Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My 2008 Hyundai Tiburon has been involved in 3 accidents (none my fault). The impact was of enough significance that the air bags should have deployed. The first collision involved a deer that was being chased by another vehicle, and it hit my car so hard, the deer exploded and the air bags did not deploy. I was told the crash was equivalent to 80 MPH head on. Also, since I have owned this vehicle it continually revvs itself and no one can figure out the problem. It does it all the time and is very dangerous as I cannot stop while its revving like this. I have to throw it in neutral, hit the gas, then it will stop revving. This is especially dangerous (and very annoying) in rush hour traffic. The electronic stability control will randomly shut itself off and quite frequently. I did not buy this as a used car.
Tl contact owns a 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. While driving approximately 10 MPH, the contact crashed into the passenger side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel and no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The police was called to the scene and a report was filed. An estimate has not yet been generated concerning the extent of the damage. The failure and current mileages were 11,000.
This vehicle was in a hit-and-run accident on the highway. It hit the wall going 65mph and the airbags did not deploy causing me to have a spinal injury, bruised ribs, a cracked sternum, a concussion, and a fractured metatarsal. after the first collision, the car rolled back and hit the wall a second time which the airbags still did not deploy. It is totaled and in the hands of State Farm.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai Tiburon. While attempting to turn right into a parking lot, another vehicle sideswiped the passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
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.
On Friday, August 25, 2006 my son was driving in a residential area when he attempted to turn left and the steering locked up and he had no control and could not get his car to stop and he hit a tree. He and his passenger were fortunately wearing their seat belts and did not get thrown out of the car. The air bags did not even deploy. None of them. Car taken to body shop for repair as it was undriveable. Driver and passenger did not go to er, however, they did have whiplash-type injuries and passenger jammed his finger.
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.
Related recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
On certain sport utility vehicles, the front passenger air bag is mounted beneath the right portion of the instrument panel's padded surface. Tear lines are formed into the underside of the instrument panel's padded surface during the production process of the instrument panel top pad.
Remedy: Hyundai will replace the instrument panel. Owner notification began on October 13, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Tiburon years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (71), 2004 (21), 2007 (13), 2008 (10) and 2000 (9) model years. Airbag complaints make up 22% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Tiburon airbag problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 03V-321 (frontal, Aug 26, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Tiburon airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles; 51% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (48 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (10).
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.