AI Damage1999 Hyundai Tiburon: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Hyundai Tiburon filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 26
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 31% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 23% of all complaints
- 3 Seat belts 23% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 19% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 15% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 15% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (31% of all).
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (23% of all).
- Seat belts: 6 complaints (23% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 5 complaints (19% of all).
- Air bags: 4 complaints (15% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Vehicle was involved in a crash. Consumer hit vehicle that turned in front of consumer's vehicle at about 35 mph. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Driver sustained injuries.
Two weeks prior to accident car was at the dealer to "fix" the reason why his air bag light was on. The dealer "fixed" the light. Two weeks later driver was exiting highway getting onto the on ramp to another highway and for no reason his airbag exploded. The ground was dry and there were no obstacles in the road.
My son was driving on a highway entering a freeway on an on ramp when his airbag "exploded" for no reason. There was nothing on the road he was simply driving along on the highway. The air bag exploded which resulted in my son hitting a wall barrier on the freeway.
Brakes malfunctioned, resulting in a collision/ minor injuries. Vehicle was totalled. Brake failed on wet road.
The car is experiencing the consequences detailed in the campaign. I contacted the manufacturer, they are saying that the campaign does not apply to my vehicle vin#.
My daughter has a 1999 hyundai tiburon and is having trouble with transmission, I seen where there was a recall. She was driving down the road and her car just down shifted and when she tried to give it gas it would not go, we got if off the road and put it out of gear. I drove it home and it done me the same way.
Dt*: the contact stated a nhtsa # 01v345000 recall concerning the seat belt webbing, was received in 2001. The seat belts were repaired by the dealer. However, the vehicle has the same problem again, the webbing does not retract. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but no repairs were made.
The drivers seat belt buckle failed, as a result, the seat belt did not latch. The female receptacle buckle no longer worked.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,316 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tiburon has 59 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 26, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Hyundai Tiburon?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, seat belts. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (15%), warning lights, check engine (8%), airbag warning light (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Hyundai Tiburon?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Hyundai Tiburon from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.