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2008 Hyundai Tiburon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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: 15 of 19 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2025
Air Bags

air bags deployed for no reason while driving.

NHTSA ODI #11693583

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2020
Air Bags

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP ITS ALSO HAD AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON

NHTSA ODI #11375725

120,000 miles · Mar 15, 2020
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND NO ONE CAN FIX THE ISSUE BUT THE DEALER WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS YEAR HAVE A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS

NHTSA ODI #11318134

122,394 miles · May 14, 2019
Air BagsSeat Belts

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. ERROR CODE LEADS TO PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT ISSUE. DEALER JUST RESET COMPUTER AND LIGHT CAME BACK ON. KNOWN CAMPAIGN #094 ON THIS BUT DOESN'T APPLY TO THIS VIN. UNKNOWN IF AIRBAG WILL ACTUALLY DEPLOY IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. LIGHT IS ON AND DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $350 FOR THE PART ALONE (SEAT BELT LATCH)

NHTSA ODI #11207617

30,000 miles · Aug 18, 2016
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW (8 YEARS) AND IT STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING AIRBAG LIGHT AND THEY DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND IT DISAPPEARS FOR A WHILE. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH SO HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS LIGHT I…

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AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. I'VE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW (8 YEARS) AND IT STARTED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING AIRBAG LIGHT AND THEY DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND IT DISAPPEARS FOR A WHILE. I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH SO HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS LIGHT INDICATES THE AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI #10896882

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2016
Air Bags

PURCHASED NEW, ORIGINAL OWNERS. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON VARIOUS TIMES REQUIRING REPAIR, AND DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE (NORTH PARK HYUNDAI) HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO REPAIR DEFECTS UNDER WARRANTY COVERAGE ON VEHICLE. AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED FOR NO REAL REASON (DEALERSHIP SAID MOISTURE CAUSED FAILURE - VERY HOT AND HUMID IN SOUTH …

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PURCHASED NEW, ORIGINAL OWNERS. AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON VARIOUS TIMES REQUIRING REPAIR, AND DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE (NORTH PARK HYUNDAI) HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO REPAIR DEFECTS UNDER WARRANTY COVERAGE ON VEHICLE. AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE FAILED FOR NO REAL REASON (DEALERSHIP SAID MOISTURE CAUSED FAILURE - VERY HOT AND HUMID IN SOUTH LOUISIANA) AND REFUSED TO COVER THE PART SO WE PAID OVER 600 BUCKS TO CHANGE THE MODULE BECAUSE OUR COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER IS USING THIS VEHICLE. NOT LONG AFTER THIS REPAIR (THAT WAS TOLD TO US, BY THIS DEALERSHIP, WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. OUR LATEST VISIT TO THIS DEALERSHIP WAS THE SAME - THIS TIME THEY SAID IT IS THE AIRBAG SENSOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT (NOT THE CENTER CONSOLE ONE THAT FAILED LAST TIME) AND (WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT) THEY WANTED ANOTHER 600 DOLLARS TO CHANGE THIS MODULE! THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY ISSUES WITH THE 2008 TIBURON AIRBAG SYSTEM (THIS CAR ONLY HAS AROUND 60K MILES ON IT), AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WHEN WE ARE IN IT. LUCKILY THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10870102

50,000 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10749477

30,000 miles · Jun 23, 2015
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or OtherCrash

MY 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS (NONE MY FAULT). THE IMPACT WAS OF ENOUGH SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE FIRST COLLISION INVOLVED A DEER THAT WAS BEING CHASED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND IT HIT MY CAR SO HARD, THE DEER EXPLODED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD THE CRASH …

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MY 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS (NONE MY FAULT). THE IMPACT WAS OF ENOUGH SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THE FIRST COLLISION INVOLVED A DEER THAT WAS BEING CHASED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND IT HIT MY CAR SO HARD, THE DEER EXPLODED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD THE CRASH WAS EQUIVALENT TO 80 MPH HEAD ON. ALSO, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE IT CONTINUALLY REVVS ITSELF AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. IT DOES IT ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AS I CANNOT STOP WHILE ITS REVVING LIKE THIS. I HAVE TO THROW IT IN NEUTRAL, HIT THE GAS, THEN IT WILL STOP REVVING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS (AND VERY ANNOYING) IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WILL RANDOMLY SHUT ITSELF OFF AND QUITE FREQUENTLY. I DID NOT BUY THIS AS A USED CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10726991

32,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10632242

11,000 miles · Aug 25, 2008
Air BagsCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE POLICE WAS CAL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. AN ESTIMATE HAS NOT YET BEEN GENERATED CONCERNING THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

NHTSA ODI #10239670

Official recalls

1

13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

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.