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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Hyundai Tiburon1997–2008

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏎️ SPORTS
Hyundai Tiburon
1997–2008
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
12
Recalls
0
Complaints
2002
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2003
12
Years Analyzed
12
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Hyundai Tiburon

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK20yr old
2006
Acceptable · 51/100
Reliability57/100
Value window39/100
Recalls1
Complaints0
#2 PICK19yr old
2007
Acceptable · 51/100
Reliability57/100
Value window39/100
Recalls1
Complaints0
#3 PICK18yr old
2008
Acceptable · 51/100
Reliability57/100
Value window39/100
Recalls1
Complaints0

Hyundai Tiburon Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2003

5 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2002

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2005

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Hyundai Tiburon — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
200810——
57
39
51
Good
200710——
57
39
51
Good
200610——
57
39
51
Good
200510——
57
39
51
Good
200400——
82
39
67
Excellent
200350——
57
39
51
Avoid
200230——
57
39
51
Caution
200100——
82
39
67
Excellent
200000——
82
39
67
Excellent
199900——
82
39
67
Excellent
199800——
82
39
67
Excellent
199700——
82
39
67
Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Tiburon compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Tiburon models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1997 · 671998 · 671999 · 672000 · 672001 · 672004 · 672002 · 512003 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Tiburon to buy?+

The 2006 Hyundai Tiburon scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Tiburon years have the most problems?+

The 2003, 2002, 2005 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2003 Tiburon leads with 5 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Tiburon problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Hyundai Tiburon.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar sports vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Tiburon year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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