1997 Hyundai TIBURON problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
103,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 23.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
Air Bags: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2002: 4; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10137351 · 2005-09-22 (September 22, 2005)
SMELLED GAS FUMES STRONGLY UPON FILL-UP FOR SEVERAL DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK CAR IN. MECHANIC SAID RECALL #00V095002 WAS IN EFFECT ON MY VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS (TANK & CAP). DEALERSHIP ONLY REPLACED CAP BUT DID NOT TELL ME AT THE TIME. WENT TO SMOG CAR NEXT YEAR AND COMES UP WITH EVAPORATIVE LEAK. TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME "THERE IS A HUGE LEAK ON THE TOP OF YOUR GAS TANK." WILL NOT REPLACE FOR FREE. CALLED MANUFACTURER WHO SAID THAT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE WAS NO LEAK AT TIME…
Owner-reported narrative. 83,539 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222386 · 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK AS DETERMINED BY A PRESSURE CHECK. HYUNDAI WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 733320 · 2000-10-03 (October 3, 2000)
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS PROBLEM 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED A PULSE GENERATOR SENSOR, HOWEVER, THE PART ONLY LAST ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 7 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDED A SPEED SENSOR OUTPUT. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THAT PART UNDER THE WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I MUST PAY THE LABOR WHICH WILL RUN ABOUT $95. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS AMOUNT SINCE I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE JUNE, 1999 WHEN THE CAR HAD 40,978 MILES ON IT. I ALSO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 733320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 756265 · 2001-12-31 (December 31, 2001)
TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN MAY OF 2000. CAR HAD APPROX. 40,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. IN JULY OF 2001, THE NEW TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT TO A NEW DEALER (TOM O'BRIEN HYUNDAI OF DANVERS). THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. WE TOOK IT BACK IN AUGUST OF 2001. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. ONE MONTH LATER, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. WE TOOK IT BACK. THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 11, 2001, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SHE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 756265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001040 · 2001-12-21 (December 21, 2001)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH AND COMING OFF RAMP WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT JAMMED ON BRAKES AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO BACK OF OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8001975 · 2002-01-10 (January 10, 2002)
ALL FOUR SEAT BELTS; DRIVER/ FRONT PASSENGER, AND TWO REAR ONES WILL NOT RETRACT AFTER BEING PULLED OUT, WHICH WILL NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8001975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097505 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)
CONNSUMER STATED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097505 at NHTSA ↗