2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT from North America - Comments

HI I have a 2004 Tiburon and the only problem is my driver side power window goes on and off like so many others I have heard before... What should I replace? Just the motor or is that the problem because it works intermittently???

Anyone??

Hi, I have a 03 Tib. GT 6 speed. I bought it a couple weeks ago. They told me that it has like a stage 1 or 2 clutch in it. I have never driven a car with racing clutch. When I take off in 1st gear the car bucks, like I don't know how to drive a clutch, like I am not giving enough gas or something. What is going on???

I bought my 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT 2.7 6-speed manual in October with 54,000 miles on it, and am now without a car because my clutch was dead. I couldn't even make it up a small hill to get home from work without it slipping out of gear. I need help from anyone who can help me. I can't afford to buy a $1,300 clutch that will just burn out in another 15,000 miles. sturbee@gmail.com is my e-mail address.

I bought a Hyundai Tiburon 2003 GS-r V6 on Dec. 24th, 2003 with just under 10,000 km on it (Demo car). I've had to change more things than I can possibly say but basically I've changed the calipers twice in 6 months, both window motors, both door locks, broken drivers side door handle, broken sunroof, had to change all 4 summer tires after 4 months of using the tires, fuel gauge stopped working so had dashboard replaced, broken clutch knob, driver's side speaker blew (I don't even listen to music loud), And the list goes on. All I can say is that I made my last payment to own this car 4 days ago and I plan to sell it for whatever I can get for it as soon as possible. I'm lucky I'm not bankrupt from this car. Anyway, that's my experience so far.

Had a good running 03 v-6 GT, Engine seized at 105K. Very Very pampered car. What the heck happened? Timing belt was replaced June 0f 08. May have been oil pressure failure, timing belt failure. Comments welcomed.

I bought my 2003 Tiburon new and drove it off the lot. I have 68,000 miles on it, and never had to put a dime into it other than oil changes and a new set of tires.

The only thing that is somewhat flaky is the radio does not come on right away. Not sure why it takes time to start. Sometimes is comes on right away, other times it may take 3 minutes. But that is my only complaint.

Clutch is original and I have a 6sp so I do shift a lot. No slippage and my foot does not have to hit the floor for it to engage.

Normally if you bought this car used, you bought someone's problem they brought on through neglect.

Here is to another 5.5 years!

I bought my first Tib in 2003. Beautiful car, no problems. Just like others I put a lot of work into it (rims, lambo doors, system, intake etc). I never had one single problem with it. Wound up totaling it on highway going about 140, but the car was so well built I was lucky to live.

Bought my second Tib, same year same model. To this day I still have the car, but it sits. I've had to put in 3 clutches and 3 flywheels in one year! ONE YEAR! Tried different stage clutches but they just burned up. The dealership said it was how I drove the car. Yeah OK. Just admit to the problem and fix it!

I have a Hyundai 2003 Tiburon, which was like many of you, was my first car.

As with many others, I have had my door locks replaced twice on each side, my keyless entry replaced, my CD lights are out, my air filter replaced, my passenger door handle sticks out, but after the drama I have had with the Hyundai dealership, I am currently ignoring it.

I also have had my sway bar broken several times, and it has currently broken again. I believe this will be the 3rd time (hence why I was looking for a website such as this).

Also, my air bag light will not go off, another thing that needs fixed.

My paint chipped off of my gas tank. I bought a bottle of paint from a local car store, and my dad actually repainted it, and it looks fine and has not chipped since.

I also, have had paint chipping off my spoiler, which I've also chosen to ignore since that is not covered under my warranty anymore.

Overall, I really do love my car, but obviously the '03 model has had several issues that should have been recalled. Although, after reading other complaints, I am nervous that I could continue to have new issues, such as my door handles actually coming off. I do not think I would purchase another Hyundai unfortunately.

I just bought a 2003 GT V6 with 25,000 miles. I registered the car this morning, and when I took it out tonight, there was just no power to the wheels! Clutch was just gone. I smelt the slight burning and that was all she wrote! Taking it Monday and getting a racing clutch put on it, and hopefully I should not have to worry about another clutch!! I am fortunate to say though there have been no other faults on the car.

I bought my 2003 Tiburon GT new in 2002. Now, I have 120k miles.

Early on, I had to change batteries twice. The biggest horror moment came when my right turn lights went out. Service Manager told me to go to newtiburon.com with step by step directions on how to fix the turn light problem, or it would cost a lot of money. Well, the newtiburon.com directions were so complex (I think it said I had to go in, past the fuse box about 3 layers, to bring out a soldered-in mother board. I would have had to remove, and replace, the 47 cent worth item by soldering, then reinstalling/soldering layers.) I called the Service Manager and told him I was ready to come in and throw money at him; he said $1500. What could I say? I comfort myself by thinking that that Hyundai part must have been on a motherboard with other dewhickies that were ABOUT to burn out, so this is Hyundai's way of...

I love this car. My gas cap's paint is just now chipping. No rust. Leather driver seat is wearing in the lower left seatback, from where I brush up against the seatback because there is no entry assist handle! I keep thinking about buying another Hyundai, but I just paid it off (with Stimulus money). I need to keep it because I really love my car and I really love not having a car payment and having lower insurance payments. Engine light comes on and off whenever it feels like it. Cheap original tires. For the price, this was a great deal.

03 TIBURON is in fact the worst car I have ever purchased. I bought it new and paid for the extended warranty. Hold on to your hats when you read this:

#1 Engine replaced

#2 Three clutch flywheel failures

#3 2 paint jobs

#4 1 A/C control failure

#5 1 window motor failure

#6 Sunroof alignment

#7 CV boots

#8 Airbag light on

#8 Alternator fell off

#9 Radiator hose came off after engine was replaced

#10 Rear seat buttons fell off 3 times

#11 New rear seat buttons don't cover the holes in the leather, HYUNDAI says the leather shrunk, the old buttons covered the holes

#12 drivers headlight filled with water, I drilled a hole in the bottom to drain it.

I think there's more but I don't want to run out of room.

I have fought tooth and nail for every warranty issue since late 2004, and got the repairs done until 3 months ago. The trans was getting hard to get into gear again, HYUNDAI claims the clutch failed from abuse and denied warranty. I brought 3 mechanics to HYUNDAI where we found that the center of the flywheel had broken apart and the pieces fell into the ass., causing the problem. HYUNDAI disagreed and wanted $2,300.00 to repair the car, I declined and told them to put it back together, 3 months and $760.00 later the car was towed to another dealership for a test drive and the clutch works fine.

The only problem now is I know the flywheel is broke, and more pieces will fall into the ass., OR DID THEY CHANGE IT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, NO MENTION OF THE BROKEN FLYWHEEL WAS MADE ON THERE INVOICE, ONLY TO RESURFACE. WHY WOULD I RESURFACE A BROKEN FLYWHEEL?

I am consulting with an attorney, and NO I cannot RECOMMEND HYUNDAI, OR ITS SO CALLED #1 warranty.

This isn't a 03 Tiburon, it is a 06.

I don't have the problems you people are saying, maybe it was noted and fixed.

I have a auto so no clutch issues, but read that even the 06 Tibby's have the same clutch problems.

My complaint is when I start my car it has a squeak noise, it goes away after the car warms up, but is annoying and had it in the shop 4 times for this.

My sunroof is OK but sometimes acts like it's going to get stuck when trying to open it with the auto open, so I do have a problem associated with you people, but more important than that, is any one having a problem with the squeak noise??

To the sunroof guy.

It's the switch, if it's under 5/60 it's covered under warranty.

If not, it's a relatively inexpensive repair.

As I have commented in other threads on this site, I was saved from buying a new 2006 Tiburon by comments on this site.

I read many comments about Tiburon owners not getting warranty repairs they deserved (ALWAYS A RED FLAG) and numerous problems. I was literally about to walk out the door to pick up the Tiburon when I happened on this site. I decided to wait a year and then I bought a 2007 Mustang, which has proven flawless.

On the other hand, other Hyundai models seem to be much more reliable. The one issue I could never deal with is the strictness of Hyundai's warranty. My best friend's Accent has been very reliable, but the local dealership (and this may NOT be a national policy of Hyundai) has told him he cannot even buy TIRES from any source other than the dealer or his warranty will be voided. He must buy all his oil, anti-freeze, fluids, batteries and tires through his Hyundai dealership (always at a ludicrous price). I do all my own maintenance on most of my vehicles and all Ford or GM require is that I keep receipts to document oil changes. Have any of you ran into this situation?

To the Mustang buyer who's friend is going to a questionable dealer...

I am a senior technician for a Hyundai dealer. And if your friend's dealer says that you must buy all of those things there or void you warranty, then either that dealer is mistaken on the warranty policy or they are dishonest. Either way I would look for another dealer.

You DO NOT have to buy services from the dealer to maintain you warranty, but you DO have to do them. An example would be a timing belt; if you break a timing belt at 80,000 miles and it destroys the valves and/or entire engine, and you HAVE NOT replaced the timing belt then yes, your warranty is null, but if you could provide a receipt from a garage or if you replaced it yourself a receipt for the parts then your warranty would be good. (providing of course if the instillation was correct...)

Another example would be if your engine throws a rod at 90k and you never had the dealer change the oil; as long as you've kept the receipts for you oil changes, you're fine. So if you don't want to pay the high dealer costs of maintenance, it's OK to perform your own or take it to a garage that you trust, just be sure to keep ALL of your documentation.

And more importantly, DO THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE!!! Oh one more thing, there is one maintenance item that MUST be purchased at the dealer, automatic trans fluid. Ours is a special blend called Hyundai SP-III that can only be purchased at the dealer. DO NOT PUT ANY OTHER TRANS FLUID IN YOUR CAR OR IT WILL DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION AND YOUR WARRANTY WILL BE VOID!!! Believe me, I can test to see exactly what type you've used and if I see anything other than SP-III, then I will not warranty the trans; the reason is because I send all transmissions to Hyundai for refurbishing, and if they see it, I get charged back 5 grand!!! Which comes out of the tech's paycheck. Ouch.

M.O.C

The Hyundai Tech.