2000 Hyundai Tiburon Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Hyundai Tiburon most often describe front seat belts that twist, jam, or fail to retract, and headlights that burn out or are hard to adjust. Airbags that did not deploy in crashes, fuel fill shut-offs with strong fuel odors, and early tire wear are also reported. Mileage is not stated in most seat belt and headlight complaints.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Front seat belts twisting, jamming, or not retracting

   • 16 complaints (28%)
   • median 58,350 mi at 9.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2020

   Owners describe front seat belts that twist, jam, or catch in their guides, so they do not extend or retract smoothly, and sometimes stay loose or are hard to latch. Some say a recall repair did not stop the problem, and others report that dealers did not have the parts to complete the recall repair. An owner says they now leave the belts unbuckled, and others describe the problem as serious and recurring. Most reports do not state mileage, and the problem is described as present from purchase or continuing after a recall repair.

   Recall 01V345000

   What to check: Ask whether the front seat belt recall 01V345000 was completed on this vehicle, and check that both front belts extend, retract, and latch smoothly before buying. Ask whether recall parts are available, since some owners say dealers could not complete the repair for lack of parts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I can not get anyone to care about this seatbelt problem...very dangerous and now I just have to just leave them off for they get twisted so bad you spend longer and longer time to untwist..sick of it and plan to trade my car.”

   NHTSA complaint #737273, filed 2000-12

   “My seatbelts get twisted or won't extract or retract 99 out of 100 times. I have had my headlights burnout numerous times and keep having to replace them. They need to be replaced every 2-3 months and it is at my expense as the dealer states it isn't covered under my warranty. One usually blows and then a week later the other side follows, this only happens with my low beams. I will turn my AC on and it will either run hot or if it runs cold at all it only stays cold for a few minutes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #764339, filed 2002-07
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights burning out, dim, or hard to aim

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 1.7 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2003

   Owners describe headlights, especially low beams, that burn out repeatedly, sometimes with the second bulb failing about a week after the first. Others say the lights are dim, do not reach far enough, or are misaligned, and that the dealer said they could not be adjusted. According to complaints, dealers said bulb replacements were not covered by warranty, and some owners paid for the bulbs themselves. Mileage is not stated in these reports, and the replacements are described as happening within months to about two years of ownership.

   What to check: Ask whether the headlight aim can be adjusted on this vehicle and whether the bulbs have been replaced under warranty. On a test drive at night, check that both low beams are bright and aimed correctly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have had to replace my headlights, on both sides, 3 times now in the last 5 months. The dealer tells me this is normal, but it's not acceptable to pay so much money for a car that is going to need headlights replaced every 2 months. There should be a replacement part offered at least. This is not acceptable.”

   NHTSA complaint #759774, filed 2002-03

   “I am tired of replacing the dim light bulbs. This is definitely a defect and the dealer will not honor it as such. I had to drive 10 hours during evening hours with no dim lights in the rain. I was terrified. I could have caused a serious accident. There needs to be a recall on this”

   NHTSA complaint #10000681, filed 2003-01
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in crashes or SRS light on

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2004

   Owners describe collisions, including frontal, rear, and guardrail impacts, in which the airbags did not deploy. Some describe serious frontal impacts, and the damage was described as severe enough that deployment should have occurred. A separate report describes the SRS warning light coming on and staying on, which a dealer could not reproduce. According to complaints, the manufacturer said the impact was not directly on the sensor, and the owner disputed that explanation. Mileage is mostly not stated, and the crash reports involve speeds from about 30 to 65 miles per hour.

   What to check: Ask a technician to check the airbag system for stored codes and confirm the airbag warning light is off with the key on. Ask the seller for accident and repair records, since owners in these complaints describe airbags that did not deploy after a crash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was going 45 MPH trying to get onto the highway. Vehicle in front of me slammed on his brakes..I rear-ended him. Frontal impact for me. During the impact, my head hit the steering wheel. My front end looks like an accordion. Air bag did not deploy. Hyundai will be contacted. Minor injuries. Report to police will be filed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10016551, filed 2003-04

   “Driving at a speed of 65 MPH when another car cut me off I had to brake and hit the guardrail head on, and the airbagsdid not deploy. When I called Hyundai to complain they told me that due to the cost of airbags they put it in a certain place where you have to hit it for the airbag to deploy. The odd fact was that I had a head on collision if I had not had my seatbelt on I would have gone through the windshield.”

   NHTSA complaint #756084, filed 2001-12
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel filling problems and strong fuel fumes

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 92,000 mi at 11.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners describe the fuel pump shutting off repeatedly or the tank refusing to fill, sometimes taking ten to twenty minutes to fill, and in other cases the tank overfilling. Other complaints describe strong fuel odor inside the cabin, with an owner reporting health concerns, and charcoal canisters and valves replaced without lasting relief. According to complaints, a dealer said a recall did not cover the problem and offered no solution, and an owner reports paying repeatedly for repairs. Most reports here state mileage, from about 80,000 to 120,000 miles, and some say the fill problem got worse over time.

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank, charcoal canister, and related valves have been inspected, and whether any fuel-system check engine code is stored. On a test drive and during a fill-up, check that the tank fills normally and that no strong fuel odor is present inside the cabin.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Since day one of my purchase car tank refuses to fill up ever 3 seconds gas pump stops spitting out gas. Est time to fill tank is 15-20 mins. My car has a check engine light for last 2 months auto store test came up gas evap system failure. Last 3 months strong odor of gas has been coming in car with stong gas fumes. Car has been spending more gas than normal since smelling fumes maybe from leak? Car is well maintenance but im worried the problem is only getting worse.”

   NHTSA complaint #10579297, filed 2014-04, 120,000 miles

   “I have issues with my car and the gas tank, charcoal canister and valves. I have had to pay over 1,000.00 to have these fixed twice. I have been getting very sick driving my car and do not feel that it is safe to drive. The fumes come into my car and are very heavy, especially in the heat. I am very concerned for my health and my safety and have almost gone to the hospital. I have had to go on steroids and breathing medications for the issues. I have seen similar complaints by multiple people in regards to the same problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10713419, filed 2015-04, 88,000 miles
5. 5
   Tires

   Premature tire wear and sidewall or belt failures

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 12,296 mi at 4.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners describe tires wearing out unusually fast, in some cases at about 12,000 miles and with irregular wear. Others report a bubble on a sidewall, a tire that blew out, and a front vibration that the dealer reportedly linked to missing steel belts. Some owners say the tires failed well short of their rated mileage, and an owner was initially asked to pay part of the replacement cost. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 12,000 to about 68,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the tread for uneven or early wear, and inspect each sidewall for bubbles or bulges before buying. Ask whether the tires have been balanced and checked for vibration, and whether the tire sizes match the vehicle's placard.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Bought bf goodrich tires from walmart. 195/55r 84v tract tires in june 2006. About 5 days ago I was checking my tire pressure and found a large blister/bubble on the side of the tire wall. Approximately 3 1/2 inches long oblong and about 3 inches width. I took my car to walmart in ravenna ohio 44266 where I bought the tires. They measured the tire width and checked the car miles and said they would order new tires. I also only got 24000 miles on the tire and they are 60,000 mile tires. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10257443, filed 2009-02, 68,037 miles

   “Headlights seem to continually burnout, all of my tires went bad (one blew up) at the same time. I am scared to drive my care until I have new tires put on. (DOT number: 395vb68349 tiresize: p195/55r15)”

   NHTSA complaint #747286, filed 2001-06

Buying note. Used-car buyers can ask whether the front seat belt recall was completed and check that both belts retract, extend, and latch smoothly. Headlight aim and bulb condition, the fuel fill and fumes, and the airbag warning light are also worth checking on a test drive.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 49 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.