Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 328 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, and it carries 9 recalls. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 142 | 43% |
| Air bags | 40 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 5% |
| Air bags | 13 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 9 | 3% |
| Suspension | 8 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 8 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 2% |
| Power train | 6 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated that while attempting to refuel the vehicle, gasoline started spilling from the filler neck. The contact stated that the vehicle was refueling very slowly. The
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GOING TO TURN THE BATTERY OFF UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO THE DRIVER HAZARD LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VAPOR PURGE CANISTER MALFUNCTION FRONT END FAILURE BAD GASKETS
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I WAS DRIVING TO MY BROTHER PLACE WHEN A WIRE STARTED TO SMOKE AND COUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS SMOKEY WHERE I COULD NOT SEE FROM THE SMOKE AND I HIT A PARKED CAR FRONT WINDSHIELD SHATTERED AND MY
NHTSA complaint: Steering
THE AIRBAG IN MY CAR IS ON PERMANENTLY. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. IT IS CAUSED BY A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE UNDER THE SEAT.I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN IS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
BAD BODY CONTROL MODULE. TURN SIGNALS AND FLASHERS DON'T WORK. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. ALL FUSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND STILL NO TURN SIGNALS OR FLASHERS. IT'S A RELAY BAD IN THE BCM.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WHEN PUMPING GAS THE PUMP CONSTANTLY CLICKS OFF AND WON'T ALLOW ME TO PUT THE GAS IN. VERY STRONG RAW WET GAS SMELL INSIDE AND OUT SIDE OF THE CAR . FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS ON CLEANING CHARCOAL CANISTER THERE WAS NO P
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2003 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.
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYL
Risk: THE FRACTURING OF THE CONTROL ARM COULD AN OWNER'S CONTROL OVER THEIR VEHICLE THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT LOWER
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 OCC
Risk: FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI DE PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
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 BRACKE
Risk: FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL T
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
Risk: 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.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE, IF NECESSARY, AND WILL PLACE A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 328 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 142 of them (43%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) 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 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.