air bags deployed for no reason while driving.
The worst 2008 Hyundai Tiburon problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags10
- Seat belts4
- Brakes2
- Driver assistance2
- Transmission2
- Electrical1
- Lights1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
Recalls 1
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
- 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.
Recall number 13V113000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon 34
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger...
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- The federal safety agency has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit...
- The federal safety agency has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag...
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover...
- This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships
- Follow the guidelines outlined in
2008 Hyundai Tiburon fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20 | 27-28 | 22-23 |
| 2.7L 6‑cyl | FWD | 16-17 | 24 | 19-20 |
What 2008 Hyundai Tiburon owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the hydraulic clutch was depressed and ceased in the depressed position. The contact was able to switch lanes and pulled the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure persisted. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the failure as a complete clutch failure. The mechanic was able to repair the clutch except for the linkage. The failure persisted after the repair. After the clutch repair was performed, the steering and the brakes became inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000.
When I bought the car from a dealership its also had an airbag light on
Airbag light is on and no one can fix the issue but the dealer wanted to know if this year have a recall for air bags
Airbag light is on. Error code leads to passenger side seatbelt issue. Dealer just reset computer and light came back on. Known campaign #094 on this but doesn't apply to this VIN. Unknown if airbag will actually deploy in event of an accident. Light is on and dealer wants to charge $350 for the part alone (seat belt latch)
Started noticing the issue in mid may 2016. I don't usually move my seat from the original position of comfort but driver seat has shifted inadvertently sliding forward or back without warning while driving (15 - 50mph). Along with the seat belt on occasion unbuckled while moving sometimes in conjunction with seat movement, other times alone. This has happened several times lately and I have taken more care to hear the click & tug on belt but this sometimes doesn't make a difference. While driving on interstate (up to 75mph), a shifting of weight in seat, or looking over shoulder for traffic while changing lanes can pull clip out of clasp.
My sunroof exploded while I was driving on the highway. I am unable to attach a photo to this form for some reason but do have them and can email.... Updated 08/23/16 *bf
Airbag light continuously illuminated. I've been the only owner of this vehicle since new (8 years) and it started shortly after purchase. Have taken it to the dealership multiple times regarding airbag light and they disconnect the battery and it disappears for a while. I've never been in a crash so have no idea if this light indicates the airbags will deploy or not.
Purchased new, original owners. Airbag light has come on various times requiring repair, and dealership of purchase (north park hyundai) has always refused to repair defects under warranty coverage on vehicle. Airbag control module failed for no real reason (dealership said moisture caused failure - very hot and humid in south louisiana) and refused to cover the part so we paid over 600 bucks to change the module because our college age daughter is using this vehicle. Not long after this repair (that was told to us, by this dealership, would take care of this problem), the airbag light came on again. Our latest visit to this dealership was the same - this time they said it is the airbag sensor under the passenger seat (not the center console one that failed last time) and (wouldn't you know it) they wanted another 600 dollars to change this module! There are obviously issues with the 2008 tiburon airbag system (this car only has around 60k miles on it), and we are very concerned when we are in it. Luckily the car has never been in an accident.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 hyundai tiburon. While driving various speeds, the air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Compare the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
Other model years
Questions about the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon
Is the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon reliable?
Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon, fewer than a typical Tiburon model year.
What is the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon year score?
The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon scores 87 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Tiburon: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon?
Airbags, with 10 complaints, typically around 32,000 miles. Next is seat belts (4).
How many recalls does the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon have?
1 recall, covering exterior lighting.
What year does the Hyundai Tiburon have bad airbags?
The Hyundai Tiburon model years with the most airbags complaints are 2003 (71 complaints), 2004 (21 complaints) and 2007 (13 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon get?
Official estimates for the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon range from 19 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20 city and 27-28 highway.
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