The Lemon Index
200420062nd generation
Worse than average · most complaints: transmission & drivetrain
20 owner complaints, first 3 years 19–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2005 Honda Insight2005 Nissan 350Z 1802005 Mitsubishi Lancer
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 17 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 05V187000 (steering) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Hyundai sent dealers 40 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Resetting automatic transaxle adaptive values”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Hyundai's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 20 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 11K to 23K miles (18K to 38K km) on the car (17 of all 20 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 4.3M views · 2003–2008 Hyundai Tiburon
Most-watched topics
- Spark plugs & ignition coils96K views
Changing Spark Plugs 2006 Hyundai Tiburon 2.7L V6xcountrycowboy · 82K views · 4 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door83K views
How to Replace Cabin Air Filter 2007 Hyundai Tiburon | AQ1053Filterheads · 81K views · 3 videos - Brakes & ABS78K views
Rear brake pad replacement 2008 Hyundai Tiburon Rotors Install Remove ReplaceFixing cars and stuff · 78K views - Infotainment, battery & electrical63K views
How to replace alternator on 2003 Hyundai TiburonAdam Hamrick · 48K views · 5 videos
Show 4 more
- Transmission & shifter50K views
Transmission service 2008 Hyundai Tiburon.Fluid ReplacementFixing cars and stuff · 33K views · 3 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors50K views
How to Install an Intake on a 2008 Hyundai TiburonJulioTRD · 36K views · 3 videos - Cooling system34K views
2003 Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Tiburon GT radiator replacementLets Fix IT · 31K views · 2 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors32K views
2003-2008 HYUNDAI TIBURON INSIDE DOOR HANDLE REPLACEMENT TUTORIALGearmo Auto · 14K views · 5 videos
Before you buy, watch
Hyundai Tiburon GT v6 2003 starting problemsHomie Jesus · 16K views
2008 Hyundai Tiburon VS 2010 Genesis Coupe In Depth Review and Comparison, Start Up, and ExhaustsSaabkyle04 · 435K views
Top Gear -- Hyundai Coupe (Tiburon) 2003 reviewClarksonian · 139K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2005 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 40 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Resetting automatic transaxle adaptive values
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Steering · recall issued 2005
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Hyundai Tiburon recall, all years · All Hyundai recalls
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,600–$3,150 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
Every Hyundai Tiburon year. 2005 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 3 older years (1997–1999, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 11 Hyundai Tiburon years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2005 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/hyundai-tiburon/?y=2005" title="Hyundai Tiburon reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="284" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/hyundai-tiburon/2005/">Lemon Index</a> (2005 Hyundai Tiburon reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew about one and a half times the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 140; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2005 Hyundai Tiburon problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (60%), airbags (10%) and equipment & accessories (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon have?
1 safety recall (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon get?
19 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 60% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon cost in fuel a year?
About $2,600 to $3,150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2005 Hyundai Tiburon have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
Is there a better Hyundai Tiburon year than the 2005?
Not nearby: the 2005 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Hyundai Tiburon years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works