The Lemon Index
200520072nd generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 17,382 in the U.S. in 2006 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 32 complaints in its first 3 years.
32 owner complaints, first 3 years 19–23 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2006 Honda Insight2006 Hyundai Azera 1532006 Nissan 350Z 154
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Most problems on this year showed up between 6,400 and 32,000 miles (10,000–51,000 km) (the middle half of the 27 complaints, of all 32 filed so far, that listed a mileage).
- At 60K, 100K and 150K miles (97K, 161K and 241K km) Past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most.
This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not the odds that one car will have it.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 13V113000 (lights) 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 35 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Shift cable snap pin washer installation”?
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 32 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 6K to 32K miles (10K to 51K km) on the car (27 of all 32 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.
In owners' words
Events leading up to the failure: acceleration is dangerously slow. Engine output is low while the input of gas is high. Gear shifting is normal but, results are mediocre.
2006 Hyundai Tiburon owner · NHTSA complaint 10225336
More owner reports
2006 Hyundai Tiburon clutch failure at 17,000 miles. Manufacturer say it is driving habit failure and not covered under their warranty. Seam to be a problems with many other customers.
NHTSA complaint 10208108
Clutch failure at 32,000 miles 2006 Hyundai Tiburon.
NHTSA complaint 10250691
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 2006 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 35 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Shift cable snap pin washer installation
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Lights · recall issued 2013
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…
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. 2006 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 2006 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/hyundai-tiburon/?y=2006" 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/2006/">Lemon Index</a> (2006 Hyundai Tiburon reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon reliable?
We can't score it: only 17,382 were sold in the U.S. in 2006 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2006 Hyundai Tiburon problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (66%), tires (16%) and airbags (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon have?
1 safety recall (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon get?
19 to 23 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2006 Hyundai Tiburon problems show up?
Most problems on this year showed up between 6,400 and 32,000 miles (10,000–51,000 km) (the middle half of the 27 complaints, of all 32 filed so far, that listed a mileage). At 60K, 100K and 150K miles, a 2006 is past the range where most problems showed up: it has likely had them or dodged them, so repair records matter most. This is when owners who had a problem reported it, not a prediction for one car.
Does the 2006 Hyundai Tiburon have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 66% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2006 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 2006 Hyundai Tiburon have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
What Hyundai Tiburon year is better than the 2006?
Nearby, the 2005 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about one and a half times the average car's complaints).
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