Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 12 | 28% |
| Air bags | 5 | 12% |
| Tires | 3 | 7% |
| Suspension | 2 | 5% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Power train | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Engine | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL PROFUSELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. AN UNKNOWN RED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WA
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TAKATA RECALL, COULDN'T SEE FOR A WEEK. WAS CUT UP ON LEFT SIDE AS WAS VISION GONE ON LEFT. SUFFERED AND STILL SUFFERING BRAIN DAMAGE FROM AIRBAG HITTING ME SO HARD. THAT CAR HAS RUINED MY LIFE. I CONSTANTLY SHAKE FROM N
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FRONT RIGHT CONTROL ARM RUSTED UNTIL IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS! 2003 HYUNDAI TUBURONS HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT 2005 DOES NOT. IT SHOULD BECAUSE HYUNDAI OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THAT UNDERLYING ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH, DUAL FLY WHEEL ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM 3 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME ANYWHERE FROM $2400,- $3,400. NO WAY SHOULD A CLUTCH NEED REPLACED THAT MUCH THAT SOON, EACH
NHTSA complaint: Power train
AROUND 70,000 MILES ON MY 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON, MY MECHANIC FRIEND NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM I WAS NEEDING A NEW CLUTCH. WE PURCHASED A CLUTCH KIT FROM DURALAST/ZOOM MANUFACTURED THESE PARTS. THE CLUTCH CHANGE IN A HYUNDA
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
BOUGHT TWO NEW FRONT TIRES FOR TIBURON. NEXEN N5000 215/45R17 ON 10/15/2013. WITHIN THREE WEEKS THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE DEVELOPED A FLAT ON 11/7/13 IE WITHIN THREE WEEKS. NEVER HAPPENED WITH ANY TIRES. WHY THIS ONE? *TR
NHTSA complaint: Tires
A CAR SPEEDING RAN A STOP SIGN CAUSING ACCIDENT WITH THE TIBURON WITH MOST DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT CAUSED TOTAL LOSS TO THE TIBURON AND INJURIES. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 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.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THREADED PORTIONS OF THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLY'S LEFT AND RIGHT INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN INTERNAL CRACKS IN THE MATERIAL STRUCTURE.
Risk: IF THE INNER BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY WAS TO BREAK AS A RESULT OF THE INTERNAL CRACK, THE TIE ROD END ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT LONGER BE ATTACHED TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THIS WOULD PREVENT STEERING CONTROL OF
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING GEARBOX ASSEMBLIES ON THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE BEGINNING ON APRIL 8, 2005, AND INSTRUCTED NOT TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES. HYUN
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| 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 43 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 12 of them (28%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 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.