Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Hyundai Tiburon problems
Owners filed 8 complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Tiburon with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Jan 2008. The most-cited component is power train (2).
Complaints
8
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train2
- Air bags2
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Electrical system1
- Equipment1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Other / unknown1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
3
1
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
2 reports
“CLUTCH WAS SLOW TO ENGAGE; SLIPPING. SERVICE PEOPLE AT THE DEALER SAID CLUTCH WAS NO GOOD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 29,700 MILES. THE NEW CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL PLUS LABOR COST ME OVER $1600. *TR”
Air bags
2 reports1 crash
“WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD GONE TO THE LEFT AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED UPON IMPACT. ALSO, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *SCC THE C ONSUMER BELIVED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS AS WELL.*JB”
Engine and engine cooling
1 report
“WE HAD PURCHASE A 2002 HYUNDAI SANTE FE ON 07/05/05 MOTOR WAY AUTO GROUP. THE CAR STARTED TO RIDE ROUGH. SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR REPAIR GUY, AT THIS TIME WE THOUGH IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. BEFORE HE COULD CHECK ANYTHING I TOOK MY CAR HOME AND IT JUST STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. AT THIS TIME HE CHANGE THE CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY-WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT. A LOT OF COSTLY REPAIRS. HE TOLD US THAT IT IS RARE THAT ALL THOSE SENSORS WENT BAD AT ONE TIME. SO I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT SYSTEM AND I GOT THIS REPORT. HOW DO I GO BY GETTING MY CAR FIX RIGHT.*JB”
Electrical system
1 report
Equipment
1 report
Suspension
1 report
“WENT TO HAVE BRAKES REPAIRED AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT, FRONT BALL JOINT AND ARM WERE LOOSE. CONSEQUENTLY, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CAR WAS UNBALANCED THE TREADS ON THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE BALD - SO OI HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES ALSO. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND ONE GOOD POTHOLE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE BALL JOINT AND ARM TO BREAK OFF. THE MOST DISTURBING THING ABOUT THIS WAS THAT I DETECTED NO CHANGE IN THE HANDLING OF THE CAR. NO NEW NOISES. NO INDICATION AT ALL THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.