Is the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon a bad year?
328 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 164, 16× a quiet Tiburon year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon were filed between 20k and 53k miles. You're at 31,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2003 Tiburon owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 31,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 164 (50%) | 20k–53k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 71 (22%) | 22k–86k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 34 (10%) | 59k–104k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 23 (7%) | 65k–84k miles · ahead | — |
| Fuel system | 15 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 14 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 13 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 13 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 12 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 31,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 328 complaints: 33 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 16 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Clutch and flywheel in my 03 Tiburon, V6 burned out after less than 30,000 miles and they won't cover it under warranty.
My son craig bowman owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon that has 21,063 miles on it. He bought it when it had 10,000 miles.
The clutch in my Hyundai Tiburon just simply won't last long, the clutch went out on me completely while driving down the highway.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 31,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon: 9
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. The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that may increase the risk of a crash.
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 spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
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. Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets. 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.
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. In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag may not deploy properly, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.
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. 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.
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. Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.
On certain passenger 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.
On certain passenger vehicles, the left lower instrument panel bracket was not installed. If this bracket has not been installed, there may be an increased likelihood of injury or increased severity of injury in a frontal crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 30
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Ata solenoid diagnostic trouble codes P0740, P0741, P0742, P0743, P0746, P0748, P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765, P0770
Some vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument…
Neighbouring years
2004 Tiburon: 82 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Tiburon year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · All Tiburon years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Palisade · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon a bad year?
328 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 164, 16× a quiet Tiburon year. At 31,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon were filed between 20k and 53k miles. You're at 31,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (164), air bags (71), electrical system (34), seat belts (23), fuel system (15). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 20k–53k miles.
How many recalls does the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 09V-125), Fuel system (NHTSA 04V-369), Fuel system (NHTSA 04V-178), Brakes (NHTSA 03V-496) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.