2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON Complaints

COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT MALFUNCTIONING CLUTCH ON 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW, AND ALSO PAID FOR AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY, WHICH WE WERE TOLD WOULD PICK UP THE COST OF ANY REPAIRS THAT WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE MFG. STANDARD 100K BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. EACH TIME WE COMPLAINED WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THE WAY WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CLUTCH HAS GONE OUT AT 57K MILES AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND WILL COST $2000.00 TO FIX. WE WERE NEVER TOLD OF THE TSB 04-40-005 INDICATING DEFORMED/DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PARTS WHICH SHOULD BE REPLACED WHEN CUSTOMER BRINGS VEHICLE IN COMPLAINING OF CLUTCH PROBLEMS. CAR IS SITTING AT DEALERSHIP AND WE ARE WAITING FOR A WRITTEN DENIAL OF COVERAGE FROM MFG. AND A WRITTEN ESTIMATE OF COST FROM DEALER BEFORE WE PROCEED. HOWEVER, WE SEE THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CLUTCH SYSTEM AND A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST HYUNDAI IN ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT, CASE #06CC00052. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM/VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED OR KILLS SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT CONTROL THEIR VEHICLE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THIS PART. *TR

NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE BEGINNING. WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDOW MOTOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. AT LESS THAN 4 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, HAVE REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE, DUE TO INTERIOR AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS THAT STAY ON AND DRAIN THE BATTERY. AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES, THE LEFT BLINKER CAME ON CONTINUOUSLY AND STAYED ON, DRAINING THE CAR'S BATTERY. I HAD TO DISABLE THE TURN SIGNALS ENTIRELY, AND NOW HAVE TO SIGNAL WITH MY ARM OUT THE WINDOW. IT WILL BE OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL. THE MOTOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS ALSO BROKEN AGAIN. IF THE MOTOR FOR THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES, I WILL BE UNABLE TO SIGNAL TURNS. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT WITH 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE ADVERTISED 100,000 MILE POWER-TRAIN WARRANTY. IN 2005 THE CLUTCH AND PRESSURE PLATE FAILED AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER FOR WARRANTY SERVICE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS A "WEAR ITEM", HAD PROBABLY BEEN ABUSED, AND WAS NOT COVERED. I HAVE DRIVEN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MANUAL SHIFT MILES IN SEVERAL CARS AND NEVER HAD A CLUTCH FAILURE. IT WAS REPAIRED AT A COST OF OVER $800 AND NOT REIMBURSED BY HYUNDAI. IN JULY 2007, THE CLUTCH AGAIN MALFUNCTIONED AND THE CLUTCH HYDRAULICS AND FLYWHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1800. THE COMPANY AND DEALERS CONTINUE TO CLAIM THAT THE FAILURES ARE NOT THE FAULT OF THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN, BUT ARE RATHER THE FAULT OF THE DRIVER. MY RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA SITE SHOWS OVER 650 NEARLY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 2003-2004 HYUNDAI TIBURONS GT'S AND NEARLY NONE ON 2005-2007. I BELIEVE THAT HYUNDAI KNOWS OF THE FAULTY DESIGN ON EARLIER MODELS AND HAS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM ON LATER MODELS BUT WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR REBATE THE REPAIR COSTS TO THOSE OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THESE CATASTROPHIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY PROBLEMS ON 2003 MODELS. A FULL INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE MADE INTO THESE FRAUDULENT PRACTICES OF HYUNDAI USA AND RESTITUTION SHOULD BE MADE TO THE INJURED OWNERS OF 2003 HYUNDAI GT'S WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *JB

HI. I OWN A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON GT 2.7 6 SPEED. THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 18, 000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WITH A COPY OF THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT REGARDING THE TIBURON CLUTCH ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MY DRIVING, AND THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE UP TO ME TO PAY FOR THIS, WHICH WILL BE ABOUT $1600-2000 OUT OF MY POCKET. I REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS. *AK

2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON HIGH PRESSURE GAS LINES IN ENGINE WERE SPRAYING FUEL ALL OVER. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL DEFECT, WHICH WE THINK NEEDS A RECALL. THIS REPAIR COST US 400 DOLLARS WITH RENTAL CAR. THE CAR HAS 75000 MILES ON IT. *JB

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT: A FRONT-END COLLISION. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED MY CAR. MY DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGERS SIDE DID. I HAVE INJURIES. AND MOST LIKELY WILL BE GOING FOR SURGERY. THERE WAS SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IF MY AIR BAG WAS FAULTY. I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS ON MY CAR (HYUNDAI TIBURON) FOR FAULTY SEAT BELT MECHANISM, WHICH EFFECTS THE FUSE, WHICH BLOWS OUT AND NEVER SENDS THE SIGNAL TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG. WAS THIS THE CAUSE OF MY FAULTY AIRBAG? OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE? WAS MY INDIVIDUAL CAR RECALLED FOR THAT FAULTY DEVISE? WAS MY CAR OVERLOOKED BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE RECALL AND THE TIME OF MY PURCHASE? I AM THE SECOND OWNER. IS THERE ANYWAY TO CHECK MY INDIVIDUAL AUTO? I BOUGHT MY CAR CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED. AND IT WAS ONLY DEALER SERVICED. WE BUY NEW CARS FOR SAFETY FEATURES. WE GET DISCOUNTS ON INSURANCE RATES FOR: HAVING THESE FEATURES ON OUR CARS; THERE ARE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT TELL US WE NEED FUEL; THAT OUR DOORS ARE OPEN; THAT WE NEED TO CHECK THE ENGINE; THAT WE HAVE ABS BREAKS; EVEN TO TELL US THAT WE NEED TO WEAR OUR SEAT BELTS. THERE IS EVEN A LIGHT THAT SAYS WE HAVE AN AIRBAG. BUT NOTHING, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, SAYS CHECK THE AIRBAG AND MAKE SURE IT IS WORKING. THIS IS A LIFE SAVING DEVISE. WHY ARE THERE NO REGULAR CHECK-UPS, FOR THE AIRBAG, TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS WHEN YOU NEED IT? THIS SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR ALL VEHICLES!!! WHY DID MY AIRBAG NOT WORK? AGAIN, IS THERE ANYWAY TO CHECK MY INDIVIDUAL AUTO? I FEEL THAT IF IT WORKED, I WOULD NOT BE PERMANENTLY INJURED! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN CLEAR WEATHER THE CONTAC'S VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED, AND HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 27,000.*AK

THE CLUTCH IN MY HYUNDAI TIBURON JUST SIMPLY WON'T LAST LONG, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON ME COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR AND THE QUALITY OF THE CLUTCH IS JUST SIMPLY NOT UP TO STANDARDS. MY CAR HAS 53000 MILES AND IS A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 HYUNDAI TIBRON GT, HAD SEV STALLING PROBLEMS AND CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 19,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND ALL POWER ON DASH BOARD WAS LOST. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND STATED THAT THE STALLING RESULTED DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE CLUTCH, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP, AND THE VEHICLE HAD A COMPLETE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 11/06 THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE FAILURE, AND THAT THE DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING WAS BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING THE WEEK OF 1/15/07 THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T DRIVE FORWARD OR REVERSE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD HER IT WAS THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WITH FILE # 1031455. THE CONTACT TOOK THE OLD FLYWHEEL TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT IT WAS FROM OWNER'S ERROR. *AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 HYUNDAI TIBURON USED WITH 24,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I DROVE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES WITH NO EVIDENT PROBLEMS. SUDDENLY THE CLUTCH WENT OUT OF THE CAR. I FOUND OUT THAT THE CLUTCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AT 18,000 MILES DUE TO A FAILED BEARING/CEASED FLY WHEEL. HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP TOLD MY SALES AGENT THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THE 6/60,000 WARRANTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEM. AFTER TAKING THE CLUTCH OFF, THEY DECIDED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR AND THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE REPAIRS. ON CARSPACE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS, I HAVE FOUND THAT NUMEROUS 2003 TIBURON PURCHASES HAVE RESULTED IN FAILED CLUTCHES MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE EARLY LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND HYUNDAI SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION IN THESE VEHICLES. MECHANICS I TALKED TO BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT COMPLETELY RELEASING THE CLUTCH. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BY MY SON WHO IS A US MARINE. I THINK IT IS DISGRACEFUL THAT A KOREAN COMPANY IS CHEATING OUR YOUNG SOLDIERS. *NM