Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Hyundai Tiburon, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 13 | 22% |
| Air bags | 8 | 14% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 12% |
| Tires | 5 | 8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEAT BELT SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *JS
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE EXACT ORIGIN OF THE NOISE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE W
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT NOTICED EXTREMELY STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL FAILURES THAT PROGRESSED AND RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CHARCOAL CANI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAVE ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND THE GAS TANK, CHARCOAL CANISTER AND VALVES. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OVER 1,000.00 TO HAVE THESE FIXED TWICE. I HAVE BEEN GETTING VERY SICK DRIVING MY CAR AND DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
SINCE DAY ONE OF MY PURCHASE CAR TANK REFUSES TO FILL UP EVER 3 SECONDS GAS PUMP STOPS SPITTING OUT GAS. EST TIME TO FILL TANK IS 15-20 MINS. MY CAR HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR LAST 2 MONTHS AUTO STORE TEST CAME UP GAS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TRYING TO FILL UP GAS TANK, GAS PUMP TURNS OFF REPEATEDLY AFTER A GALLON OR SO. TAKES ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO FILL UP THE CAR. TRIED SEVERAL THINGS TO HELP, BUT NOTHING WORKS. PER ONLINE DISCUSSIONS, THIS HAS BEEN NOTED B
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
2000 HYUNDAI TIBURON PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. THE BELTS GET STUCK IN THEIR HARNESSES AND YOU CAN'T PULL-OUT OR PUT IT BACK. YOU HAVE
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2000 Hyundai Tiburon. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS MAY NOT EXTEND AND RETRACT SMOOTHLY THROUGH THE D-RING GUIDES MOUNTED ON THE BODY PILLARS AFT OF THE DOORS. IF THE SEAT BELTS DO NOT EXTEND AND RETRACT SMOOTHLY, THEY MAY TWIST IN THE D-RING GUIDES AND MAKE IT INCO
Risk: IF THE SEAT BELTS ARE INCONVENIENT TO USE, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE INCLINED TO WEAR THE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A STOPPER OVER EACH FRONT SEAT BELT D-RING GUIDE TO ASSIST THE SEAT BELT TO SMOOTHLY EXTEND AND RETRACT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICL
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 45 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 13 of them (22%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.