RoadVitals

2008 Hyundai Tiburon Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
19
Latest Oct 15, 2025
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
11
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags1038.5%
  • Seat belts415.4%
  • Driver assistance27.7%
  • Brakes27.7%
  • Transmission27.7%
  • Tires & wheels13.8%
  • Visibility13.8%
  • Electrical13.8%
  • Interior & seats13.8%
  • Exterior lighting13.8%
  • Steering13.8%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

air bags deployed for no reason while driving.

NHTSA ID 11693583 · filed Oct 15, 2025

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP ITS ALSO HAD AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID 11375725 · filed Nov 21, 2020
All 10 reports naming airbags

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. ERROR CODE LEADS TO PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT ISSUE. DEALER JUST RESET COMPUTER AND LIGHT CAME BACK ON. KNOWN CAMPAIGN #094 ON THIS BUT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VIN. UNKNOWN IF AIRBAG WILL ACTUALLY DEPLOY IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. LIGHT IS ON AND DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $350 FOR THE PART ALONE (SEAT BELT LATCH)

NHTSA ID 11207617 · filed May 14, 2019

STARTED NOTICING THE ISSUE IN MID MAY 2016. I DON'T USUALLY MOVE MY SEAT FROM THE ORIGINAL POSITION OF COMFORT BUT DRIVER SEAT HAS SHIFTED INADVERTENTLY SLIDING FORWARD OR BACK WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING (15 - 50MPH). ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT ON OCCASION UNBUCKLED WHILE MOVING SOMETIMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEAT MOVEMENT, OTHER TIMES ALONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LATELY AND I HAVE TAKEN MORE CARE TO HEAR THE CLICK & TUG ON BELT BUT THIS SOMETIMES DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE (UP TO 75MPH), A SHIFTING OF WEIGHT IN SEAT, OR LOOKING OVER SHOULDER FOR TRAFFIC WHILE CHANGING LANES CAN PULL CLIP OUT OF CLASP.

NHTSA ID 10909536 · filed Sep 25, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS (NONE MY FAULT). THE IMPACT WAS OF ENOUGH SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE FIRST COLLISION INVOLVED A DEER THAT WAS BEING CHASED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND IT HIT MY CAR SO HARD, THE DEER EXPLODED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD THE CRASH WAS EQUIVALENT TO 80 MPH HEAD ON. ALSO, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IT CONTINUALLY REVVS ITSELF AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT STOP WHILE ITS REVVING LIKE THIS. I HAVE TO THROW IT IN NEUTRAL, HIT THE GAS, THEN IT WILL STOP REVVING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS (AND VERY ANNOYING) IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WILL RANDOMLY SHUT ITSELF OFF AND QUITE FREQUENTLY. I DID NOT BUY THIS AS A USED CAR.

NHTSA ID 10726991 · filed Jun 23, 2015

I WANT TO REPORT THIS HYUNDAI DEALER(S): ALLEN SAMUELS HYUNDAI 7724 N.E. LOOP 820 NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180 (817) 276-7700 LOCATION WHERE I PURCHASE MY CAR AND TRIED TO HAVE WARRANTY SERVICE ON 08/14/10. THEY REFUSED WARRANTY SERVICE TO REPLACE A CATALYST AND AN O2SENSOR THAT CAUSED ME TO NOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION .I ALREADY PAID FOR AT A LICENSED KWIK KAR LOCATION IN DENTON TEXAS. THE CAR FLUNKED THE STATE INSPECTION THAT I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY AND SAY I NEED REPAIR. MY CAR HAS 14000 MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE RAN OVER 500 MILES ON MY CAR ON THE ADVISE OF [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER AT THE EKERT HYUNDAI IN DENTON WHERE I TOOK MY CAR ON WEDNESDAY. THEN, TODAY I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TALKED TO WITH [XXX] AND A WOMAN THERE AT ALLEN SAMUELS IN PERSON READY TO GET CAR FIXED. HE TOLD ME SAME THING THAT THE OTHER TOLD ME ABOUT RUNNING THE MILES ON IT. ALSO, HE SAID THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI THERE IS NO FIX ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD CAR THAT NEEDS WARRANTY WORK AND IS NOT PASSING TEXAS INSPECTION AND A HYUNDAI DEALERS SAY THAT THERE IS NO FIX. THEY WANT TO CHARGE 100.00 OR MORE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO SEE IF IT WILL FIX. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. WHAT ABOUT THE WARRANTY HE SAID TO DRIVE UP TO 1000 MILES AND IF THE O2 SENSOR WAS NOT FAILED HE AND YOUR COMPANY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR. I AM QUESTIONING THE WARRANTY ON MY CAR AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN DENIED A STATE INSPECTION STICKER AND CANNOT GET IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IS HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA P.O. BOX 20850 FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92728-0850 (800) 633-5151. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 10349447 · filed Aug 15, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the hydraulic clutch was depressed and ceased in the depressed position. The contact was able to switch lanes and pulled the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure persisted. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a complete clutch failure. The mechanic was able to repair the clutch except for the linkage. The failure persisted after the repair. After the clutch repair was performed, the steering and the brakes became inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ID 11427063 · filed Jul 29, 2021

THE SWITCH FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT GET STUCK LIKE THE ONE ON THATGOT RECALL ON THE 2007 HYUNDAI'S OR 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON IS NOT LIST IT ORA 2007 TIBURON. WHEN ISTHE SAME PROBLEMS THAT THE 2007 HAD THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON YOU HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES TO TURN IT OFF THEN IT WONT TURN ON AT ALL. WE CALL PART STORE AND WE ORDER THE PART AND IT TOOK A WEEK TO COME IN DURING THE TIME OF ALL THIS WE ALMOST GOT IN TO 8 AUTO CRASHER BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT SEETHE LIGHT COME ON OR THEY WERE ON WHEN WE WERE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10362069 · filed Oct 23, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the hydraulic clutch was depressed and ceased in the depressed position. The contact was able to switch lanes and pulled the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure persisted. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a complete clutch failure. The mechanic was able to repair the clutch except for the linkage. The failure persisted after the repair. After the clutch repair was performed, the steering and the brakes became inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ID 11427063 · filed Jul 29, 2021

POOR CLUTCH PERFORMANCE ON HYUNDAI TIBURON CLUTCH "WORN OUT" AFTER 25KMILES ACCORDING TO DEALER OWNER IS EXPERIENCED STANDARD DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10358535 · filed Sep 30, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ON 5/19/13 I PURCHASED 4 NEW GOOD YEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX TIRES. AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 5,000 MILES ON THE TIRES MY TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES, &WHEN I CHECKED THEM, ALL 4 HAD GONE LOW (BY 5-7LBS OF PRESSURE EACH TIME) . AFTER THE 3RD TIME OF THIS HAPPENING, IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, I DECIDED TO SEARCH ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIES. THE RESULTS WERE SCARY; I FOUND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF BLOGS & REVIEWS STATING THESE TIRES WERE SLOWLY LOOSING AIR, BUBBLING &/OR BURSTING. MOST STATED CRACKS WERE FOUND ON THE SIDEWALL INSIDE THE TIRE, CAUSING PRESSURE TO GO LOW. AFTER SEEING THESE RESULTS, I WENT OUTSIDE AND INSPECTED MY TIRES MORE CLOSELY, AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HAD A SMALL BUBBLE IN IT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT BACK TO GOOD YEAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BUBBLE WAS A ROAD HAZARD ISSUE CAUSE BY HITTING A POT HOLE (AND THIS WAS BEFORE ANYONE EVEN TOOK THE TIRE OFF TO INSPECT IT). I ASKED WHY ALL 4 TIRES HAVE BEEN SLOWLY LOOSING AIR, AND THEIR REPLY WAS "THAT IS ODD, THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN LIKE THAT." BASED ON MY FINDINGS FROM THE INTERNET, I ASKED THEM TO INSPECT THE INTERNAL SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES, JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO CRACKS THAT COULD BE CAUSING THE SLOW AIR LEAKS. I OPENED A FILE WITH GY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ASKED THE STORE TO INSPECT THE INSIDE OF ALL 4 TIRES, AND TO SEND THEM AN INSPECTION REPORT, BUT ALL THE TECH DID WAS SPRAY THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE TO CHECK FOR AIR BUBBLES/LEAKS (BUT DID NOT REMOVE THE TIRES TO CHECK THE INSIDE WALLS). THE TIRE WITH THE BUBBLE WAS REPLACED, BUT I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO KEEP THE TIRE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THE MANUFACTURER WOULD INSPECT IT, BUT THAT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS. I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE NUMBER OF REVIEWS/BLOGS ONLINE WITH THE SAME/SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES, SO I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO DOCUMENT MY EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. I'VE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2008 AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY OLD TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID 10551037 · filed Nov 5, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH A PHOTO TO THIS FORM FOR SOME REASON BUT DO HAVE THEM AND CAN EMAIL.... UPDATED 08/23/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID 10897331 · filed Aug 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I WANT TO REPORT THIS HYUNDAI DEALER(S): ALLEN SAMUELS HYUNDAI 7724 N.E. LOOP 820 NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX 76180 (817) 276-7700 LOCATION WHERE I PURCHASE MY CAR AND TRIED TO HAVE WARRANTY SERVICE ON 08/14/10. THEY REFUSED WARRANTY SERVICE TO REPLACE A CATALYST AND AN O2SENSOR THAT CAUSED ME TO NOT PASS A STATE INSPECTION .I ALREADY PAID FOR AT A LICENSED KWIK KAR LOCATION IN DENTON TEXAS. THE CAR FLUNKED THE STATE INSPECTION THAT I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REFUND MY MONEY AND SAY I NEED REPAIR. MY CAR HAS 14000 MILES ON IT NOW. I HAVE RAN OVER 500 MILES ON MY CAR ON THE ADVISE OF [XXX], SERVICE MANAGER AT THE EKERT HYUNDAI IN DENTON WHERE I TOOK MY CAR ON WEDNESDAY. THEN, TODAY I WENT TO THE DEALER AND TALKED TO WITH [XXX] AND A WOMAN THERE AT ALLEN SAMUELS IN PERSON READY TO GET CAR FIXED. HE TOLD ME SAME THING THAT THE OTHER TOLD ME ABOUT RUNNING THE MILES ON IT. ALSO, HE SAID THAT HE HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER HYUNDAI THERE IS NO FIX ON THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD CAR THAT NEEDS WARRANTY WORK AND IS NOT PASSING TEXAS INSPECTION AND A HYUNDAI DEALERS SAY THAT THERE IS NO FIX. THEY WANT TO CHARGE 100.00 OR MORE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO SEE IF IT WILL FIX. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE. WHAT ABOUT THE WARRANTY HE SAID TO DRIVE UP TO 1000 MILES AND IF THE O2 SENSOR WAS NOT FAILED HE AND YOUR COMPANY HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO REPAIR. I AM QUESTIONING THE WARRANTY ON MY CAR AND THE FACT THAT I HAVE BEEN DENIED A STATE INSPECTION STICKER AND CANNOT GET IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS IS HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA P.O. BOX 20850 FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92728-0850 (800) 633-5151. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 10349447 · filed Aug 15, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

STARTED NOTICING THE ISSUE IN MID MAY 2016. I DON'T USUALLY MOVE MY SEAT FROM THE ORIGINAL POSITION OF COMFORT BUT DRIVER SEAT HAS SHIFTED INADVERTENTLY SLIDING FORWARD OR BACK WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING (15 - 50MPH). ALONG WITH THE SEAT BELT ON OCCASION UNBUCKLED WHILE MOVING SOMETIMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH SEAT MOVEMENT, OTHER TIMES ALONE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES LATELY AND I HAVE TAKEN MORE CARE TO HEAR THE CLICK & TUG ON BELT BUT THIS SOMETIMES DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE (UP TO 75MPH), A SHIFTING OF WEIGHT IN SEAT, OR LOOKING OVER SHOULDER FOR TRAFFIC WHILE CHANGING LANES CAN PULL CLIP OUT OF CLASP.

NHTSA ID 10909536 · filed Sep 25, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MOISTURE IS CONDENSING ON THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE HEADLAMP AND TAIL LAMP HOUSINGS. THIS OCCURRED WITHIN A DAY OF TAKING DELIVERY OF THE (BRAND NEW) VEHICLE. CONTACTED LOCAL HYUNDAI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS. THEY HAVE NOTED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER LIKE MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES. HYUNDAI DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGERS ARE ALSO AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT, SO FAR, HYUNDAI MOTOR CO. HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE. NOT ONLY IS CONDENSED MOISTURE ON THE INSIDE OF LAMP HOUSINGS UNSIGHTLY, I WOULD THINK MOISTURE INSIDE THE HOUSINGS COULD CAUSE LONG TERM HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT RELIABILITY/SAFETY PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10265588 · filed Apr 16, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the hydraulic clutch was depressed and ceased in the depressed position. The contact was able to switch lanes and pulled the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure persisted. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a complete clutch failure. The mechanic was able to repair the clutch except for the linkage. The failure persisted after the repair. After the clutch repair was performed, the steering and the brakes became inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.

NHTSA ID 11427063 · filed Jul 29, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .