Problems · by component

2003 Hyundai Tiburon air bags problems

71 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon cite air bags, 22% of all 328 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
71
22% of all complaints
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE AIRBAG IN MY CAR IS ON PERMANENTLY. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS. IT IS CAUSED BY A WIRING PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE UNDER THE SEAT.I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I REPLACED THE SEATBELT BUCKLE AND WITHIN A MONTH THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2019Air bagsODI 11206498
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE FOLSOM LAKE AND ROSEVILLE HYUNDAI DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9607148. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 28, 2017Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11001987
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 02V290000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 03V321000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 10, 2016Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10894775
“TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON DOOR HANDLES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CONSTANTLY BREAK OFF EVEN AFTER BEING REPLACED BY FACTORY PARTS LEAVING OCCUPANTS TRAPPED IN CAR ALSO REPLACED CAMSHAFT CONTOLLER CAUSE WIRING IS MELTING. CONTACTED BRANDON HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE DEPT THEY TOLD ME HANDLES HAD BEEN ALREADY REPLACED BEFORE AND REFUSED TO REPAIR ALSO THEY LIED AND TOLD ME THERE WERE NO FURTHER RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE BUT WHEN I GOOGLED THERE ARE ACTUALLY AROUND 10 RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND HYUNDAI REFUSES TO FIX OR EVEN ADMIT THERE IS A RECALL..MY CONTROL ARMS NEED REPLACING ALSO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2016Air bags, Structure, EngineODI 10825518
“TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY THE SEAT BELT AND WIRING THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER CHECKING THE RECALL INFORMATION, THERE WAS A RECALL (056) UNDER CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V290000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. I CALLED HYUNDAI AND SPOKE WITH THEIR REP AND SHE SAID THE SAME EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDES 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURONS. THIS FIX WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $400.00 JUST TO PASS INSPECTION. MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT WAS DONE ON VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER MARCH 2003 THAT WAS CLAIMED TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE, CONSIDERING SO MANY TIBURONS THAT WERE PRODUCED AFTER THIS DATE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I CURRENTLY OWN 3 HYUNDAIS, VERY DISAPPOINTED AS THIS CAR HAS ONLY 79961 MILES. UPDATED 09/15/15*LJ *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2015Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10746991
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2015Air bagsODI 10730312

Showing 6 of 71 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Aug 26, 2003NHTSA 03V321000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2003 Tiburon problem areas