The most-reported Tiburon run is KMHHN65F53U (2003 builds) with 25 complaints, 9.3× the typical run. Power train problems make up 41% of reports; 2003 is the worst model year at 6.8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for Tiburon model years 1997–2008.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Hyundai Tiburon has 208 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 20% of every Tiburon complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMHHN65F53U•••••• | 2003 | 2 | 1 | |
| KMHHN65F13U•••••• | 2003 | 6 | — | |
| KMHHN65F33U•••••• | 2003 | 1 | — | |
| KMHHN65F03U•••••• | 2003 | 1 | — | |
| KMHHN65F43U•••••• | 2003 | 1 | 2 | |
| KMHHN65F23U•••••• | 2003 | 3 | 2 | |
| KMHHN65F73U•••••• | 2003 | — | — | |
| KMHHN65F93U•••••• | 2003 | 1 | — | |
| KMHHN65F83U•••••• | 2003 | — | — | |
| KMHHN65F63U•••••• | 2003 | 1 | — | |
| KMHJG25F3YU•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| KMHHN65F46U•••••• | 2006 | 1 | — |
Each of the other 196 Tiburon runs has 8 complaints or fewer.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Hyundai Tiburon the gap between build years is 5.2×: a 2003 car draws 6.8 complaints per run, a 2008 one 1.3.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 15 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2007 | 33 | 18 | 7 | |
| 2006 | 51 | 20 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 31 | 20 | 6 | |
| 2004 | 51 | 20 | 9 | |
| 2003 | 238 | 35 | 23 | |
| 2001 | 29 | 19 | 6 | |
| 2000 | 39 | 17 | 7 | |
| 1999 | 22 | 14 | 5 | |
| 1998 | 20 | 14 | 3 | |
| 1997 | 29 | 19 | 4 |
Heaviest year here is 2003 at 6.8 complaints per run; lightest is 2008 at 1.3.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 41% of everything Hyundai Tiburon owners report: Power Train, 225 of 560 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 | — | |
| Air Bags | 60 | 2 | |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 4 | 4 | |
| Exterior Lighting | — | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 9 | — | |
| Equipment | 2 | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 17 recall campaigns on the Hyundai Tiburon; the 6 below cover build years 1997 to 2008. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 01V345000 | Seat Belts:front:webbing | 1997–2001 |
| 13V113000 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch | 2006–2008 |
| 03V257000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings | 2002–2003 |
| 04V369000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage | 2002–2003 |
| 03V496000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings | 2002–2003 |
| 04V178000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly | 2002–2003 |
01V345000 was opened in 2001 on cars built from 1997: 4 years on the road before the recall.
The Tiburon against its rivals
The Tiburon draws 2.7 complaints per production run; the Chevrolet Cobalt 8.7 and the Volkswagen Rabbit 1.3.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Tiburon | 560 | 208 | 13.8% | |
| Chevrolet Cobalt | 6,599 | 761 | 6.9% | |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 125 | 95 | 8.8% |
How serious were they
Of the 560 reports on the Hyundai Tiburon, 13.8% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Hyundai Tiburon | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 560 | 1,116,631 |
| Involved a crash | 77 (13.8%) | 64,221 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 9 (1.6%) | 26,977 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 60 | 58,047 |
| Deaths reported | 3 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 138% above the all-vehicle rate.
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,116,631 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 299,142 production runs. The Hyundai Tiburon share of that is 560 complaints over 208 runs, 0.05% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Hyundai Tiburon VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 560 NHTSA complaints from 208 Tiburon runs and 17 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Tiburon production run has the most complaints?
KMHHN65F53U, a 2003 build, with 25 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Tiburon run has 2.7.
Which Tiburon years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2003 is heaviest at 6.8 complaints per run and 2008 lightest at 1.3.
Does the Tiburon get more complaints than the Chevrolet Cobalt?
No: 2.7 complaints per production run for the Tiburon against 8.7 for the Chevrolet Cobalt.
How many Tiburon complaints involve a crash?
13.8% of 560 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 9 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.