The 1998 Hyundai Tiburon has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Seat belt buckle release and retraction faults.” Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon.
SEAT BELTS
4 NHTSA complaints · 2000-06 → 2001-11
“WHILE DRIVING ALL OF A SUDDDEN THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE JUST RELEASED ON ITS OWN”
“RECALL 01V345000/MANUFACTURER RECALL 2001; FRONT LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT RETRACT BACK”
“MY SEATBELT POPS OFF EVEN THOUGH I DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN TIGHT”
WHEELS
3 NHTSA complaints · 1999-01 → 1999-09
“THE SEAL BROKE ON THE TIRE THEY SAID AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT WITHOUT MY ACKOWLEDGEMENT AND I HAD TO BUY A NEW TIRE BECAUSE THE INSIDE TUBE WAS RUINED”
“THE 1997 MICHELIN X TIRES ON FRONT OF VEHICLE BROKE OFF DUE TO ALL LUGS: NUTS SHEARING OFF TWICE”
POWER TRAIN
6 NHTSA complaints · 1999-07 → 2004-04
“VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR, RESULTING IN STALLING”
“SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 1998 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WON'T DOWNSHIFT TO PASS, IT SLIPPED, AND SOMETIMES VEHICLE WOULD BARELY MOVE AFTER STOPPING”
“THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD WAS THAT THERE WAS A "SHIFT FLARE" IN MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
7 NHTSA complaints · 1999-05 → 2003-09
“AFTER LOSS OF POWER, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REGAIN POWER. THEN, VEHICLE RAN SLUGGISH FOR A WHILE”
“WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE THROTTLE VALVES ARE RACING HIGH, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF”
“STARTING FIRST OF FEB. CAR WOULD TEMPORARILY STALL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH ON, CAR WOULD DROP TO 500 RPM'S, THEN RED LINE TO 5500 RPM'S”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
3 NHTSA complaints · 1998-11 → 2000-11
“THERE WERE MULTIPLE CRACKS IN EACH OF THE ROTORS”
“CONSUMER WAS TURNING FROM THE HIGHWAY INTO AN EXIT, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SPINNED OUT OUT OF CONTROL AND LANDED ON THE GRASS AREA”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
16 crashes 1990–2024
How the 16 occupant deaths break down
13
driver deaths
3
passenger deaths
16
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1998 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
3
complaints mentioning a crash
0
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 1998 Hyundai Tiburon reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.