2003 Hyundai Tiburon: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon: 9 recalls, 328 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Other / unknown Vehicle recall #02V044000 · 2002 · 1,174 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the left lower instrument panel bracket was not installed.
Why it matters: If this bracket has not been installed, there May be an increased likelihood of injury or increased severity of injury in a frontal crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the bracket has been installed. If the bracket has not been installed, the dealer will install the left lower instrument panel bracket. Owner notification began March 4, 2002.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #02V290000 · 2002 · 7,382 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism.
Why it matters: Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (SRS) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Nondeployment of an SRS air bag in a crash where…
The 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 on March 24, 2003.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #03V257000 · 2003 · 312,292 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 brackets. On vehicles that are not equipped with ABS, the rear brake tubes May contact only the left mounting bracket. Contact…
Why it matters: Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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 to the tubes in the areas where contact with the mounting brackets May have occurred. Owner…
Seat belts Vehicle recall #03V290000 · 2003 · 36 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Damaged…
Why it matters: 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.
The 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 September 23, 2003. Owners should contact Hyundai of puerto rico at 1-899-981-0188.
Airbags Vehicle recall #03V321000 · 2003 · 49 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the front passenger air bag is mounted beneath the right portion of the instrument panel's padded surface. Tear lines are formed into the underside of the instrument panel's padded surface during the production process of the instrument panel top pad. These tear lines allow a portion of the instrument panel surface to fold upward if the passenger air bag deploys.
Why it matters: In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag May not deploy properly, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.
The fix: Hyundai will replace the instrument panel. Owner notification began on October 13, 2003.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #03V496000 · 2003 · 1,993 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.
Why it matters: Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering gearbox mounting brackets May result in rear brake tube wear and corrosion, increasing the risk of brake fluid leakage. Brake fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability, which could result in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes, install brake tube clips, and apply anti-corrosion material to the rear brake tubes. Owner notification began January 22, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-633-5151.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V178000 · 2004 · 263,968 vehicles
What's wrong: Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that May not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage May occur.
Why it matters: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began on June 30, 2004. Owners should contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #04V369000 · 2004 · 919 vehicles
What's wrong: 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 occur.
Why it matters: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The 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.
Suspension Vehicle recall #09V125000 · 2009 · 160,904 vehicles
What's wrong: Road salt used during the winter months in these jurisdictions May result in internal corrosion and thinning of the steel in the front lower control arms. The corrosion May progress to the point where the lower control arm's upper and lower panels become perforated. A perforated front lower control arm May fracture between its ball joint attachment and the forward and rearward pivot attachments to the chassis.
Why it matters: The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that May increase the risk of a crash.
The 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 control arms incorporating additional holes in the upper and lower panels. If the front lower…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 7 mention a fire, 21 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (164): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (52), stalls / loses power (15), noise or vibration (12).
- Airbags (71): the most common themes are warning light on (21), fails to deploy (15).
- Electrical (34): the most common themes are electrical failure (14), fire / smoke (6), stalls / loses power (5).
- Seat belts (23): the most common themes are warning light on (16), electrical failure (9).
The 2003 Hyundai Tiburon has 328 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 12 Tiburon model years for complaints (5.2× the average Tiburon year). Complaints peaked in 2006 (57 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 44,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2002 (2 complaints, 4 recalls), 2004 (82 complaints, 0 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 28 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.7 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon.
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FAQ
Does the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2003 Hyundai Tiburon problems?
Owners have filed 328 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (164), airbags (71), electrical (34).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.