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Research · Subcompact Cars

2006 Hyundai TiburonRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 64 owner complaints for the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon. Most complaints involve power train (42) and air bags (6). The EPA rates it 19–23 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–23mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Apr 2013
Owner complaints
64
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 1, 2013NHTSA 13V113000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

64 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2006 – Jul 2022
  1. Power train42
  2. Air bags6
  3. Tires5
  4. Exterior lighting3
  5. Visibility3
  6. Equipment3
  7. Suspension3
  8. Steering2
  9. Wheels2

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

By model year

Complaints for each Tiburon model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199736
199826
199926
200058
200136
20028
2003328
200482
200543
200664
200742
200819
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

42 reports
“My clutch is slipping already. Ive owned the car for six months and the previous owner repaced the cluch, and he o ly owned the car for 10 months. My previous standard transmission car went through 1 clutvh in the 15 years i owned it. Something must be defective. I do not know what the situation will be when it goes out all the way , i just really hope it does not hurt anyone. Becaus e of circumstancesthe damage to me and my life is quite great. And god please dont let it physically hurt me on top of the fact i vary well may go to prison for something i absolutlly did not do.i worked out of state and without my car i will not make it to court. Since i lost my job because of this incident i did not do, i cannot fix the car before it goes all the way out. Once again please god let no one get huet by my car, please please please”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2022Power trainODI 11473624

Air bags

6 reports5 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO THE CONTACT'S LANE AND CAME TO A STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10943934

Tires

5 reports1 crash
“PURCHASED BRAND NEW OCT 2006 IN THIS ORDER... I KNOW A FEW THINGS ARE MISSING. CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE - COULDN'T GET THE CAR BACK IN GEAR. PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN "PERFECT ALIGNMENT" ACCORDING TO DEALER. TERRIBLY UNEVEN TIRE WEAR EVEN WITH 3K MILE TIRE ROTATIONS. 2 INSIDE SIDEWALL BLOW OUTS. 1 TREAD SEPARATION BLOWOUT 2 IDLER PULLEY FAILURES. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILURE. WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP FAILURE. SUNROOF MOTOR AND SWITCH FAILURE. BENT RIM. AIR CONDITIONING WIRE SHORT WHICH RESULTED IN AC CLUTCH FAILURE JUST AFTER 60,000 (OF COURSE) AC CLUTCH FAILURE RESULTS IN CONSTANT BEARING SQUEALING. ALUMINUM CLUTCH PEDAL COVER FELL OFF AND THEY WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. REAR HATCH RELEASE WORKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME. I KNOW THERE'S MORE, I JUST CAN'T RECALL ALL OF IT RIGHT OFF. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2009Power train, Visibility, Tires, Wheels, EquipmentODI 10269567
All 2006 Tiburon problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Subcompact Cars
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 2.7L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Tiburon
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212823$2,700386
Tiburon
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192722$2,850404
Tiburon
Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172420$3,100444
Tiburon
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172419$3,300468
Tiburon
Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L · Front-Wheel Drive
162419$3,300468
  • Tiburon
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Tiburon
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L
    19 city · 27 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • Tiburon
    Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • Tiburon
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    17 city · 24 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • Tiburon
    Man 6-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L
    16 city · 24 hwy · $3,300/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 9, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon as of Nov 9, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 9, 2026Vehicle 1741
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2006 Tiburon questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 9, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2006 Hyundai Tiburon problems?

Owners filed 64 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (42), air bags (6), tires (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon at 19–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 9, 2026