Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Hyundai Tiburon. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
AI Assistant
Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Hyundai Tiburon,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1997–2008 with 27 recall campaigns and 1057 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 2003 (9), 2002 (4), and 1997 (4).
Years with the most complaint volume: 2003 (429), 2004 (108), and 2006 (81).
Top recall themes: Fuel and emissions, Brakes, and Seats and restraints.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Power train:clutch assembly, Air bags, Power train:manual transmission.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Fuel and emissions
4 campaigns · Years: 1997, 2002–2003
These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Hyundai Tiburon in NHTSA complaint data are
Power train:clutch assembly, Air bags, Power train:manual transmission.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
2008
1
28
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Seat belts, Electronic stability control (esc).
2007
1
49
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train, Air bags, Power train:manual transmission.
2006
1
81
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:manual transmission, Power train, Power train:clutch assembly.
2005
1
58
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:clutch assembly, Power train:manual transmission, Air bags.
2004
0
108
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:clutch assembly, Power train:manual transmission, Air bags.
2003
9
429
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:clutch assembly, Air bags, Power train:manual transmission.
2002
4
3
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, Tires.
2001
1
69
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Power train:automatic transmission, Equipment.
2000
1
76
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting:headlights, Air bags:frontal, Seat belts:front:retractor.
1999
3
50
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Vehicle speed control, Electrical system.
1998
1
46
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags, Electrical system.
1997
4
60
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Air bags, Power train:automatic transmission.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Seat belts
, Fuel system
and Service brakes
Show recall evidence by year
2008
Exterior lighting: Switch:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 Tibu
2007
Exterior lighting: Switch:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 Tibu
2006
Exterior lighting: Switch:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 Tibu
2005
Steering: Tie rod assembly:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with threaded portions of the steering gearbox assembly's left and right inner ball joint assemblies that contain internal cracks in the material structure.
2003
Unknown or other:
Safety recall involving the unknown or other area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the rear brake tubes pass behind the front suspension crossmember. Two steering gearbox mounting brackets are welded to the crossmember. On vehicles equipped with an antilock brake system (abs), the rear brake tubes could contact both steering gearbox mounting brack
Seat belts: Buckle assembly:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain sport utility vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism. Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (srs) air bag wiring la
Air bags: Frontal:
Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain sport utility vehicles, the front passenger air bag is mounted beneath the right portion of the instrument panel's padded surface. Tear lines are formed into the underside of the instrument panel's padded surface during the production process of the instrument panel top pad. These tear
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.
Fuel system, gasoline: Storage:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "Fuel system integrity" a valve on the fuel tank assembly may not close properly. If a vehicle rolls over and the fuel tank assembly valve is not properly closed, fuel spillage may oc
Suspension: Control arm:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Hyundai is recalling 160,904 my 2001-2003 elantra and my 2003 tiburon vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, penn
2002
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the rear brake tubes pass behind the front suspension crossmember. Two steering gearbox mounting brackets are welded to the crossmember. On vehicles equipped with an antilock brake system (abs), the rear brake tubes could contact both steering gearbox mounting brack
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.
Fuel system, gasoline: Storage:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "Fuel system integrity" a valve on the fuel tank assembly may not close properly. If a vehicle rolls over and the fuel tank assembly valve is not properly closed, fuel spillage may oc
2001
Seat belts: Webbing:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend and retract smoothly through the d-ring guides mounted on the body pillars aft of the doors. If the seat belts do not extend and retract smoothly, they may twist in the d-ring guides and make it inco
2000
Seat belts: Webbing:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend and retract smoothly through the d-ring guides mounted on the body pillars aft of the doors. If the seat belts do not extend and retract smoothly, they may twist in the d-ring guides and make it inco
1999
Seat belts: Webbing:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend and retract smoothly through the d-ring guides mounted on the body pillars aft of the doors. If the seat belts do not extend and retract smoothly, they may twist in the d-ring guides and make it inco
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The automatic transmission pressure control solenoid valve seals do not remain sufficiently elastic, resulting in transmission fluid leakage. This leakage can result in reduced pressure application to the clutches, bra
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The tire pressure placard required by fmvss no. 110, "Tire selection and rims," was misprinted. It incorrectly contains the tire sizes, seating capacity, and luggage capacity.
1998
Seat belts: Webbing:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend and retract smoothly through the d-ring guides mounted on the body pillars aft of the doors. If the seat belts do not extend and retract smoothly, they may twist in the d-ring guides and make it inco
1997
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface. The "c
Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface. The "c
Seat belts: Webbing:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend and retract smoothly through the d-ring guides mounted on the body pillars aft of the doors. If the seat belts do not extend and retract smoothly, they may twist in the d-ring guides and make it inco
Visibility: Motor:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
