1998 Hyundai Tiburon Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 12%of 26 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the air bags of the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon, 12% of the 26 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 16 year old daughter rear ended a vehicle and the airbag deployed breaking her elbow in 6 places and her humerus detached from the elbow. The accident happened on february 13, 2003 and she has limited use of her right arm as of today. She has had two surgeries and goes to occupational rehab three times a week. Please let me know if you have had any other complaints about injuries from the airbags in the 1998 Tiburon.”
NHTSA complaint #10069882, filed 2004-01, 70,000 miles“The car has been into Hyundai dealers 4 times since I've owned it. I am the original owner. Car has been in literally every other month since purchase in october 1998. Major problem has to do with the computer(s) and transmission. Check engine warning light, airbag warning light have both gone off. Car wouldn't shift and would hesitate at highway and side street speeds. Car just returned from dealer yesterday after 4th time in for repair. At 65 MPH, the rpms suddenly shot to approx 5800. Car has been terribly unreliable. …”
NHTSA complaint #708592, filed 1999-07“He was traveling about 35mph on boulevard and it was raining. Vehicle in front of him jammed the brakes. He started hydroplaning, and vehicle wouldn't stop. Dual air bags didn't deploy at all.”
NHTSA complaint #875522, filed 2000-11Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 10 | 53% |
| 2007 | 13 | 31% |
| 2006 | 6 | 9% |
| 2005 | 7 | 16% |
| 2004 | 21 | 26% |
| 2003 | 71 | 22% |
| 2001 | 8 | 22% |
| 2000 | 9 | 16% |
| 1999 | 4 | 15% |
| 1998 | 3 | 12% |
| 1997 | 8 | 22% |
Other parts of the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology