2003 Hyundai Tiburon Recalls
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon. A recall applies only to vehicles built within the affected range, so check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for recalls are free at a franchised dealer.
- Suspension › Front › Control armCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2003, Elantra 2001–2003
Reported issue: Hyundai is recalling 160,904 my 2001-2003 elantra and my 2003 tiburon vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Road salt used during the winter…
Possible consequence: The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front lower control arms for corrosion damage. If specified levels of internal corrosion damage are found, the front lower control arms will be replaced with new front lower control arms incorporating additional holes in the upper and lower panels. If the front lower control arms do not…
- Fuel system, gasoline › StorageCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2002–2003, Sonata 2002–2003, Elantra 2002–2003 +1 more
Reported issue: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity" a valve on the fuel tank assembly may not close properly. If a vehicle rolls over and the fuel tank assembly valve is not properly closed, fuel spillage may occur.
Possible consequence: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. The recall began on october 5, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai de puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assemblyCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2002–2003, Sonata 2002–2003, Elantra 2002–2003 +1 more
Reported issue: Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.
Possible consequence: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began on june 30, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2002–2003, Elantra 2001–2003
Reported issue: On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.
Possible consequence: Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering gearbox mounting brackets may result in rear brake tube wear and corrosion, increasing the risk of brake fluid leakage. Brake fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability, which could result in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes, install brake tube clips, and apply anti-corrosion material to the rear brake tubes. Owner notification began january 22, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-633-5151.
- Air bags › FrontalCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2003
Reported issue: On certain sport utility vehicles, the front passenger air bag is mounted beneath the right portion of the instrument panel's padded surface. Tear lines are formed into the underside of the instrument panel's padded surface during the production process of the instrument panel top pad. These tear lines allow a portion of the instrument panel surface to fold upward if the passenger air bag deploys.
Possible consequence: In the event of a vehicle crash, the air bag may not deploy properly, possibly resulting in serious injury to the right front passenger.
Remedy: Hyundai will replace the instrument panel. Owner notification began on october 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai of america at 1-800-633-5151, or if the vehicle is located…
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2003
Reported issue: On certain sport utility vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism. Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (srs) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Damaged…
Possible consequence: Nondeployment of an srs air bag in a crash where air bag deployment is warranted could increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new driver seat belt buckle, if necessary, and will place a protective cover over the driver seat belt buckle wiring to prevent damage from occurring. Owner notification began september 23, 2003. Owners should contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-899-981-0188.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2002–2003, Elantra 2001–2003
Reported issue: On certain passenger vehicles, the rear brake tubes pass behind the front suspension crossmember. Two steering gearbox mounting brackets are welded to the crossmember. On vehicles equipped with an antilock brake system (abs), the rear brake tubes could contact both steering gearbox mounting brackets. On vehicles that are not equipped with abs, the rear brake tubes may contact only the left mounting bracket. Contact…
Possible consequence: Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes so they do not contact the mounting brackets, install brake tube clips to control the location of the rear brake tubes, and apply anti-corrosion material to the tubes in the areas where contact with the mounting brackets may have occurred. Owner notification began on…
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assemblyCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2003
Reported issue: On certain passenger vehicles, the driver seat belt buckle wiring could be damaged by interference with the driver seat cushion height adjuster mechanism.
Possible consequence: Damaged driver seat belt buckle wiring could cause the seat belt warning lamp or the supplemental restraint system (srs) air bag wiring lamp to illuminate. It could also cause the air bag fuse (cavity number 5) to open, preventing air bag deployment. Nondeployment of an srs air bag in a crash where air bag deployment…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new driver seat belt buckle, if necessary, and will place a protective cover over the driver seat belt buckle wiring to prevent damage from occurring. Owner notification began on march 24, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
- Unknown or otherCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2003
Reported issue: On certain passenger vehicles, the left lower instrument panel bracket was not installed.
Possible consequence: If this bracket has not been installed, there may be an increased likelihood of injury or increased severity of injury in a frontal crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicles to determine if the bracket has been installed. If the bracket has not been installed, the dealer will install the left lower instrument panel bracket. Owner notification began march 4, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…
← All problems reported for the 2003 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.