2005 Hyundai Tiburon
The Verdict
The 2005 Hyundai Tiburon has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (17 complaints) and body (11 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 90/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Hyundai Tiburon, consider the 2002 model year which has 81% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2002 has 81% fewer complaints
View the 2002 Hyundai Tiburon dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Get notified if a recall hits this car.
We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon. No spam, no marketing.
Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED IN 3 PLACES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL PROFUSELY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. AN UNKNOWN RED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHAKER'S FAMILY HYUNDAI (203-754-9494, LOCATED AT 674 STRAITS TURNPIKE, WATERTOWN, CT 06795) WHERE A SMOKE TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,966.
TAKATA RECALL, COULDN'T SEE FOR A WEEK. WAS CUT UP ON LEFT SIDE AS WAS VISION GONE ON LEFT. SUFFERED AND STILL SUFFERING BRAIN DAMAGE FROM AIRBAG HITTING ME SO HARD. THAT CAR HAS RUINED MY LIFE. I CONSTANTLY SHAKE FROM NECK UP ON LEFT SIDE. I WISH I WOULD IF DIED IN THE ACCIDENT. THAT'S HOW MUCH IT HAS AFFECTED ME. I STAY IN THE HOUSE BY MYSELF ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. ITS SO EMBARRASSING FOR ME. SEVERE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY HAVE STARTED ALSO. THANK YOU HYUNDAI FOR RUINING MY LIFE AT 43 YEARS OLD. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE WOMAN BEHIND ME NEVER SLOWED DOWN AT 55 MPH.
FRONT RIGHT CONTROL ARM RUSTED UNTIL IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS! 2003 HYUNDAI TUBURONS HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS BUT 2005 DOES NOT. IT SHOULD BECAUSE HYUNDAI OBVIOUSLY DID NOT FIX THAT UNDERLYING ISSUE.
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH, DUAL FLY WHEEL ENTIRE CLUTCH SYSTEM 3 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS. EACH TIME COSTING ME ANYWHERE FROM $2400,- $3,400. NO WAY SHOULD A CLUTCH NEED REPLACED THAT MUCH THAT SOON, EACH CLUTCH LASTED APPROX 13 MONTHS. HYUNDAI WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM YET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT. WHO CAN AFFORD THIS MUCH WORK EVERY YEAR? NO ONE. I HAVE SPENT CLOSE TO $10,000 ON 3 CLUTCH JOBS IN 3 YEARS. I'M TAKING IT TO BBB AS WELL.
AROUND 70,000 MILES ON MY 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON, MY MECHANIC FRIEND NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM I WAS NEEDING A NEW CLUTCH. WE PURCHASED A CLUTCH KIT FROM DURALAST/ZOOM MANUFACTURED THESE PARTS. THE CLUTCH CHANGE IN A HYUNDAI TIBURON IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE AND $1025 WAS THE CHEAPEST I WAS QUOTED. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING FINE FOR THREE DAYS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CLUTCH PEDAL HAD NO RESISTANCE AGAINST IT WHILE I WAS DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND WOULD ONLY SHIFT IF I "HARD SHIFTED" THE CLUTCH OR IF I PRESSED DOWN ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD. LUCKILY, THE PEOPLE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND WHILE I TURNED INTO THEIR LANE HAD NARROWLY SWERVED AROUND MY CAR. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE IF THEIR WAS A DIFFERENT VEHICLE COMING SINCE I JUST SO HAPPENED TO BE BABYSITTING MY FRIENDS DAUGHTER THAT DAY! WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE JUST UP THE ROAD TO THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THE PART WAS "MISLABELED" AND IN THE PROCESS THE CLUTCH WAS PLACED IN THE CAR BACKWARDS. THIS "MISLABELED" CLUTCH IN TURN DAMAGED THE FLYWHEEL, MASTER CYLINDER, AND SLAVE CYLINDER AND I HAD TO PAY $3000 MORE TO GET MY CAR FIXED. AUTO ZONE AND THE HYUNDAI DEALER BOTH TOLD ME TO TALK TO THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THE PART IS "DEFECTIVE". FINALLY, AROUND 6 MONTHS LATER OF CONSTANT PHONE CALLS, I GET A HOLD OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE THROUGH ZOOM MANUFACTURING. THEY OFFERED ME A CHECK FOR $253. WHEN I TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS DILEMMA, HE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS ALL THEY CAN DO AND "WE HAVE HONORED THE CLAIM WITHIN THE TERMS AND POLICY WITH OUR CUSTOMER." REGARDLESS OF ZOOM MANUFACTURER'S TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE, I WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THESE PARTS ARE NO LONGER SOLD TO THE POPULATION. I ASKED MANY PEOPLE IN THEIR DEPARTMENT IF THE PART WAS RECALLED SO THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND NO ONE GAVE ME AN ANSWER. ALSO, MY CAR IS NOW AT 82,000 MILES AND THE CLUTCH IS ALREADY SLIPPING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. *TR
BOUGHT TWO NEW FRONT TIRES FOR TIBURON. NEXEN N5000 215/45R17 ON 10/15/2013. WITHIN THREE WEEKS THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE DEVELOPED A FLAT ON 11/7/13 IE WITHIN THREE WEEKS. NEVER HAPPENED WITH ANY TIRES. WHY THIS ONE? *TR
A CAR SPEEDING RAN A STOP SIGN CAUSING ACCIDENT WITH THE TIBURON WITH MOST DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT OF CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE IMPACT CAUSED TOTAL LOSS TO THE TIBURON AND INJURIES. *TR
I STARTED MY CAR AT APPROXIMATELY 8 A.M. ON 6/26/13 TO GO TO WORK. ONE SECOND AFTER THE ENGINE FIRED, THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG BLEW UP IN MY FACE. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THIS CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME AND ON MY PROPERTY WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. AFTER SOME TROUBLESOME NEGOTIATIONS, HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA AGREED TO MAKE A "ONE-TIME GOODWILL REPAIR" OF THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAG COMPONENTS IN EXCHANGE FOR SIGNING MY LIFE AWAY REGARDING THE VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY REPORTED THIS DEFECT TO YOU WHEN I CALLED THEIR REGIONAL OFFICE IN AUSTELL GEORGIA ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT. HOWEVER, I AM REPORTING IT NOW, IN THE HOPE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO SOMEONE DRIVING DOWN A TEXAS HIGHWAY AT 80 MPH. THEIR FLIPPANT ATTITUDE CONCERNING THIS, TO ME, IS DISTURBING. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY OR WOULD BECOME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE BLOWER SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE. IN ADDITION, THE BLOWER SWITCH CASING AND WIRES WERE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
WHEN YOU ARE STARTING OUT OR DRIVING THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE GEARS SLIP AND HESITATE GOING INTO GEAR, THE GEARS ARE SLIPPING BAD. *TR
PURCHASED 4 NEW PIRELLI P4 205/55R16 91H TIRES ON 11/1/10 FROM NASHUA WHOLESALE TIRE IN NASHUA NH. AFTER 15K MILES TWO OF THE TIRES ARE ALMOST BALD. THESE TIRES CARRY A 65K MILE WARRANTY. RETURNED TO DEALER SEEKING REPLACEMENTS. DEAL WAS RUDE AND SAID PIRELLI WILL NOT COVER IT, THEY DO NOT EVEN MAKE THAT TIRE ANYMORE. THEY WILL SELL ME 2 NEW P6 TIRES FOR FULL PRICE. CONTACTED THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF PIRELLI, [XXX], AND[XXX] ASKING FOR TWO NEW P4 REPLACEMENTS. NEITHER RESPONDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
STEERING HAD A TWITCH WHICH MAD IT A CHALLENGE TO STEER, AS A RESULT WHICH LED TO A CRASH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY CRACKED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, AND DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE THEN DIPPED TO THE GROUND SUDDENLY AND BOUNCED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LITERALLY GO AIRBORN FOR A BRIEF MOMENT WHICH THEN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,500.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON AND ALL POWER TO THE DASH AND HEADLIGHTS HAD GONE OUT WILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND SHE IS PREGNANT TOO. SAYS IT HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE. THE CAR HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE ON THE 3RD BATTERY. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND BIG BUCKS TAKING IT INTO A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THEY HAVEN'T FIXED ANYONE'S PROBLEMS. AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE. ANY IDEAS? *TR
SINCE I'VE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, I INITIALLY TOLD THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING. THEY, JEFF WYLER CLAIMED TO HAVE LOOKED AT THE CAR AND STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG. NOW AT 44,000 MILES, ANOTHER DEALER STATES THAT THE TIE RODS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 4 YEARS AND STILL NO RESOLUTION. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL, BUT WHEN I CONTACT HYUNDAI, THEY STATE THAT MY CAR DOESN'T FALL INTO THAT RECALL. I AM UPSET AND CONFUSED, THAT A CAR THAT INITIALLY HAD 9700 MILES WHEN PURCHASED IN 2006 THAT NOW HAS 44000 5 YRS LATER HAS EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIE RODS. I HAVE ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION, YET I AM ONLY GETTING THE RUN AROUND. I NEED HELP!
POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK, DRIVERS SIDE WENT 13 MONTHS AFTER BOUGHT CAR, THEN PASSENGER SIDE, NOW BOTH DO NOT WORK. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE TACHOMETER SUDDENLY BEGAN TO INCREASE AND THE SPEEDOMETER DECREASED. THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND SHIFTED INTO IN A LOWER GEAR BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE FLY WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 53,400. UPDATED 03/15/11*LJ UPDATED 03/21/11
2005 HYUNDAI TIBURON SE V6 STD. - CLUTCH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 42K AND AGAIN AT 53K - 7 MOS LATER CLUTCH FAILED AGAIN. HYUNDAI STATES "WE'VE COVERED 2 TIMES, NOT COVERING AGAIN". OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM W/THIS VEHICLE - I'VE OWNED STANDARDS ALL MY LIFE, MAZDA 189K ON ORIGINAL CLUTCH AND DATSUN 110K ON ORIGINAL CLUTCH - HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. THERE ARE SEVERAL ONLINE COMPLAINTS REGARDING 2005 CLUTCH FAILINGS NOT COVERED. HTTP://WWW.ALLWORLDAUTO.COM/COMMENTS/2005_HYUNDAI_TIBURON_COMMENTS_AND_COMPLAINTS_25-2223-2005-1.HTML THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION SUIT PENDING AGAINST HYUNDAI FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM OCCURRING IN 2003 TIBURON MODELS. THIS IS SOMETHING HYUNDAI HAS BEEN AWARE OF FOR YEARS AND HAS IGNORED. THEY CLAIM NOT ALL THE PARTS OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, KIT, ETC ARE COVERED UNDER THEIR 100K/10 YR WARRANTY - THIS IS A BOGUS WARRANTY. THIS SITUATION REQUIRES SOME INVESTIGATION. *TR
43 total