Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 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 | 6 | 17% |
| Air bags | 5 | 14% |
| Power train | 3 | 8% |
| Structure | 2 | 6% |
| Suspension | 2 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 6% |
| Engine | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE NOISE LEVEL INCREASED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING UNRELATED SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED RUST ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE SUB FRAME. THE MANU
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED SINCE SHE WAS UNABLE TO RETRACT THEM. IT TOOK HER APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE ATTEMPTS BEFO
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A ROTTEN/RUSTED CROSS MEMBER *TGW THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM A HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS INFORMED THE CLAIM WOULD NOT BE ADDRESSED. THE DEALER INFORMED TH
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BELT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT AND ALLOW THE SEAT BELT TO BECOME LOOSE. THE SEAT BELT FAILURE WAS NOT DI
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELTS DO NOT EXTEND PROPERLY ON MY 2001 HYUNDAI TIBURON. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2001 DESPITE THIS VEHICL
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.. MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER DIED... THEN IN NOVEMEBER OF 2006 REPLACED CONVERTER ONCE AGAIN, THEN APRIL OF 2007 REPLACED CONVERTER
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
THE DRIVER & PASSENGER SEATBELTS JAM IN THE BELT D-RING ALL THE TIME. RECALL 01-01-006 DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2001 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 | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| 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 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 6 of them (17%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 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 72/100. 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.