT.I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I REPLACED THE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND WITHIN A MONTH THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON.
NHTSA ID
11206498
Incident
May 4, 2015
Mileage
30,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 18, 2017
BAD BODY CONTROL MODULE. TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHERS DON'T WORK. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL NO TURN SIGNALS OR FLASHERS. IT'S A RELAY BAD IN THE BCM.
NHTSA ID
11034389
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jun 28, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE FOLSOM LAKE AND ROSEVILLE HYUNDAI DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9607148. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
NHTSA ID
11001987
Incident
Apr 10, 2013
Mileage
84,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 16, 2016
Crash reported
WHEN PUMPING GAS THE PUMP CONSTANTLY CLICKS OFF AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO PUT THE GAS IN. VERY STRONG RAW WET GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUT SIDE OF THE CAR . FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS ON CLEANING CHARCOAL CANISTER THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS THERE AND THE GAS PROBLEMS CONTINUE. THE SMELL IS NOTICED AFTER DRIVING AND DURING IDLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10935928
Incident
Nov 8, 2015
Mileage
168,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 8, 2016
CROSSMEMBER OR CRADLE BADLY CORRODED
NHTSA ID
10925027
Incident
Nov 8, 2016
Mileage
111,752 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 10, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V290000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 03V321000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
NHTSA ID
10894775
Incident
Aug 9, 2016
Mileage
109,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Aug 5, 2016
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING ROUTING WAS AN ISSUE WITH AIR BAG LIGHT NUMBER- 03-01-002 AND WAS RECALLED IN 2003. THE SAME ISSUE HAS ARISEN WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRE ROUTING. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS NOW ENABLED THE AIR BAG LIGHT, WHICH DISABLES THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING - EVEN IF THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE OR NO WEIGHT ON THE SEAT.
NHTSA ID
10893441
Incident
May 15, 2015
Suspension
Filed Mar 18, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V125000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE DEALER COATED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH WAX. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REMEDY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,356.
NHTSA ID
10850396
Incident
Mar 15, 2016
Mileage
194,356 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Feb 10, 2016
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON DOOR HANDLES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CONSTANTLY BREAK OFF EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY FACTORY PARTS LEAVING OCCUPANTS TRAPPED IN CAR ALSO REPLACED CAMSHAFT CONTOLLER CAUSE WIRING IS MELTING. CONTACTED BRANDON HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE DEPT THEY TOLD ME HANDLES HAD BEEN ALREADY REPLACED BEFORE AND REFUSED TO REPAIR ALSO THEY LIED AND TOLD ME THERE WERE NO FURTHER RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE BUT WHEN I GOOGLED THERE ARE ACTUALLY AROUND 10 RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND HYUNDAI REFUSES TO FIX OR EVEN ADMIT THERE IS A RECALL..MY CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACING ALSO.
NHTSA ID
10825518
Incident
Sep 2, 2015
Mileage
170,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 7, 2015
TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT AND WIRING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER CHECKING THE RECALL INFORMATION, THERE WAS A RECALL (056) UNDER CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V290000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND SPOKE WITH THEIR REP AND SHE SAID THE SAME EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDES 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURONS. THIS FIX WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $400.00 JUST TO PASS INSPECTION. MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT WAS DONE ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER MARCH 2003 THAT WAS CLAIMED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, CONSIDERING SO MANY TIBURONS THAT WERE PRODUCED AFTER THIS DATE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I CURRENTLY OWN 3 HYUNDAIS, VERY DISAPPOINTED AS THIS CAR HAS ONLY 79961 MILES. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN
NHTSA ID
10746991
Incident
Jul 31, 2015
Mileage
79,961 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10730312
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 4, 2015
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY AUTOMATICD TRUNK RELEASE NOT WORK AS WELL AS MY DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING. MY CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS 12 YEARS OLD, HOWEVER IT ONLY HAS 64,000. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER TIBURON OWNERS WHO HAVE AND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I SEE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS WE HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL SALVAGE PLACES TO LOOK FOR A MOTOR AND THE TIBURONS WHICH WERE ON PROPERTY ALL HAD THE WINDOW MOTORS SOLD ALREADY. THIS MADE ME WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE POWER WINDOW ISSUE. ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY ISSUES. *TR
NHTSA ID
10714508
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
58,000 mi
Filed Mar 27, 2015
JUST TOOK 03 TIBURON TO HYUNDAI FOR RECALL SAID FRAME IS ROTTING AWAY NEVER SEEN FRAME ROT LIKE THIS IS THERE ANY RECALLS FOR FRAME RUST OR IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO, HYUNDAI SAID UNFIXABLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10702114
Incident
Mar 27, 2015
Mileage
87,923 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 21, 2015
BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS SOME TIMES WORK. I HAVE TO PULL ON THEM TO GO UP MOST OF THE TIME AND THEY GET STUCK ROLLED ALL THE WAY UP SOME TIMES. ALSO THE REAR WIPER BLADE MOTOR DOES NOT WORK AND THE WASHER FLUID MOTOR DOSE NOT WORK. *TR
NHTSA ID
10700885
Incident
Jul 16, 2014
Mileage
115,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 28, 2015
FIRST INCIDENT: BLOWER MOTOR FOR HEAT QUIT WORKING. FOUND CONNECTOR (CLIMATE CONTROL SIDE) HAD MELTED REPLACED WITH USED CLIMATE CONTROL. NOVEMBER 2010. BLOWER MOTOR HAD QUIT WORKING AGAIN FOUND SAME CONNECTOR AS WELL AS BODY HARNESS SIDE CONNECTOR HAD MELTED. REPLACED WITH USED HARNESS AND CLIMATE CONTROL. NOVEMBER 2010 TO DECEMBER 2014 VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STAY ON WHEN LIGHTS WERE SHUT OFF. JANUARY 26 2015 WHILE DRIVING DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, TAIL LIGHTS, WINDOWS, TURN SIGNALS. INTERMITTENTLY TURNING OFF AND ON. FOUND CLIMATE CONTROL HARNESS SIDE MELTED AGAIN, ALSO BODY CONTROL MODULE AND POWER WIRE TO HAVE MELTED. AFTER SEARCHING THESE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MELTING APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HIGH MILEAGE AND IS OLDER THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO STRETCH BACK TO WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE NEW, EARLIEST OCCASION I FOUND WAS 2005. *TR
NHTSA ID
10679617
Incident
Jan 7, 2009
Mileage
105,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Dec 16, 2014
Crash reported2 injuries reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED INTO ANOTHER LANE TO AVOID A CRASH BUT WAS UNABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES, A FRACTURED NOSE, A FRACTURED RIGHT FOOT, A TORN LIGAMENT IN THE RIGHT FOOT, AND BRUISES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CUT ON THE LIP THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ID
10664621
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Sep 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL, THE PUMP WOULD CLICK OFF EARLY AS IF THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT BOTH DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ID
10638178
Incident
Mar 12, 2014
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 27, 2014
AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SWITCH HOUSING MELTED, CAUSING CLIMATE CONTROL TO BE NON FUNCTIONAL. THERE HAVE BEEN APPROXIMATELY 4 REPLACEMENTS OF SWITCH DUE TO SAME FAILURE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ID
10628754
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 2, 2014
NOTICED AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON IN MY SON'S CAR WHEN I DROVE OVER THE WEEKEND. LOOKED ONLINE FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2003-2008 TIBRUONS IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG/DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE SAFETY ISSUE. CALLED HYUNDAI 1-800 TO NO AVAIL TOOK TO COLUMBIA HYUNDAI DEALER TODAY. THEY STATED WAS DRIVER SIDE BELT BUCKLE WHICH WAS MAKING AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON AND WANTED $397 TO REPAIR. I TOLD THEM IS SAFETY ISSUE ALREADY $14 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST HYUNDAI FOR SAME THING THEY TOLD ME TO COME GET CAR. CALLED BACK HYUNDAI SERVICE JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. THEY REFUSED ANY HELP. *TR
NHTSA ID
10607812
Incident
Jun 28, 2013
Mileage
51,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM COULD MALFUNCTION IF A CRASH OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V321000(AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
NHTSA ID
10588547
Incident
May 8, 2014
Mileage
23,000 mi
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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