Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
225–50K
750–75K
375–100K
1100–150K
1150K+
20 reports with mileage · 16 unknown
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.
Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
36 reports
89,000 miles · May 4, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD TAPPING NOISE, ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. I HAD A FRIEND THAT WORKS ON CARS LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS VALVE TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE USED SOME OIL TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT SAID PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ENGINE IS MOST LIKELY REPLACED?!?! I H…
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CAR STARTED MAKING LOUD TAPPING NOISE, ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS ACCELERATING. I HAD A FRIEND THAT WORKS ON CARS LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS VALVE TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE USED SOME OIL TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT SAID PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ENGINE IS MOST LIKELY REPLACED?!?! I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED IN 2003 AFTER BEING TOLD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS THAT IT WAS JUST MY AIR CONDITIONER! IT IS PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CAR WITH THE EXCLUSION OF THE SEATBELT RECALL, WHAT KIND OF COMPANY DID I BUY A CAR FROM? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10189738
42,000 miles · Dec 4, 2006
Suspension
ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT APPROX. 40,000 MILES. DEALER WOULD NOT COVER. I NOW HAVE APPROX. 72,000 MILES AND HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 BEARING AGAIN PLUS 1 FRONT AND 1 REAR A THIRD TIME. TOTAL OF 14 BEARINGS INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10175071
47,000 miles · Sep 1, 2006
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicWheels
WHEEL BEARING, CALIPER AND BRAKE LINE FAILURE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10167207
70,000 miles · May 1, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND SLID INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE FRONT END WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TWO OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE POLICE AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AT SPEEDS …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND SLID INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE FRONT END WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TWO OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE POLICE AND THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH OR GREATER.
NHTSA ODI #10156505
71,500 miles · May 1, 2006
Power Train
CLUTCH IS GOING OUT, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS IS ALSO GOING TO IT WOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY FROM WHEN IT WAS FIRST BOUGHT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10156480
1,700 miles · Jul 18, 2005
Power Train
2001 TIBURON HAS HAD REPEATED (6) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 1700 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED TO FAIL PERIODICALLY. DEALERS WILL ONLY GO SO FAR AS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE NEVER TRIED TO FIND WHY THEY ARE FAILING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TO LOSE YOU…
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2001 TIBURON HAS HAD REPEATED (6) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES. FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 1700 MILES AND HAS CONTINUED TO FAIL PERIODICALLY. DEALERS WILL ONLY GO SO FAR AS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE NEVER TRIED TO FIND WHY THEY ARE FAILING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TO LOSE YOUR TRANSMISSION VERY SUDDENLY. IT HAS GOTTEN SO THAT IF I EVEN SUSPECT A PRBLEM I GARAGE THE CAR UNTIL I CAN GET IT INTO A DEALER TO BE EXAMINED.
NHTSA ODI #10129241
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2005
Parking Brake
EVERYTIME I USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE IT FREEZES. I HAD IT TOWED INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP & THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WASN'T HAPPENING WHILE IN THEIR POSSESSION. SO, I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE MY REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY WAS CAUSING MY PRO…
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EVERYTIME I USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE IT FREEZES. I HAD IT TOWED INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP & THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WASN'T HAPPENING WHILE IN THEIR POSSESSION. SO, I LEFT MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE MY REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY WAS CAUSING MY PROBLEM. I PICKED UP MY CAR 5 DAYS LATER WITH NO REPAIRS BEING MADE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTING. MY LAST CONVERSATION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE REGIONAL MANAGER STILL HAS YET TO RESPOND TO MY PROBLEM. SO NOW I AM STUCK WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR THAT I CANNOT USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK FOR WHEN I NEED IT BECAUSE OF THE WINTER WEATHER. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10107814
63,000 miles · Aug 6, 2004
Air BagsEquipmentCrashInjury
I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY TIBURON AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. WE WERE TRAVELING ON OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY 59 AND SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH. A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH THE REAR OF AN EXTREMELY LARGE FARM TRACTOR AT A SPEED ESTIMATED BY THE INVESTIGATING STATE POLICEMAN AT 25-30 MPH. WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS,HOWEVER I MADE CONTACT WITH…
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I WAS A PASSENGER IN MY TIBURON AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. WE WERE TRAVELING ON OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY 59 AND SPEED LIMIT WAS 65 MPH. A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH THE REAR OF AN EXTREMELY LARGE FARM TRACTOR AT A SPEED ESTIMATED BY THE INVESTIGATING STATE POLICEMAN AT 25-30 MPH. WE WERE BOTH WEARING OUR SEATBELTS,HOWEVER I MADE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE DASH OF THE CAR. NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT 10,500.00, WITH EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE FENDER, HOOD ,WINDSHIELD DAMAGE, BATTERY , HORN, BRAKE COMPONENTS, FRONT SUSPENSION GRILLE, FRONT BUMPER, HEADLAMPS, RADIATOR,A/C AND HEATER. WE WERE BOTH INJURED AND WERE SEEN AT OUR LOCAL ER. ALL THIS AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10086309
63,000 miles · Aug 2, 2004
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrash
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A TRACTOR FROM THE REAR, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. ALSO, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT KEEP THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER IN POSITION, THROWING THEM FORWARD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10084045
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2004
Fuel System, OtherFire
FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FRONT OF VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE WAS A FUEL LEAK. CAR HAD REG. MAINTANCE AND NO ACCIDENTS.*AK
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Hyundai Tiburon Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year