DecodedCars2008 Hyundai Tiburon
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2008 models.
- Class
- Subcompact Cars
- Body styles
- 2dr Hatch FWD Gs, 2dr Hatch FWD Gs Sport/GT, 2dr Hatch FWD Gtp
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 23 combined · 20 city / 28 hwy
- Length
- 173.2 in
- Curb weight
- 2,899–2,985 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 1 campaign
Pros & cons
What's good
- Few owner complaints11 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 75 for similar models.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 24 similar 2008 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon is a subcompact car offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 2.7L 6-cyl) and front-wheel drive.
It measures about 173 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 2,899 lb (2dr Hatch FWD Gs).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 28 highway), 9% better than the 2008 subcompact car average of 21.1 MPG, for an estimated $2,900 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2008
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2007 Tiburon — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2007; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2007 Tiburon →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2dr Hatch FWD Gs | 173.2 in | 69.3 in | 52.4 in | 99.6 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 2,899 lb | 62/38 |
| 2dr Hatch FWD Gs Sport/GT | 173.2 in | 69.3 in | 52.4 in | 99.6 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 2,970 lb | 62/38 |
| 2dr Hatch FWD Gtp | 173.2 in | 69.3 in | 52.4 in | 99.6 in | 59.4 / 59.1 in | 2,985 lb | 62/38 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiburon | 2.0L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 28 / 23 | +9% | $2,900 | 386 |
| Tiburon | 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 27 / 22 | +4% | $3,050 | 404 |
| Tiburon | 2.7L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 20 | -5% | $3,350 | 444 |
| Tiburon | 2.7L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 24 / 20 | -5% | $3,350 | 444 |
| Tiburon | 2.7L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | -10% | $3,550 | 468 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2008 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon under the current (2011+) test program.
Similar 2008 subcompact cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Hyundai Tiburon (this car) | 23 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2008 Toyota Corolla | 31 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2008 Honda Civic | 42 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2008 Toyota Prius | 46 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2008 Hyundai Elantra | 28 MPG | Not rated | 5 |
| 2008 Ford Focus | 28 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer | 24 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
Recalls (1)
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch · Apr 1, 2013
NHTSA campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
- Problem
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Not every 2008 Hyundai Tiburon is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2008 Hyundai Tiburon buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 1 recall this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 8 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Seat Belts — 2 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc) — 1 owner reports. Ask the seller and mechanic specifically about this system.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 120,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Tiburon years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Tiburon | 23 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 1 | 9 |
| 2006 Tiburon | 23 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 1 | 6 |
| 2005 Tiburon | 23 | 173.2 in | Not rated | 0 | 6 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →