RoadVitals

2006 Hyundai Tiburon

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
64
Latest Jul 12, 2022
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 1, 2013
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
6
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 64 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon, most frequently naming the transmission, powertrain (other) and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 32 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Apr 1, 2013
1,712,336 units potentially affected
The defect: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
The risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
Hyundai Motor CompanyManufacturer number 110View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 12, 2022

My clutch is slipping already. Ive owned the car for six months and the previous owner repaced the cluch, and he o ly owned the car for 10 months. My previous standard transmission car went through 1 clutvh in the 15 years i owned it. Something must be defective. I do not know what the situation will be when it goes out all the way , i just really hope it does not hurt anyone. Becaus e of circumstancesthe damage to me and my life is quite great. And god please dont let it physically hurt me on top of the fact i vary well may go to prison for something i absolutlly did not do.i worked out of state and without my car i will not make it to court. Since i lost my job because of this incident i did not do, i cannot fix the car before it goes all the way out. Once again please god let no one get huet by my car, please please please

NHTSA ID
11473624
Incident
Jul 10, 2022
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 23, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-65 MPH, THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT-OFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER SUDDENLY CHANGED BY INCREASING AND DECREASING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE FOG LIGHTS WERE TURNED-OFF, THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHENEVER THE HI-BEAM HEADLAMPS WERE ACTIVATED, THERE WAS STATIC IN THE RADIO. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR A DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.

NHTSA ID
11397512
Incident
Feb 21, 2021
Mileage
86,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 6, 2019

CLUTCH FAILS TO DISENGAGE. THIS IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GEAR(AS WHEN PARKED ON A HILL WITH THE REAR OF THE FRONT WHEELS TURNED TO CURB, AND AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO START VEHICLE BY PUSHING CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN AND ACTIVATING IGNITION, THE VEHICLE MAY START WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED, AND PROPEL THE VEHICLE INTO STREET AND INTO TH E LANE WHERE TRAFFIC IS APPROACHING FROM BEHIND, AND THEREFORE OUT OF SIGHT. OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ARE ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO START VEHICLE ARE MADE IN CROWDED PARKING LOTS WHERE PEDESTRIANS MIGHT BE WALKING BEHIND CAR, AND VEHICLE IS PROPELLED REARWARD. ADDITIONALLY, IF ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO STOP QUICKLY AS WHEN A CAR PU;LLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU AS IN AN INTERSECTION, THE CLUTCH MIGHT NOT DISENGAGE, AND THE INERTIAL POWER OF THE ENGINE MIGHT OVERPOWER THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE FORWARD UNTIL ENGINE POWER IS OVERCOME BY BRAKE POWER INCIDENT EACH OF THESE SITUATIONS HAS HAPPENED TO ME, BUT I HAVE MANAGED, SO FAR, TO AVOID THE SUGGESTED RESULTS.

NHTSA ID
11241956
Incident
Aug 6, 2019
Mileage
78,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 6, 2017

MY TIBURON WAS FINE A FEW DAYS AGO BUT RECENTLY STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY MODEL OF CLUTCH. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS NOT YET BEEN BROUGHT UP BY HYUNDAI FOR A FACTORY RECALL

NHTSA ID
10958787
Incident
Mar 5, 2017
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND CAME TO A STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ID
10943934
Incident
Jan 6, 2017
Mileage
126,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 16, 2015

GEARS BECAME HARD TO SHIFT THEN IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT REPLACED WIT NEW CLUTCH AND HAD TO REPLACE AGAIN AT 97000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676152
Incident
Sep 12, 2013
Mileage
67,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 27, 2014

I BOUGHT THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE REPAIR RECORDS AND THE CLUTCH HAD BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 12000 MILES AGO AND I CAN PUSH THE CLUTCH IN AND IT IS SLIPPING HORRIBLE, I CAN PUSH THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY DOWN AND IT WILL SLIP AND GRIND EVERY GEAR AS IF I'M TRYING TO SHIFT WITHOUT THE CLUTCH. I EVEN STOPPED DOWNSHIFTING BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR WITHOUT HORRIBLY GRINDING! I GET SO WORRIED ABOUT IT SOMETIMES, THAT I ALMOST WRECK TRYING TO KEEP MY CAR IN GEAR WITHOUT BREAKING THE TRANS, IT IS LIKE LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL CAR AGAIN AND I HAVE DRIVEN ONE FOR A LONG TIME NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628993
Incident
Aug 27, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 11, 2014

I'M FROM ARKANSAS CITY KANSAS. I WAS DRIVING IN WICHITA KS ON MY WAY BACK HOME. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55MPH. WHEN I ENGAGED MY CLUTCHED TO GO INTO THE NEXT GEAR NOTHING HAPPENED. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO GO INTO GEAR BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT IT INTO FIRST GEAR AND TRIED TO DRIVE. THE CAR MOVED NOWHERE. I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED SO I TOWED IT BACK HOME. I LOOKED ONLINE EVERYWHERE TO FIND NOTHING THAT RELATED TO MY PROBLEM. MY CAR STILL WONT MOVE AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609982
Incident
Jun 27, 2014
Mileage
98,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DTN DL

AIR BAGS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.

DTN DCS

AIR BAGS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.

25-BD-012H TSB

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.

24-BD-001H

VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY/WIPER

This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades.

23-EM-005H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.

23-BD-007H

STRUCTURE:BODY

Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Hyundai Tiburon by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008191048.3
2007421046.1
2006Viewing641041.9
2005431044.8
2004820040.1
20033289055.8
2002240
2001361045.0
2000581046.6
1999263052.7
1998261146.7
1997364156.8
1996000

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.