Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Hyundai Tiburon, and it carries no 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 | 36 | 44% |
| Air bags | 17 | 21% |
| Air bags | 3 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 4% |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
CLUTCH RECALL, POWERTRAIN RECALL, MASTER CYLINDER RECALL, SLAVE CYLINDER RECALL. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR AFTER A WEEK OF PURCHASING THE CAR I PUSHED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO SHIFT, AND THE PEDAL DID NOT COME BACK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY CAR TURN ON THE AIR BAG, ALL THE TIME, I TAKE TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE WARRANTY WAS ACTIVE, AFTER THE THIRD YEAR THEY SAID THAT THIS DON'T HAVE NO MORE WARRANTY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT STEEL ON ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
MY WIFE WAS IN A REAR END ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. MY WIFE GOT WHIPLASH FROM THE ACCIDENT. READING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, I'M ALMOST GLAD THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
STEERING WILL NOT STAY IN NO MORE THEN 6 MOUTHS AND ALMOST INSTEAD THEY GO OUT .ON ALIGNMENTS . IT HAS BEEN GOING ON SEENS THIS CAR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THAT THE CLUTCH AND FL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS WILL NOT PROPERLY WORK OR WORK AT ALL WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON. WHY SHOULDN'T THE 2004 MODEL BE INCLUDED IN THE SAFETY RECALL SINCE ALL OTHER TIBURON YEARS EXCE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS TURNED ON. THE BATTERY FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AS LONG AS THE TURN SIGNAL FU
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE LOWER CONTROL ARM COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. HAVE PICTURES. SON DRIVING CAR ON OUR DRIVEWAY AND CAR STARTED MAKING NOISE AND STARTED PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT. DROVE BACK TO HOUSE TO INSPECT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM ON D
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
| Reliability raw | 77 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 82 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 36 of them (44%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 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 70/100. 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.