RoadVitals

2003 Hyundai Tiburon Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jan 13, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 328 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 13, 2014

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND AFTER A RIGHT HAND TURN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STAYED ILLUMINATED BOTH FRONT AND REAR. AFTER I PARKED THE CAR AT DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REMOVED THE KEY THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT STAYED ON.I CHANGED THE BULBS AND THE FUSE WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER LOOKING UP ON THE INTERNET FOR KNOWN TIBURON ISSUES, I FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE IDENTICAL ISSUE FOR THE 2003 TIBURON. THE PROBLEM IS A RELAY IN THE BCM AND COINCIDENTALLY THE ISSUE HAPPENS AT AROUND 65- 80000 MILES. THE COST OF THE BCM IS APPROXIMATELY $400 WITHOUT LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10559713
Incident
Dec 19, 2013
Mileage
73,526 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 4, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10550874
Incident
Oct 30, 2013
Mileage
83,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 31, 2012
Fire reported

I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A FOOTBALL GAME, UPON RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE AFTER THE GAME THE LOW BEAMS WERE NOT COMING ON. I DROVE HOME WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC. HE IMMEDIATELY REMOVED MY BCM (BODY CONTROL MODULE). HE SHOWED ME THE UNIT AND IT HAD MELTED APPROXIMATELY 1/8 OF THE PANEL. HE TOLD ME HAD HE HAVE LEFT IT IN THE CAR A FIRE WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE STARTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10468382
Incident
Sep 23, 2010
Mileage
61,857 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 23, 2012

WE JUST BOUGHT OUR SON HIS FIRST CAR. WE FOUND THE 2003 TIBURON LOCALLY, SO WE CHECKED IT OUT. EVERYTHING WORKED AS EXPECTED AND DROVE VERY NICE. AFTER ABOUT 3 MONTHS, THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING!! NO FUSE TO CHANGE, BUT WERE TOLD IT WAS A FAILED BCM MODULE. AS I WAS LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER, I FOUND THE REPAIR COST TO BE CLOSE TO $1,000!! I AM OUTRAGED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND A TRUE HAZARD TO THE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, PEDESTRIANS, AND ALL OTHERS WHO SHARE OUR ROADWAYS. *TT

NHTSA ID
10462855
Incident
Jan 3, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 29, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND ENGAGED THE TURN SIGNAL IN ORDER TO MAKE A TURN. AFTER THE TURN WAS COMPLETED, THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE BCM MODULE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT NO LONGER FELT SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO NOT HAVING TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD LIGHTS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,987 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,908. UPDATED 04/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO TO DOWN. BOTH FRONT AND REAR LIGHTS STAYED ON , EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. UPDATED 04/23/12

NHTSA ID
10449720
Incident
Feb 13, 2012
Mileage
58,987 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2011

I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN UPON COMPLETION THE BLINKER STOPS BLINKING, BUT THE LIGHT STAYS ON. SOMETIMES BY TURNING ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL 2 OR 3 TIMES IT GOES OFF...AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES IT COMES ON ALL BY ITSELF JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF. I HAVE EVEN UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLE TO KEEP FROM DRAINING THE BATTERY. TOOK CAR TO THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSIS DONE. THEY TOLD ME THE BCM IS SHOT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR 703.56 PLUS 120.00 FOR LABOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS TOO. I HAVE A QUESTIONS TO ASK....IF SO MANY OF US TIBURON OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THEN WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR US...OH YEAH 703.56 PART + 120.00 LABOR = NO RECALL FOR US. HELLO NHTSA OR HYUNDAI CAN YOU SAY RECALL!!!!!! DO PEOPLE HAVE TO GET INJURED OR KILLED, OR OUR VEHICLES TOTALED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. WE HAVE ALREADY PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE VEHICLE; WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. I DEMAND A RECALL FOR OUR SAFETY. BY THE WAY, OTHER THAN THIS BCM ISSUE....I LOVE MY TIBBY. PLEASE LOOK INTO HAVING THIS BCM RECALLED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10428169
Incident
Sep 30, 2011
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Sep 7, 2011

UPON USING THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT, THE SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD PAUSE AND SEEM TO "STICK" IN THE ON POSITION INSIDE OF THE CAR. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT EVEN WITH THE CAR OFF THE TURNING SIGNAL AND THE SIGNAL LIGHTS REMAIN ON. UPON RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE SIGNAL RELAY IS LOCATED INTERNALLY WITHIN THE BCM, REQUIRING A NEW BCM ALTOGETHER TO FIX THE STUCK SIGNAL. I SUSPECT FROM READING INTO THIS VEHICLE THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS THIS SIGNAL PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A TREND AND JUST A MATTER OF TIME AS TO WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424088
Incident
Sep 5, 2011
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Apr 19, 2011

THE RIGHT HAND TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2003 HYUNDAI TUBIRON TURNS ON BY ITS SELF AND IT CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF. I HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH CARS THAT THOUGHT I WAS TURNING AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I REPORTED THIS TO HYUNDAI CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE THE FUSE AND NOW I DO NOT HAVE ANY TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD FLASHERS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10396803
Incident
Nov 12, 2010
Mileage
96,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 4, 2011

2003, TIBURON, DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WON'T ROLL DOWN, PASSENGERS SIDE REALLY SLOW, DIGITAL RADIO CAN'T READ NUMBER OR LETTERS. HAVE CHANGED HEAD LIGHTS NUMEROUS TIME SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2003. PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF OPERATION (OPENING-CLOSING) GLAZE ON PAINT PEELING ON SIDE VIEW MIRRORS AS WELL AS SPOILER. ANY SOLUTIONS FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID
10375628
Incident
Nov 1, 2009
Mileage
47,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 25, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE HEADLIGHTS WAS HAZED OVER WHICH PREVENTS THEM FROM SHINING BRIGHT. THE TURN SIGNALS HAVE ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND STATED THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST OF $1,000 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPUTER FOR THE TURN SIGNALS. THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10302239
Incident
Jan 5, 2010
Mileage
156,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 2, 2008

EVER SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL HAS STAYED ON, EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, AND THE KEY IS REMOVED. IT NEVER TURNS OFF. I'VE DONE RESEARCH, AND IT IS A FAULTY "BODY CONTROL MODULE", AND EVERYWHERE I TURN, PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. THE PART IS ANYWHERE ABOVE $600.00 TO REPLACE, AND SHOULDN'T JUST GO FAULTY ON THOUSANDS OF CARS, IT IS AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223101
Incident
Apr 2, 2008
Mileage
72,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 18, 2007

ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING A USED 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AND PULLED THE TURN SIGNAL ON. AFTER EXITING THE TURN, TURN SIGNAL STAYED ON . FLASHER RELAY ATTACHED TO BCM FUSED NOT ALLOWING THE BULBS TO TURN OFF EVEN AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. ONLY TEMPORARY FIX FOR PROBLEM IS TO REMOVE FUSE FROM CIRCUIT, IN-TURN DISABLING BOTH TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS. PERMANENT FIX IS TO REPLACE BCM, FUSE PANEL, AND MAIN POWER JUNCTION ON VEHICLE, THIS COSTS NEAR $1000 TO REPAIR AND FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THAT AMOUNT ARE LEFT DRIVING WITHOUT TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD LIGHTS CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THEMSELVES AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD AROUND THEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT INFORM OTHER DRIVERS OF LANE CHANGES OR TURNS. THIS MAY RESULT IN ACCIDENTS, TICKETS, OR FAILED SAFETY INSPECTIONS. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THE REPRESENTATIVE I TALKED TO KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY POST ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND NONE HAVE HAD SOLID SOLUTIONS WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING THE COMPUTER AND REPLACING THE RELAY THAT IS SODERED TO THE MAIN COMPUTER BOARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10206256
Incident
Oct 15, 2007
Mileage
72,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesInterior & seats+3 more
Filed Aug 30, 2007

CLUTCH FAILED AT 44,000 MILES AFTER BUYING CAR USED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT FIX , STATED IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. COST $1500 TO FIX. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON, PAST 65,000 SO SERVICE DEPARTMENT WONT FIX IT UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. HATCH BACK LATCH WONT WORK, $200 TO FIX THAT. HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT EVERY OTHER MONTH. BROUGHT CAR TO SERVICE CENTER BECAUSE OF A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF CAR. SAID THEY COULDNT HEAR ANYTHING. 2000 MILES OVER MY WARRENTEE BROUGHT CAR BACK BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING WORSE, SAID IT WAS FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND WOULD COST $1000 TO FIX. DURING COLD WEATHER EMERGENCY BRAKE STICKS TOOK IT IN AND THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, GO FIGURE. SEATS WONT LATCH SOMETIMES AFTER LETTING SOMEONE OUT FROM THE BACK. IS THERE A END TO THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE WITH THIS HYUNDAI.

NHTSA ID
10201189
Incident
Aug 29, 2007
Mileage
44,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 8, 2006

REPETITIVE PROBLEM WITH HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATING WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE UTILIZED. APPEARS TO BE A SHORT IN THE SWITCH. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167631
Incident
Jun 15, 2005

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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