Total Complaints
60 filings
HYUNDAI TIBURON · model year
60 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997HYUNDAITIBURON carries 60 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 TIBURON is air bags:frontal with 4 filings, followed by air bags (4) and power train:automatic transmission (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1997 TIBURON, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
60 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V095001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), THERE WAS A PERSISTENT STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE BACK SEAT TO INSPECT THE ACCESS PORT FOR THE FUEL TANK AND DISCOVERED A 4 INCH FRACTURE ON THE STEEL FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE DEALER TO INFORM THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V095001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE DEALER DECLINED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 243,420.
Mileage: 243,420
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V095002 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INSPECTION THE "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTIONS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INSPECTION PERFORMED UNDER THE PRIOR RECALL, SO THE VEHICLE WAS DENIED A FREE REMEDY REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK AS DETERMINED BY A PRESSURE CHECK. HYUNDAI WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Mileage: 125,000
SMELLED GAS FUMES STRONGLY UPON FILL-UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK CAR IN. MECHANIC SAID RECALL #00V095002 WAS IN EFFECT ON MY VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS (TANK & CAP). DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED CAP BUT DID NOT TELL ME AT THE TIME. WENT TO SMOG CAR NEXT YEAR AND COMES UP WITH EVAPORATIVE LEAK. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME "THERE IS A HUGE LEAK ON THE TOP OF YOUR GAS TANK." WILL NOT REPLACE FOR FREE. CALLED MANUFACTURER WHO SAID THAT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE WAS NO LEAK AT TIME OF ORIGINAL INSPECTION. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY ARE NOT UNDER OBLIGATION TO REPLACE TANK DUE TO THEIR CLAIM THAT IT WAS NOT CRACKED AT THE TIME OF FUEL CAP REPLACEMENT. SPOKE WITH KASEY AT HYUNDAI ON 9/22 AT 2:15 PM. RECALL NOTICE CLEARLY STATES THAT "TANK MUST BE REPLACED IF CRACKED, REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE'S AGE OR MILEAGE." *NM
Mileage: 83,539
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND CAR BEGAN TO HEAT UP, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG CAME ON AS WELL;TOOK IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE AIRBAG PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED AND REMAINS ON. *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND CAR BEGAN TO HEAT UP, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG CAME ON AS WELL;TOOK IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER THE AIRBAG PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED AND REMAINS ON. *JB
CONNSUMER STATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. *AK
Mileage: 103,000
CONSUMER STATED DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON FRONT SEAT BELT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD FLEW UP ONTO THE WINDSHIELD, DESTROYED THE HOOD AND LATCHES, DAMAGED THE ROOF, AND INJURED DRIVER. *NLM
Mileage: 71,000
6 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED WITHIN 40,000 MILES...ALL REBUILT AND ALL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING AND VERY HARD SHIFTING. I WOULD LIKE A TRANSMISSION THAT WORKS THE ENGINE AND ALL OTHER PARTS OF CAR ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. NOW DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIP IS JUST THE WAY IT 'SMOOTHES' INTO THE NEXT GEAR. EVEN MY PASSENGERS COMMENT ON THE WAY THE CAR THE SHIFTS. I HAVE BEEN INCONVIENCED FOR AT LEAST A DAY OR MORE TO FIND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION SO THAT THEY CAN INSTALL REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS. SOME OF THE SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT HYUNDIA HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY REBUILDING TRANSMISSIONS. THE HUYNDAI REPRESETATIVE WILL NOT ALLOW THEM TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALL TRANSMISSIONS ARE GIVING OUT BEFORE THEIR 12,000 WARRENTY EXPIRES. ALL REPALCEMENTS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I HAVE BEEN SATISFIED WITH THEIR HONORING THE WARRENTY. MY LAST SERVICE CALL THE MANAGER KEN BEARD TOLD ME HE WOULD AGAIN CONTACT HUYND
AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. LIGHT FLASHES FIRST AND THEN STAYS ON. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME GOING IN FOR REPAIRS TO DEALER IN 6MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING GEARS SKIP BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, AND ENGINE RACING UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
ALL FOUR SEAT BELTS; DRIVER/ FRONT PASSENGER, AND TWO REAR ONES WILL NOT RETRACT AFTER BEING PULLED OUT, WHICH WILL NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN MAY OF 2000. CAR HAD APPROX. 40,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. IN JULY OF 2001, THE NEW TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO A NEW DEALER (TOM O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF DANVERS). THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WE TOOK IT BACK IN AUGUST OF 2001. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. ONE MONTH LATER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK. THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 11, 2001, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE PULLED OVER AND THE CAR STALLED. WHEN SHE RESTARTED IT, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO THE DEALER. THEY CLAIM THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERFILLED WITH FLUID. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER TOUCHED BY ANYONE BUT THEM. HYUNDAI WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMP SNAPPED OFF AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. WE HAD IT FIXED FOR $15
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND COMING OFF RAMP WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO BACK OF OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND COMING OFF RAMP WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO BACK OF OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. CLOCK SPRING HAS BEEN REPLACED A YEAR AGO. CONSUMER WAS COMPLAINING THAT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER IS CALLING TO REPORT THAT VEHICLE HAS A FUEL LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED A PULSE GENERATOR SENSOR, HOWEVER, THE PART ONLY LAST ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDED A SPEED SENSOR OUTPUT. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THAT PART UNDER THE WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST PAY THE LABOR WHICH WILL RUN ABOUT $95. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS AMOUNT SINCE I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE JUNE, 1999 WHEN THE CAR HAD 40,978 MILES ON IT. I ALSO TOOK THE CAR IN ON FEBRUARY 24, 1999 AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO DAYS. AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SWITCH. THE LAST 5 VISITS HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN I AM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THEN FIANLLY IT WILL SHIFT VERY HARD. IT WILL ALSO DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY TOLD ME THAT HAD TO ORDER A
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED A PULSE GENERATOR SENSOR, HOWEVER, THE PART ONLY LAST ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDED A SPEED SENSOR OUTPUT. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THAT PART UNDER THE WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST PAY THE LABOR WHICH WILL RUN ABOUT $95. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS AMOUNT SINCE I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE JUNE, 1999 WHEN THE CAR HAD 40,978 MILES ON IT. I ALSO TOOK THE CAR IN ON FEBRUARY 24, 1999 AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO DAYS. AT THAT TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SWITCH. THE LAST 5 VISITS HAVE BEEN BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN I AM GOING ABOUT 25 MPH. THE ENGINE WILL REV AND THEN FIANLLY IT WILL SHIFT VERY HARD. IT WILL ALSO DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY TOLD ME THAT HAD TO ORDER A
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.