Hyundai Tiburon Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Hyundai Tiburon model year (1997–2008) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Hyundai Tiburon Years to Avoid
8 recalls · 198 complaints
7 reported injuries
1 reported death
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
Problem score: 241
1 recall · 52 complaints
11 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 77
1 recall · 47 complaints
10 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Problem score: 70
Best Hyundai Tiburon Years to Buy
3 recalls · 1 complaint
Main area: TIRES
Problem score: 10
1 recall · 17 complaints
Main area: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 20
0 recalls · 22 complaints
Main area: POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
Problem score: 28
Found the right year? Verify that specific Tiburon with a free VIN report.
Hyundai Tiburon — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | 17 | — | — | 20 | Excellent |
| 2007 | 1 | 23 | 3 | — | 32 | Good |
| 2006 | 1 | 52 | 11 | — | 77 | Good |
| 2005 | 0 | 22 | 3 | — | 28 | Good |
| 2004 | 0 | 60 | 2 | 1 | 69 | Good |
| 2003 | 8 | 198 | 7 | 1 | 241 | Avoid |
| 2002 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 10 | Excellent |
| 2001 | 1 | 47 | 10 | — | 70 | Good |
| 2000 | 1 | 39 | 9 | — | 60 | Good |
| 1999 | 2 | 26 | 3 | — | 38 | Good |
| 1998 | 1 | 28 | 1 | — | 33 | Good |
| 1997 | 2 | 30 | 2 | — | 40 | Good |
All 12 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Hyundai Tiburon Shopping Guide by Era
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Tiburon models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Tiburon should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon if possible. It has 8 recalls, 198 owner complaints, and 1 reported death. The overall problem score is 241 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Tiburon to buy?+
The 2002 Hyundai Tiburon is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 10. It has only 3 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.
Which Tiburon has the fewest problems?+
The 2002, 2008, 2005 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Hyundai Tiburon Research
Check a Specific Hyundai Tiburon VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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