VehicleVerdict

2003 Hyundai Tiburon seat belts problems

The 2003 Hyundai Tiburon has 26 seat belts complaints filed with NHTSA — 6% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

26

Seat Belts complaints

6%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Seat Belts complaints by year

Tiburon seat belts complaints by model year26 complaints1997: 2 complaints1998: 4 complaints1999: 6 complaints2000: 17 complaints2001: 9 complaints2003: 26 complaints2004: 3 complaints2005: 2 complaints2007: 1 complaints2008: 4 complaints
Tiburon seat belts complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V290000Seat BeltsAugust 5, 2003 · 36 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM. DAMAGED DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WIRING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAG FUSE (CAVITY NUMBER 5) TO OPEN, PREVENTING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. DAMAGED DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WIRING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAG FUSE (CAVITY NUMBER 5) TO OPEN, PREVENTING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence

NONDEPLOYMENT OF AN SRS AIR BAG IN A CRASH WHERE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS WARRANTED COULD INCREASE THE RISK OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE, IF NECESSARY, AND WILL PLACE A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 23, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-899-981-0188.

02V290000Seat BeltsNovember 5, 2002 · 7,382 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD BE DAMAGED BY INTERFERENCE WITH THE DRIVER SEAT CUSHION HEIGHT ADJUSTER MECHANISM.

Consequence

DAMAGED DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT WARNING LAMP OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) AIR BAG WIRING LAMP TO ILLUMINATE. IT COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AIR BAG FUSE (CAVITY NUMBER 5) TO OPEN, PREVENTING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. NONDEPLOYMENT OF AN SRS AIR BAG IN A CRASH WHERE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IS WARRANTED COULD INCREASE THE RISK OR SEVERITY OF INJURY IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE, IF NECESSARY, AND WILL PLACE A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE WIRING TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 24, 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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

What owners report

“CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TRYING TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A STALLED VEHICLE IN THE HIGHWAY. WHILE AVOIDING THE STALLED VEHICLE CONSUMER ROLLED INTO A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. CONSUMER'S SEATBELT CAME UNDONE, AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · June 21, 2003 · crash · fire

Common questions

How many seat belts complaints does the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon have?

NHTSA has 26 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon seat belts — 6% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon seat belts?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the seat belts: 02V290000, 03V290000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.