2005 Hyundai Tiburon Problems
- Complaints
- 43filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 53,000miles, 37 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 2.7L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 18 complaints (42% of the total), followed by air bags (7) and suspension (5). 37 of the complaints include a mileage, and 49% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 53,000 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 40 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 11 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags7 16%
- Suspension5 12%
- Steering4 9.3%
- Brakes3 7.0%
- Equipment3 7.0%
- Tires3 7.0%
- Engine2 4.7%
- Seat belts2 4.7%
- Body and structure2 4.7%
Also reported: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Electrical system (1), Electronic stability control (1), Exterior lighting (1), Fuel system (1), Other or unknown (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “Drove my Hyundai Tiburon normally since august 2007 when I purchased the car. By june 2008 the clutch began to slip, and progressively become worse and would slip in any gear at any RPM. I had to purchase an aftermarket clutchmasters clutch and fidanza flywheel to replace the prematurely failed clutch that only had 20,000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #10264033, filed 2009-04, 22,000 milesAir bags: “I started my car at approximately 8 a.m. On 6/26/13 to go to work. One second after the engine fired, the steering wheel airbag blew up in my face. I have never had an accident in this car. The vehicle was stationary at the time and on my property with no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. After some troublesome negotiations, Hyundai motor america agreed to make a one-time goodwill repair of the vehicle's airbag components in exchange for signing my life away regarding the vehicle. …”
NHTSA complaint #10538258, filed 2013-09, 41,909 milesSuspension: “I recently took my 05 Hyundai Tiburon into the zimbrick Hyundai dealership in madison wi for service. I am having alignment issues with my vehicle and have had them since I purchased the vehicle. I discovered from the dealership that there is a common problem with the emergency brake system which can cause the rear brakes to lock up while driving. They stated they have worked on 7 or 8 recently where they had to replace the assembly. I see no recalls or TSB's on this issue and it is a serious safety issue that should be addressed. …”
NHTSA complaint #10180936, filed 2007-01, 1 milesSteering: “Steering had a twitch which mad it a challenge to steer, as a result which LED to a crash the passenger front tie rod assembly cracked while driving at 35 MPH, and disengaged from the vehicle and the vehicle then dipped to the ground suddenly and bounced causing the vehicle to literally go airborn for a brief moment which then caused the vehicle to go out of control.”
NHTSA complaint #10430330, filed 2011-10, 146,400 milesMileage when problems were reported
49% of the 37 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 17,000 and 73,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon · coupe | not rated | 5 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2005 Hyundai Tiburon version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 21 | 28 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Tiburon FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Tiburon FWD | 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Tiburon FWD | 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Tiburon FWD | 2.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 05V187000Apr 28, 2005Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assemblyCovers: Hyundai Tiburon 2005, Elantra 2005
Certain passenger vehicles may have been built with threaded portions of the steering gearbox assembly's left and right inner ball joint assemblies that contain internal cracks in the material structure.
Recall details for the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 40 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038722Oct 15, 2026Back-over prevention (rear camera). Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the PDW…
- 11038458Oct 8, 2026Engine. Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles…
- 11038456Oct 7, 2026Engine. Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles…
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo…
- 11025476Nov 6, 2025Exterior lighting. This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates…
- 10251285Feb 14, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of…
- 10247189Oct 13, 2023Engine cooling. This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- 10235566Apr 24, 2023Body and structure. Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial…
- 10230904Jan 30, 2023Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates…
Other model years of the Hyundai Tiburon
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 19 | 32,000 | 1 | — | 20 | — | Falling |
| 2007 | 42 | 39,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 64 | 32,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 43 | 53,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 82 | 41,030 | 0 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 328 | 44,000 | 9 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 36 | 63,000 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 58 | 69,018 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 26 | 89,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 26 | 77,000 | 1 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 36 | 103,000 | 4 | — | 22 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Hyundai Tiburon model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon have?
NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon is reported most often?
Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 18 complaints (42% of the total), followed by air bags with 7.
Has the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon get?
The EPA rates the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon (Tiburon, 2.7L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon reported?
Among the 37 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 53,000 miles and the middle half falls between 17,000 and 73,000 miles; 49% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.