2003 Hyundai Tiburon vs 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Hyundai Tiburon | 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 328 | 20 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 110 | 14 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 33 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 23–38 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 45,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Tiburon | Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 164 | 7 |
| Air Bags | 71 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 34 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 2 |
| Visibility | 13 | 3 |
| Suspension | 13 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 37 | 0 |
| Stalling | 19 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
2003 Hyundai Tiburon
2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
Compare all Hyundai Tiburon vs Volkswagen New Beetle years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.