Most common 2005 Hyundai Tiburon problems
Share of the 43 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Tiburon complaints by model year
Best Tiburon years: 2002, 2008, 1999. Years to avoid: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2000. Compare all years →
2005 Hyundai Tiburon recalls (1)
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
Certain passenger vehicles May have been built with threaded portions of the steering gearbox assembly's left and right inner ball joint assemblies that contain internal cracks in the material structure.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gearbox assemblies on these vehicles free of charge. Owners were contacted by telephone beginning on April 8, 2005, and instructed not to drive their vehicles.
What 2005 Hyundai Tiburon owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
I have had to replace my clutch, dual fly wheel entire clutch system 3 times now in the last 3 1/2 years. Each time costing me anywhere from $2400,- $3,400. No way should a clutch need replaced that much that soon, each clutch lasted approx 13 months. Hyundai wants nothing to do with the problem yet thousands of people are having same issues. Something needs to be looked at. Who can afford this much work every year? No one. I have spent close to $10,000 on 3 clutch jobs in 3 years. I'm taking it to bbb as well.
Purchased my new vehicle in jun 2005. Experienced problems <1000 miles. Clutch slippage and transmission not fully engaging into gears 1-3. Have successfully avoided (3) collisions with vehicles, all taking place in a busy intersection, the fourth time though had to veer into the next lane and side swiped an s10 blazer.
Air bags
Takata recall, couldn't see for a week. Was cut up on left side as was vision gone on left. Suffered and still suffering brain damage from airbag hitting me so hard. That car has ruined my life. I constantly shake from neck up on left side. I wish I would if died in the accident. That's how much it has affected me. I stay in the house by myself all day, every day. Its so embarrassing for me. Severe depression and anxiety have started also. Thank you Hyundai for ruining my life at 43 years old. I was stopped at a red light and the woman behind me never slowed down at 55 MPH.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 45 MPH a vehicle pulled out of a side street hitting the passenger side causing it to spin and the side curtain airbags did not deploy. The passenger side window shattered and the side mirror detached. The driver was wearing a seat belt and a police report was filed at the scene. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop for inspection however; the mechanic was unable to duplicate the problem.
Suspension
Steering had a twitch which mad it a challenge to steer, as a result which LED to a crash the passenger front tie rod assembly cracked while driving at 35 MPH, and disengaged from the vehicle and the vehicle then dipped to the ground suddenly and bounced causing the vehicle to literally go airborn for a brief moment which then caused the vehicle to go out of control.
Front right control arm rusted until it failed while driving. Very dangerous! 2003 Hyundai tuburons have a recall for this but 2005 does not. It should because Hyundai obviously did not fix that underlying issue.
2005 Hyundai Tiburon engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon a good car?
Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Tiburon rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Tiburon at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon?
The transmission & drivetrain — 18 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about clutch assembly. Next are the air bags (7) and suspension (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon have?
There is 1 recall for the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon, the most recent from April 28, 2005 (tie rod assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Tiburon?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2002, 2008 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2000. See the full Hyundai Tiburon years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Hyundai Tiburon problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 53,000 miles; 49% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.