Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Clutch went out, I have a manual transmission, and the clutch would pop out of gear then just went out. This is not due to driver . I was driving luckily at 30mph when it was like it had no gear shift at all had to push it to the side and have it towed.
The clutch assembly failed for the second time on my daughters 2007 Hyundai Tiburon. She bought the car used, with approximately 11,000 miles. The first clutch failed before 12,000 miles, and the dealer replaced it under warranty. The clutch has now failed for the second time, with 30,734 miles. Hyundai said it was not under warranty since it was a wear part, but they would provide the new parts as a 'goodwill gesture'. I was to told that I would have to pay the labor cost of $720.00 to the dealer. The poor design of the clutch, using a dual mass flywheel, a "pull" type pressure plate, and a metering valve in the slave cylinder all contribute to the premature failure of the clutches in these cars. Hyundai has made its position clear, that the failure of thousands of clutches on this line of cars must be due to "driver misuse", or "riding the clutch". …
My clutch is slipping already. Ive owned the car for six months and the previous owner repaced the cluch, and he o ly owned the car for 10 months. My previous standard transmission car went through 1 clutvh in the 15 years i owned it. Something must be defective. I do not know what the situation will be when it goes out all the way , i just really hope it does not hurt anyone. Becaus e of circumstancesthe damage to me and my life is quite great. And god please dont let it physically hurt me on top of the fact i vary well may go to prison for something i absolutlly did not do.i worked out of state and without my car i will not make it to court. Since i lost my job because of this incident i did not do, i cannot fix the car before it goes all the way out. Once again please god let no one get huet by my car, please please please
Clutch fails to disengage. This is most dangerous when vehicle is parked in gear(as when parked on a hill with the rear of the front wheels turned to curb, and an attempt is made to start vehicle by pushing clutch pedal down and activating ignition, the vehicle May start with clutch engaged, and propel the vehicle into street and into th e lane where traffic is approaching from behind, and therefore out of sight. Other dangerous situations are attempts are made to start vehicle are made in crowded parking lots where pedestrians might be walking behind car, and vehicle is propelled rearward. …
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.
Clutch recall, powertrain recall, master cylinder recall, slave cylinder recall. When driving my car after a week of purchasing the car I pushed the clutch pedal to the floor to shift, and the pedal did not come back up. After several attempts to bring it back up to shift it finally came back. When shifting again the car died instantly, and after the car was off I could shift to any gears. When turning the car back on in neutral the car turned on, but would not shift to first it would push itself forward and die. Trying to start the car in first would take off but you could only put it back to neutral. After taking it to several mechanics I changed the slave and master cylinder, and nothing happened. To my surprise the clutch and dual mass flywheel, clutch, shift fork was completely destroyed. This is a common problem and they won't do anything about it.
Drove my 2004 Hyundai Tiburon for 17K miles and 1 day after driving about 1 hr in traffic I noticed my clutch would not engage my first gear properly. I have a 6 spd. Brought the car to Hyundai dealership and they told me that "I" had worn out my clutch and wanted 2 charge me $1800.00 to repair it. After arguing and calling corporate Hyundai and having to go to the dealership and explain to these guys and I know how 2 drive standard they finally replaced my clutch as a "one time good-will repair" under 1 circumstance, that I would pay 4 the 15K mile service, which at $235.00 was better then $1800.00. Came across the problems that other are having after signing up to www.newtiburon.com and figured I would file a complaint also. The thing is that after they repaired it with what seems to be the revised clutch number per the TSB, when the car is cold it grinds going into to 2nd gear. …
Related recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The automatic transmission pressure control solenoid valve seals do not remain sufficiently elastic, resulting in transmission fluid leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the pressure control solenoid valve.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Tiburon years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (164), 2006 (42), 2004 (39), 2007 (19) and 2005 (18) model years. Transmission complaints make up 50% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Tiburon transmission problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 99V-178 (automatic transmission, Jul 7, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Tiburon transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles; 69% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the clutch assembly (171 mentions), followed by the manual transmission (76).
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.