NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
82 reports45,000 miles · Apr 15, 2008
Air BagsCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON. IN 2006, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH WITH A SCHOOL BUS. THE SEAT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON. IN 2006, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH WITH A SCHOOL BUS. THE SEAT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IF THE SEAT AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, HIS SON WOULD STILL BE ALIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS NOT APPLICABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10224630
30,500 miles · Jan 22, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON GTV6 WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IN 23RD DECEMBER 2007. MY CAR WAS MAKING AN ODD SMELL. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC IT WAS THE CLUTCH GOING BAD. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. AT THIS TIME I HAD 29,500MI ON MY CAR. ON THE 17TH JANUARY 2008 WITH …
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I HAVE A 2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON GTV6 WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IN 23RD DECEMBER 2007. MY CAR WAS MAKING AN ODD SMELL. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC IT WAS THE CLUTCH GOING BAD. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. AT THIS TIME I HAD 29,500MI ON MY CAR. ON THE 17TH JANUARY 2008 WITH 30,500MI ON MY CAR, THE CLUTCH IS COMPLETELY BAD AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. I NEARLY GOT T-BONED BY A TRUCK DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC BECAUSE MY CLUTCH DISENGAGED AND I STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE TRUCK STOPPED TO HELP AND I GOT MY CAR HOME AFTERWARDS. HYUNDAI REFUSED TO HONOR THERE 10-YEAR WARRANTY ON THE CAR AND I GOT STUCK PAYING ABOUT $900 ON A NEW CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL FOR MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215646
40,061 miles · Dec 21, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure
THREE ENGINE'S HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE LAST ENGINE REPLACEMENT SEVERAL BOLTS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET. SEVERAL OTHER BOLTS ATE LOOSE OR READY TO FALL OUT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. I HAVE FILED A CASE WITH THE BBB. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10212510
30,000 miles · Dec 5, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CAR DROVE FINE ONE NIGHT, NEXT MORNING THE REAR BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP. THE CAR HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR BREAKS WERE WORE DOWN JUST TO WHERE THE WARNING SQUEAL PLATE WAS STARTING TO RUB ON THE ROTOR (SO THERE WAS STILL SOME PAD LEFT). I THINK WHAT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP IS THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SCREW FOR THE …
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CAR DROVE FINE ONE NIGHT, NEXT MORNING THE REAR BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP. THE CAR HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT AND THE REAR BREAKS WERE WORE DOWN JUST TO WHERE THE WARNING SQUEAL PLATE WAS STARTING TO RUB ON THE ROTOR (SO THERE WAS STILL SOME PAD LEFT). I THINK WHAT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP IS THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING SCREW FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS TOO SHORT AND THE BRAKE PISTON HAD ADVANCED ALL THE WAY OFF OF THE SCREW WHICH THEN CAUSED THE BRAKES TO STICK IN POSITION. WHILE THIS DID NOT CAUSE A WRECK IN OUR CASE, I THINK IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT IT CAUSING A WRECK FOR SOMEONE ELSE (OR FOR US WHEN THESE BRAKES WEAR OUT AGAIN AT 60,000 MI). I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THESE BRAKES LOOKED AT BY AN EXPERT TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL DANGER LIKE I THINK THERE IS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10210875
20,600 miles · Mar 11, 2007
Air BagsCrash
2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT COLLIDED, BUMPER TO BUMPER, WITH A STOPPED PASSENGER VEHICLE AT 5-10 MPH. IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT A 40 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE VEHICLE CENTERLINE. BUMPER DAMAGE WAS MINOR AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES NOR REALISTIC POTENTIAL FOR INJURY. THE VEHICLE'S SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) DEPLOYED THE…
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2004 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT COLLIDED, BUMPER TO BUMPER, WITH A STOPPED PASSENGER VEHICLE AT 5-10 MPH. IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AT A 40 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE VEHICLE CENTERLINE. BUMPER DAMAGE WAS MINOR AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES NOR REALISTIC POTENTIAL FOR INJURY. THE VEHICLE'S SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) DEPLOYED THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO PASSENGER, PRESENTING A RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS. THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TIBURON'S SRS COMPUTER ACTIVATED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG PREMATURELY AND WAS TOO SENSITIVE TO A MINOR, NON-THREATENING IMPACT; THAT IS, DEFECTIVE. BUMPER COVER REPLACEMENT $500, AIRBAG REPAIR $4,500. DEFECTIVE DEVICES ARE IN MY POSSESSION. HYUNDAI OWNERS WITH A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE ARE INVITED TO JOIN A POTENTIAL CLASS ACTION BY E-MAILING CONTACT@AIRBAGCLAIMS.COM, ESTABLISHED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
NHTSA ODI #10184761
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2007
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other
I BOUGHT MY 2004 TIBURON IN JULY OF THAT YEAR, AND HAD TO GET RID OF IT (EVEN ROLLED THE LOAN MONEY OVER), IN 2006, I HATED IT SO MUCH. THE PAINT CHIPPED OFF ALL OVER THE CAR, THE SEAT COLOR WAS WEARING OFF, THE DASHBOARD COLOR WORE OFF, THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO WENT OUT. OF COURSE NOT ONE OF THE ISSUES WERE COVERED UNDER THE G…
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I BOUGHT MY 2004 TIBURON IN JULY OF THAT YEAR, AND HAD TO GET RID OF IT (EVEN ROLLED THE LOAN MONEY OVER), IN 2006, I HATED IT SO MUCH. THE PAINT CHIPPED OFF ALL OVER THE CAR, THE SEAT COLOR WAS WEARING OFF, THE DASHBOARD COLOR WORE OFF, THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO WENT OUT. OF COURSE NOT ONE OF THE ISSUES WERE COVERED UNDER THE GREAT WARRANTY THE OFFER. MY SISTER GOT THE SAME CAR, SHE HAD HER AUTOMATIC/MANUAL SHIFTER GO, HER TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BARE AFTER 2 YEARS, HER GAS CAP PAINT CAME OVER, DOWN TO THE METAL. THIS WAS THE WORST CAR EVER MADE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10179061
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2006
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting
2004 TIBURON HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITION, SPEAKERS RATTLE, CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND PROBLEMS WHEN SWITCHING TO FIRST AND REVERSE GEARS. *TS THE SUN ROOF DIDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A LOOSE CONNECTION UNDER THE SEAT. ONE OF THE TAILLIGHTS WERE OUT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174335
43,125 miles · Nov 16, 2006
Wheels
17" TEN SPOKE MAG WHEEL CRACKED RESULTING IN INSTANTANEOUS LOSS OF TIRE AIR. THIS WHEEL IS EOM AND HAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, OR ON A CURVE IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A POTENTIALLY FATAL ACCIDENT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10173642
37,000 miles · Oct 11, 2006
Power Train
MY TRANSMISSION REVERSE GEAR FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME APRIL OF THIS YEAR. THE CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL, PRESSURE PLATE, ETC WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR (06). IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED (MY THIRD!!) FOR THE REVERSE GEAR FAILURE. WHILE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE TRANNY OUT THEY DISCOVERED THAT MY …
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MY TRANSMISSION REVERSE GEAR FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME APRIL OF THIS YEAR. THE CLUTCH, FLYWHEEL, PRESSURE PLATE, ETC WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR (06). IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR I HAD MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED (MY THIRD!!) FOR THE REVERSE GEAR FAILURE. WHILE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE TRANNY OUT THEY DISCOVERED THAT MY CLUTCH WAS SHOT, AS WELL AS THE FLYWHEEL. THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL. THANKS GOODNESS THE CLUTCH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE AN 86 BMW WITH 270K MILES AND IT HAS THE SAME DRIVETRAIN!!! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10170585
39,800 miles · Oct 9, 2006
Power Train
MY 2004 HYUNDAI GT CLUTCH WENT AT 39,000 MILES. I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER AND I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER HAVING HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM BEFORE. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS CLUTCH IS A DEFECT. I AM A MECHANIC AND THIS CLUTCH DID NOT FAIL LIKE THEY TYPICALLY DO THE…
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MY 2004 HYUNDAI GT CLUTCH WENT AT 39,000 MILES. I AM NOT AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER AND I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER HAVING HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM BEFORE. THIS IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THIS CLUTCH IS A DEFECT. I AM A MECHANIC AND THIS CLUTCH DID NOT FAIL LIKE THEY TYPICALLY DO THERE WAS NO SLIPPING OR INDICATION OF A WEAR ISSUE BEFORE IT FAILED. JUST A RATTLING SOUND FROM WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE THROW OUT BEARING THAT STARTED ABOUT 5 DAYS BEFORE THE FAILURE. THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A 6 HOUR DRIVE THERE WAS A CLUCK WHEN I SHIFTED FOLLOWED BY A HARD SHIFT AND THEN NO POWER TRANSFER AT ALL. THIS LEFT ME IN A BIND I WAS STRANDED FOR 3 HOURS 4 HOURS FROM HOME SO I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF 1200 DOLLARS FOR PARTS AND LABOR ONLY TO FIND OUT WHEN THEY GOT IT APART THAT THE FLYWHEEL HAD ALSO BEEN DAMAGED AND THE NEW PRICE WOULD BE 2100 DOLLARS. FOR THIS KIND OF DAMAGE TO OCCUR IN THIS LITTLE TIME I WOULD HAVE HAD TO BEEN REALLY HOT RODDING IT, AND THAT'S NOT ME. I AM A VERY COMPETENT DRIVER. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS BOUT THIS ISSUE AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HYUNDAI SHOULD ADDRESS WITH AT LEAST FULL REIMBURSEMENT OF PARTS TOTAL BECAUSE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10170267