1997 Hyundai Tiburon problems & reliability
36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon, alongside 3 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
2 complaints report injuries (2 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 9 | 25% |
| Air Bags | 8 | 22% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 17% |
| Visibility | 6 | 17% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 11% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 8% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 8% |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 6% |
| Seats | 2 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 hyundai tiburon. The contact stated that after having the vehicle serviced under nhtsa campaign number: 00v095001 (fuel system, gasoline), there was a persistent strong smell of fuel. The contact removed the back seat to inspect the access port for the fuel tank and discovered a 4 inch…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Jun 5, 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 hyundai tiburon. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to have it repaired according to recall campaign id number 00v095002 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). There was not a remedy repair performed on the vehicle. After the inspection the "check engine" warning light illuminated…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Nov 4, 2009
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 hyundai tiburon. While driving approximately 50 mph, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they found a leak in the fuel tank as determined by a pressure check. Hyundai was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The recall number was…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Mar 26, 2008
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- FUEL CAP REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN 36
Investigation SQ00003 · opened Feb 2, 2000 · open · led to recall 99V001000
Technical service bulletins
66 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon. The 10 most recent:
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 the various causes of…
23-BD-002H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 30, 2023
This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to…
21-EM-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 30, 2021
This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.
21-BR-002H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 23, 2021
This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.
21-EM-003H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 10, 2021
This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area.
20-BR-002H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 30, 2020
This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the â Tire Balance Data Sheetâ must be fully completed including…
20-SS-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 19, 2020
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of…
20-BD-014H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 14, 2020
This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance.
20-SS-002H(1) · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 6, 2020
This bulletin describes the general guidelines to help disinfect and protect vehicle exterior/interior surfaces using recommended safe chemical products.
20-BD-007H-1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2020
This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: â ¢ A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. â ¢ A 30 Day alert - vehicle has not started and reported…
20-EE-003H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 23, 2020
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 1997 Hyundai Tiburon has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1997 Hyundai Tiburon?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.