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2003 Hyundai Tiburon Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 328 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, most often about the transmission (50% of complaints, typically around 31,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Tiburon model year since 2000 and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2003 Hyundai Tiburon problems
Transmission
164 complaints · 50%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: clutch assembly, manual transmission, axle assembly, driveline.
Clutch and flywheel in my 03 Tiburon, v6 burned out after less than 30,000 miles and they won't cover it under warranty. Checked around and it's a manufacturing defect.
Clutch and flywheel failed on vehicle at 30,250 miles. Dealer claims repair costs ($2280) excluded from warranty as "wear item." warranty vaguely worded, yet additional documentation on ntsb website suggests this problem is widespread. Automobile currently at dealer. Vin # available upon request.
Air bags
71 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window, on-off switch assembly.
My Hyundai Tiburon 2003 is just over 60k miles and the airbag light is on. At the very beginning, it stays on longer than it should be. Several days later, the light is always on.
My air bag light has currently been on for almost a year now at first if I wiggled the seat belt latch it would go off but now it stays on. When I contact the dealership they say that my car is not affected by the seatbelt recall. They want to charge me all this money for something that should be covered by the recall.
Electrical
34 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 90,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, starter assembly, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
Air bag light came on on the dash of my 2003 Hyundai Tiburon because of a broken wire under the drivers seat. Hyundai has had recalls on other vehicles for the same problem with the wire getting broken under the driver seat. They have fixed the problem under a recall to include putting a plastic cover over the wires…
After the key remote quit working and was reset twice, the dealer said it was a bmc computer module that may be out and we were told this was a known problem with the 2003 Tiburon. Soon after the lock incident, my windshield washer pump quit as well as one headlight. Replaced the headlight and another headlight went…
Seat belts
23 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: front.
: the contact stated the driver seat belt and airbag lights illuminated. When the seat was repositioned, the seat belt light went out, but the airbag light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not included in recall #02v290000, regarding seatbelts:front:buckle assembly due to the VIN. The service dealer determined…
Tl contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. While driving at approximately 10 MPH, the seat belt light illuminated accompanied by the sound made when the seat belt was not locked in. The contact tried to stop the sound by wiggling the seat belt attachment. Once the ringing stopped, the air bag light illuminated and stayed…
Fuel system
15 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: storage, fuel injection system.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. After fueling the fuel tank, the vehicle exhibits a no-start condition. He has to apply pressure onto the accelerator pedal to start the vehicle. However he smelled gasoline inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic…
The car will not accept gasoline. Once 0.3 gallons enters the car the pump will shut off and you have to keep trying to get gas. There is an issue with the gas intake. It will continually shut off every few .3 gallons and makes it very complicated to get gas.
Lights
14 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: turn signal, headlights, hazard flashing warning lights.
Ever since I have purchased the car, the left turn signal has stayed on, even when the car is off, and the key is removed. It never turns off. I've done research, and it is a faulty "body control module", and everywhere I turn, people are having this problem. The part is anywhere above $600.00 to replace, and…
One week after purchasing a used 2003 Hyundai Tiburon I was preparing to make a right turn and pulled the turn signal on. After exiting the turn, turn signal stayed on . Flasher relay attached to BCM fused not allowing the bulbs to turn off even after turning the vehicle off. Only temporary fix for problem is to…
Visibility and wipers
13 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, sun/moon roof assembly, rear window wiper/washer, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact attempted to roll down the power windows while parked but the windows would not operate. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where she was not informed of the cause of failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure has since recurred approximately six…
The air bag warning light stays illuminated while driving. When this occurs the driver's side window is inoperative. Although the dealership has serviced the vehicle several times for this issue, the problem recurred.
Suspension
13 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Tl contact owned a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. While driving 45 MPH and making a right turn, he could feel a hard vibration and he could feel one of the rear wheels folding under the vehicle. The vehicle sprung front end forward into a ditch. The contact was transported by an ambulance to the nearest hospital. A police…
The lower control arm rusted and broke allowing the wheel to break lose and tilt in at the bottom. Had this happened at highway speeds the results likely would have been loss of control and crash. It's a defect Hyundai is aware of but failed to notify all owners. And Hyundai is shorting the recall to certain states…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Hyundai Tiburon recalls
Suspension: control arm
Risk: The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front lower control arms for corrosion damage. If specified levels of internal corrosion damage are found, the front lower control arms will be replaced with new front lower control arms incorporating additional holes in the upper and lower panels. If the front lower control arms do not require replacement, the dealer will add drainage holes to the front lower control arms and will treat the front lower control arms with rust-proofing materials to arrest the internal corrosion process. These procedures will be performed free of charge. The recall began on august 17, 20
Full defect 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, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Road salt used during the winter months in these jurisdictions may result in internal corrosion and thinning of the steel in the front lower control arms. The corrosion may progress to the point where the lower control arm's upper and lower panels become perforated. A perforated front lower control arm may fracture between its ball joint attachment and the forward and rearward pivot attachments to the chassis.
Fuel system: storage
Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. The recall began on october 5, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai de puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.
Full defect 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 occur.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began on june 30, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect 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.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering gearbox mounting brackets may result in rear brake tube wear and corrosion, increasing the risk of brake fluid leakage. Brake fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes, install brake tube clips, and apply anti-corrosion material to the rear brake tubes. Owner notification began january 22, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag may not deploy properly, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.
Fix: Hyundai will replace the instrument panel. Owner notification began on october 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai of america at 1-800-633-5151, or if the vehicle is located in puerto rico, hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.
Full defect 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 lines allow a portion of the instrument panel surface to fold upward if the passenger air bag deploys.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: Nondeployment of an SRS air bag in a crash where air bag deployment is warranted could increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new driver seat belt buckle, if necessary, and will place a protective cover over the driver seat belt buckle wiring to prevent damage from occurring. Owner notification began september 23, 2003. Owners should contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-899-981-0188.
Full defect 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 lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes so they do not contact the mounting brackets, install brake tube clips to control the location of the rear brake tubes, and apply anti-corrosion material to the tubes in the areas where contact with the mounting brackets may have occurred. Owner notification began on october 13, 2003. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect 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 brackets. On vehicles that are not equipped with ABS, the rear brake tubes may contact only the left mounting bracket. Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering brackets could cause wear and corrosion that could result in brake fluid leakage.
Seat belts: buckle assembly
Risk: Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Nondeployment of an SRS air bag in a crash where air bag deployment is warranted could increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new driver seat belt buckle, if necessary, and will place a protective cover over the driver seat belt buckle wiring to prevent damage from occurring. Owner notification began on march 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism.
Other: unknown or other
Risk: If this bracket has not been installed, there may be an increased likelihood of injury or increased severity of injury in a frontal crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the bracket has been installed. If the bracket has not been installed, the dealer will install the left lower instrument panel bracket. Owner notification began march 4, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the left lower instrument panel bracket was not installed.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (164 complaints, typically around 31,000 miles); air bags (71 complaints, typically around 62,000 miles); electrical (34 complaints, typically around 90,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 16, 2009 (suspension). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Hyundai Tiburon?
- It is the most complained-about Tiburon model year since 2000, with 328 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.