2003 Hyundai Tiburon Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 1%of 328 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 112,788miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, 1% of the 328 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 112,788 miles. 1 a fire, 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.
“I was driving to my brother place when a wire started to smoke and cought on fire from under the steering wheel it was smokey where I could not see from the smoke and I hit a parked car front windshield shattered and my airbag did not exposed at all. It was on a city street no one got hurt just the car”
NHTSA complaint #11271576, filed 2019-10, 135,125 miles“Takata recall air bag light remains on door handles inside and outside constantly break off even after being replaced by factory parts leaving occupants trapped in car also replaced camshaft contoller cause wiring is melting. Contacted brandon Hyundai dealer service dept they told me handles had been already replaced before and refused to repair also they lied and told me there were no further recalls for my vehicle but when I googled there are actually around 10 recalls for my vehicle and Hyundai refuses to fix or even admit there is a recall..my control arms need replacing also.”
NHTSA complaint #10825518, filed 2016-02, 170,000 miles“Shifting gears has LED to slipping, grinding, and locking. It's gradually getting worse. Now, even when driving on the freeway shifting can lock up. Sometimes I have to force the shift into gear. Reverse is the worst. Had the master and slave cylinders replaced and still having issues with clutch.”
NHTSA complaint #10464273, filed 2012-07, 85,000 miles“The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, he depressed the accelerator pedal and noticed something being spewed from under the pedal. Also, the oil warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the oil pan bolt had become detached from the vehicle, causing the failure. The contact replaced the oil pan bolt but stated that the metal in the area where the bolt was located had become stripped and the bolt was loose. The vehicle was not repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #10487410, filed 2012-12, 90,450 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11038458Oct 8, 2026Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure…
- 11038456Oct 7, 2026Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
164 complaintsAir bags
71 complaintsElectrical system
34 complaintsSeat belts
23 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsBrakes
10 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsEngine cooling
8 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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