2006 Hyundai Tiburon: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 64 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (66% of complaints); the 2008 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2013
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai tiburon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55-65 mph, the fog lights were activated and the vehicle suddenly shut-off. Additionally, the speedometer suddenly changed by increasing and decreasing. The contact stated that once the fog lights were turned-off, the issue went away. The contact also stated that whenever the hi-beam headlamps were activated, there was static in the radio. The contact had not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the manufacturer nor a dealer were made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Feb 2021
“My tiburon was fine a few days ago but recently started giving me problems when shifting gears while the car is in motion or shifting into reverse while the car is stopped. I did some research and found that this is a common issue with these cars and that it seems to be a faulty model of clutch. According to my research this is something that is a safety issue and has not yet been brought up by hyundai for a factory recall”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai tiburon. While driving 35 mph, another vehicle merged into the contact's lane and came to a stop. As a result, the contact rear ended the vehicle. The air bag failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“I bought the car and looked at the vehicle repair records and the clutch had been replaced about 12000 miles ago and I can push the clutch in and it is slipping horrible, I can push the clutch all the way down and it will slip and grind every gear as if I'm trying to shift without the clutch. I even stopped downshifting because it wouldn't go into gear without horribly grinding! I get so worried about it sometimes, that I almost wreck trying to keep my car in gear without breaking the trans, it is like learning how to drive a manual car again and I have driven one for a long time now. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2014
“I'm from arkansas city kansas. I was driving in wichita ks on my way back home. I was driving about 55mph. When I engaged my clutched to go into the next gear nothing happened. The transmission seemed to go into gear but the car wouldn't move. I slowed down and stopped on the side of the road. I put it into first gear and tried to drive. The car moved nowhere. I wasn't sure what happened so I towed it back home. I looked online everywhere to find nothing that related to my problem. My car still wont move and I have no idea what is wrong with it. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 2006 hyundai tiburon. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle accelerated without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The check engine indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. While at a stop, the vehicle performed as if it would accelerate. The acceleration returned to normal within five minutes after the accelerator pedal was depressed. The failure occurred on seven different occasions. The manufacturer was not notified and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 72,000.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jun 2014
“I was stopped this pass weekend and told my brake lights are not working, was told by the state trooper that there was a recall on tiburon models between the yrs of 2006-2008 on stop lamps during brake don't illuminate and to get them checked out...sure enough I found the recall online, I called hyundai and they explain that my car isn't on the list for recalls...but I see the recall notices all over the internet...please explain ??? Thanks *tr”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Oct 2013
“I have a 2006 hyundai, tiburon gt with the 2.7 litre v-6 and 5 speed manual transmission. After shifting from 1st to 2nd gear, the car jerks (like when you 1st learn to drive a manual) on several occasions I have came very close to being rear ended when this happens!!! And sometimes it wont come out of 1st gear when car is stopped/parked, you have to shut the car off put it in neutral then it will go into whatever gear you want. *tr”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Feb 2012
“Vehicle had premature clutch failure. Repair cost 2700. Thousands of complaints on identical failures. Hyundai refuses to admit there is a problem, despite 2006 lawsuit in california concerning the 2003 models. Updated 05/12/11 *bf”Owner report · Power Train · Dec 2010
“Manual transmission clutch premature wear out or failure. See all attached web sites. Http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0c9eb6; http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/hyundai/tiburon/r72880/comments/; http://www.aboutautomobile.com/complaint/2006/hyundai/tiburon/clutch this is 4-6 years of complaints from different owners this should be addressed. If one person can find other people with different year vehicles of the same problem. Do we have to have people killed before you take action on any situation. A check valve and spring may be removed to remedy this dangerous situation. It causes the car to lurch of buck unexpectedly. Possibly causing a rear end collision. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 6 of these complaints and injuries in 6 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.
How other years compare
Check your exact Tiburon by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon reliable?
NHTSA has 64 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon. The most complained-about area is power train (66% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2006 Hyundai Tiburon problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 32,000 miles or less.
Does the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning exterior lighting:brake lights:switch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.