2003 Hyundai Tiburon problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train:clutch Assembly (113) · Power Train:manual Transmission (31) · Air Bags (18)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Tiburon model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
263 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (113)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Showing the 6 most recent of 113 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-08-29 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 147,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 hyundai tiburon. the contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, gasoline started spilling from the filler neck. the contact stated that the vehicle was refueling very slowly. the contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, the fuel tank detached from the vehicle. the contact related the failure to nht…”
2020-03-19 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood · 196,641 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2003 hyundai tiburon. the contact stated while going to turn the battery off under the hood due to the driver hazard light was illuminating, there was black smoke coming from the vehicle. the contact extinguished the fire. the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front driver wiring har…”
2019-12-08 · Unknown Or Other · 158,000 mi“vapor purge canister malfunction front end failure bad gaskets…”
2019-10-28 · Steering · 135,125 mi · 🔥 fire“i was driving to my brother place when a wire started to smoke and cought on fire from under the steering wheel it was smokey where i could not see from the smoke and i hit a parked car front windshield shattered and my airbag did not exposed at all. it was on a city street no one got hurt just the car…”
2019-05-09 · Air Bags · 30,000 mi“the airbag in my car is on permanently. i researched the problem and found that there was a recall for this. it is caused by a wiring problem with the driver side seatbelt buckle under the seat.i was told that my vin is not included in the recall. i replaced the seatbelt buckle and within a month the airbag light was back on.…”
2017-10-18 · Electrical System · 130,000 mi“bad body control module. turn signals and flashers don't work. vehicle was stationary. all fuses have been replaced and still no turn signals or flashers. it's a relay bad in the bcm.…”
2017-06-28 · Seat Belts · 84,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 hyundai tiburon. while driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the passenger side seat belt buckle failed and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was also taken to the folsom lake and roseville hyundai dealers where it was…”
2016-12-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 168,000 mi · 💥 crash“when pumping gas the pump constantly clicks off and won't allow me to put the gas in. very strong raw wet gas smell inside and out side of the car . followed the instructions on cleaning charcoal canister there was no problems there and the gas problems continue. the smell is noticed after driving and during idle. *tr…”
2016-11-08 · Suspension · 111,752 mi“crossmember or cradle badly corroded…”
2016-08-10 · Seat Belts · 109,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 hyundai tiburon. when the vehicle was started, the air bag and seat belt warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign numbers: 02v290000 (seat belts) and 03v321000 (air bags). the manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. the approximate failur…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.