1997 Hyundai Tiburon Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon, and owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Webbing (seat belts)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belts may not extend and retract smoothly through the d-ring guides mounted on the body pillars aft of the doors. If the seat belts do not extend and retract smoothly, they may twist in the d-ring guides and make it inconvenient to extend and retract the seat…
Remedy: Dealers will install a stopper over each front seat belt d-ring guide to assist the seat belt to smoothly extend and retract. Owner notification began december 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
-
Tank assembly (fuel system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface. The "check engine" light would then illuminate…
Remedy: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If the fuel tank has cracked, it will be replaced.
-
Tank assembly (fuel system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface. The "check engine" light would then illuminate…
Remedy: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If the fuel tank has cracked, it will be replaced.
-
Motor (visibility)
The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.
36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 125,192 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 sme”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 5, 2014 · Fuel system, gasoline
“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). The”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 4, 2009 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon (Tiburon (Coupe)). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21–23 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18–20 / 26–29 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Hyundai Tiburon model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Hyundai Tiburon model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 Hyundai Tiburon | 4 | 36 |
| 1998 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 26 |
| 1999 Hyundai Tiburon | 3 | 26 |
| 2000 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 58 |
| 2001 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 36 |
| 2002 Hyundai Tiburon | 4 | 2 |
| 2003 Hyundai Tiburon | 9 | 328 |
| 2004 Hyundai Tiburon | 0 | 82 |
| 2005 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 43 |
| 2006 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 64 |
| 2007 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 42 |
| 2008 Hyundai Tiburon | 1 | 19 |
Checking a specific 1997 Hyundai Tiburon
How do I know if my 1997 Hyundai Tiburon has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1997 Hyundai Tiburon; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Hyundai dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V095001).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Hyundai models
- Sonata16,085 complaints
- Elantra8,715 complaints
- Santa FE7,663 complaints
- Tucson6,287 complaints
- Palisade2,447 complaints
- Accent2,032 complaints
- Ioniq 51,339 complaints
- Veloster1,292 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.