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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.

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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

Visibility complaints

1 reports
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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