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1998 Hyundai Tiburon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 39.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

26 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2005
Electrical System

I WENT TO THE CAR LOT AND PICKED UP MY TIBURON. I DROVE IT HOME...AND TO WORK. AFTER I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS, I WALKED TOWARD THE CAR AND THE WIRELESS REMOTE ON THE KEYS WOULDNT BEEP SO WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE DOOR TO UNLOCK IT THE ALARM SOUNDED AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WH…

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I WENT TO THE CAR LOT AND PICKED UP MY TIBURON. I DROVE IT HOME...AND TO WORK. AFTER I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS, I WALKED TOWARD THE CAR AND THE WIRELESS REMOTE ON THE KEYS WOULDNT BEEP SO WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE DOOR TO UNLOCK IT THE ALARM SOUNDED AND THE IGNITION WOULD NOT START. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY SAID I PROBABLY NEEDED TO BUY A NEW BATTERY. I HADN'T EVEN PUT 100 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD SOMEONE CHECK THE BATTERY AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. MY CAR SAT AT MY WORKPLACE FOR 8 DAYS BEFORE THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY SENT A TOWING TRUCK TO HAVE IT SERVICED. I COME TO FIND OUT IT IS THE "TRANSPONDER" TO THE ALARM THAT IS FAULTY AND THEREFORE THE CAR WON'T START UNTIL IT IS REPLACED. IT IS STILL WAITING TO BE SERVICED. MY QUESTION IS WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THAT FIXED WHEN I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR A FEW DAYS? THEY PROBABLY ALREADY KNEW IT WAS GOING OUT AND SOLD ME THE CAR ANYWAY. I'VE ONLY PUT DOWN A DOWN PAYMENT FOR THE CAR AND HAVE YET TO MAKE MY FIRST PAYMENT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? ARE THEY RIGHT TO CHARGE ME FOR THIS? IS THIS A FACTORY RECALL OR SOMETHING THAT GOES OUT OVER TIME? OR IN THIS CASE RIGHT WHEN I GOT THE CAR? ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104895

84,000 miles · Apr 19, 2004
Power Train

VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR, RESULTING IN STALLING. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC WHICH MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067348

70,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BREAKING HER ELBOW IN 6 PLACES AND HER HUMERUS DETACHED FROM THE ELBOW. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2003 AND SHE HAS LIMITED USE OF HER RIGHT ARM AS OF TODAY. SHE HAS HAD TWO SURGERIES AND GOES TO OCCUPATIONAL REHAB THREE TIMES A WEEK. PLEASE LET …

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MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER REAR ENDED A VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BREAKING HER ELBOW IN 6 PLACES AND HER HUMERUS DETACHED FROM THE ELBOW. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2003 AND SHE HAS LIMITED USE OF HER RIGHT ARM AS OF TODAY. SHE HAS HAD TWO SURGERIES AND GOES TO OCCUPATIONAL REHAB THREE TIMES A WEEK. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT INJURIES FROM THE AIRBAGS IN THE 1998 TIBURON.

NHTSA ODI #10069882

51,311 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE'S EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL EXHAUST FUMES WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042902

85,000 miles · Oct 10, 2003
Electrical SystemPower Train

1998 HYUNDAI TIBURON, AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES: CAR PURCHASED NEW IN 1998. EXPERIENCED ENGINE STUMBLE REFERENCED IN TSB 98-36-008, BUT NO ONE COULD EVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION- CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHEN HEADLIGHTS ON AN…

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1998 HYUNDAI TIBURON, AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES: CAR PURCHASED NEW IN 1998. EXPERIENCED ENGINE STUMBLE REFERENCED IN TSB 98-36-008, BUT NO ONE COULD EVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION- CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHEN HEADLIGHTS ON AND TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATED (TSB 98-40-006?) STILL DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS STORIES ON INTERNET FORUMS AT HYUNDAIPERFORMANCE.COM, YET HYUNDAI REFUSES TO INFORM ITS CONSUMERS OF THESE ISSUES. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. SERVICE DEALER IGNORED REQUESTS TO RETURN MY CALLS CONCERNING ITS STATUS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041581

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATED THAT IN HER DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, AND WHEN IT DID, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER LOSS OF POWER, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REGAIN POWER. THEN, VEHICLE RAN SLUGGISH FOR A WHILE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT REAPPEARING…

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CONSUMER STATED THAT IN HER DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, AND WHEN IT DID, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER. AFTER LOSS OF POWER, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REGAIN POWER. THEN, VEHICLE RAN SLUGGISH FOR A WHILE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM KEPT REAPPEARING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10039718

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2002
Power Train

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MARCH OF 2002 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT 6 WEEKS LATER. THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THERE WAS A "SHIFT FLARE" IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I WAS SOLD THE CAR WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THEN HYUNDAI PROCEDED TO GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND FOR 4 WEEKS SAYING I NEEDED PROOF THAT THE TRANSM…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MARCH OF 2002 AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT 6 WEEKS LATER. THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THERE WAS A "SHIFT FLARE" IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I WAS SOLD THE CAR WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND THEN HYUNDAI PROCEDED TO GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND FOR 4 WEEKS SAYING I NEEDED PROOF THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 30,00 MILES. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER AND DID NOT HAVE THAT INFO. AFTER A MONTH OF NOT HAVING MY CAR, AND CONTACTING THE BBB, AND CONSUMER REPORTS, ALONG WITH HYUNDAI DIRECTLY......I WENT TO A LAWYER AT $125 AN HOUR AND HE MADE A FEW CALLS AND I HAD A "REBUILT" TRANSMISSION IN 8 DAYS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW, AND THIS "NEW" ONE IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING. THE FLARE IS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 GEAR, AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY TRANSMISSIONS I NEED TO GO THROUGH TO FIND ONE THAT REALLY "WORKS"!! I'M A 22YR. OLD FEMALE, WHO HAS'NT HAD THE CAR OVER 80MPH SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY SB ON THIS PROBLEM, AND I'M SURE THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS...SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, AND HYUNDAI NEEDS TO BE TRUE ON THEIR "WARRANTY" ...BE WARY OF THEIR "REMAINDER OF POWERTRAIN WARRANTY " ON USED CARS. THE SAD PART IS THAT THE CLOSET HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP FOR ME IS 2 HOURS AWAY....VERMONT...IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO PLEASE EMAIL ME AT...MEOW4U00@HOTMAIL.COM...MARIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764608

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING AT TIMES WILL HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATEING TO HIGHER SPEEDS, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL START TO JERK BEFORE IT STARTS TO MOVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8004352

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2001
Seat Belts

RECALL 01V345000/MANUFACTURER RECALL 2001; FRONT LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT BACK. PROBLEM HAPPENED ONE YEAR AGO AND WAS NOT FIXED. NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SENT OUT IN DECEMBER 2001. *AK DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT CONSUMER ONCE A HYUNDAI TECHNICIAN CAME FOR A VISIT, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER HEARD FROM THE DEALER. *…

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RECALL 01V345000/MANUFACTURER RECALL 2001; FRONT LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT BACK. PROBLEM HAPPENED ONE YEAR AGO AND WAS NOT FIXED. NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SENT OUT IN DECEMBER 2001. *AK DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT CONSUMER ONCE A HYUNDAI TECHNICIAN CAME FOR A VISIT, HOWEVER CONSUMER NEVER HEARD FROM THE DEALER. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #899740

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsVisibility

HYUNDAI SAID THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS OR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WAS A LIE I HAVE RECORDED. MY SEATBELT POPS OFF EVEN THOUGH I DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN TIGHT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI SAID PUT IT IN TIGHTER OR SPRAY SILICON OIL IN IT. MY LOCKS WILL FREEZE WHILE I'M DRIVING AND I CANT GET OUT OF…

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HYUNDAI SAID THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS OR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH WAS A LIE I HAVE RECORDED. MY SEATBELT POPS OFF EVEN THOUGH I DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN TIGHT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI SAID PUT IT IN TIGHTER OR SPRAY SILICON OIL IN IT. MY LOCKS WILL FREEZE WHILE I'M DRIVING AND I CANT GET OUT OF MY CAR UNLESS THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN. USALLY THE WINDOWS ARE FROZEN SHUT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI IT IS A NORMAL THING FOR HYUNDAIS TO LOCK PEOPLE IN THEIR CAR. HE SAID DONT DRIVE IT WHEN IT'S COLD OR SPRAY ICE GUARD INSIDE THE DOOR BEFORE DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER. MY CAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WELL REDLINE AND WONT SHIFT INTO THE NEXT GEAR.HATFIELD HYUNDAI SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR MY CAR TO REDLINE AND NOT GO PAST 69MILES AN HR. I TOOK IT TO DENNNIS HYUNDAI ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATLEY AFTER THAT SAME DAY AND HAD THEIR MANAGER RIDE WITH ME ON 6/29/01. HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT ON JULY/2/2001 WHERE IT REMAINS. THEY SAID THEY HAVE TO GET IT TO ACT UP AGAIN EVEN THOUGH IT ALREADY ACTED UP BEFORE THEY WILL FIX IT. HATFIELD HYUNDAI FIXED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND SAYS THEY WILL FIX THE SEATBELT SINCE I HAVE IT ON TAPE THEY LIED. I WANT YOU TO FORCE HYUNDAI TO FIX THINGS THEY PROMISED TO FIX IN THEIR WARRANTY FOR OTHER PEOPLES' SAFETY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747895

Official recalls

1

01V345000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing

Nov 6, 2001

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 INCONVENIENT TO EXTEND AND RETRACT THE SEAT BELTS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

SQ00003 · Fuel Cap Replacement Campaign 36

Opened Feb 2, 2000 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

There is no summary currently available

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

There is no summary currently available