Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
16 -20 City / 24 -27 HWY
Horsepower
138 -172
Seats
4
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Beatrice B
2008 Hyundai Tiburon, aka, the shark: it lives up to its name.
The Hyundai 2008 Tiburon is sleek, fast, and horsepower is fantastic. My vehicle was bought brand new in 2008, and I still get compliments on its beauty. The interior is not as great if you want a vehicle that can comfortably seat adults, especially the back seat. More room would be necessary. For a single person who has one adult for t seat passenger, this vehicle is fine. Also, the trunk is spacious for a coup.
accountCircle Justin K
That you can not really fit more that two people in the car without feeling cramped
It is a very fun car to drive it handles well and had a decent amount of power. It's a little bit small but it is very reliable
accountCircle Gayle Dobson
Great Car
The only problem I have had which I learned how to fix myself is the transmission started to start skipping. I researched this problem in great depth before getting a new transmission.Hyundai will reset the transmission software but only once. After that i I had it happen again so I figured out how to do it myself. Disconnect the battery for a few minutes and it resets the cars computer. Then drive the car for 30 minutes at your normal fast speeds. The computer learns your driving patterns.It saved me buying a transmission. The only other problem is they stopped making Tiburons. They are my favorite car.
accountCircle Richard n
It's sleek and has a great acceleration for a 4 cylinder.
I love the sleep look it has. For a sports car, there is plenty of room. The only complaint I have is that the seat is not comfortable for my commute (4+ hours a day).
accountCircle david Y
Design, the looks the drive
Drive well, site 3 in the back good design
accountCircle Heather C
It's been tough one accident and it was still drivable.
I love my car. It's a small hatchback sports car and fits my life. It is good in the snow. I wish i had cruise control.
accountCircle Wendy Jackson
I love my car but several sensors have gone bad.
Yes
accountCircle Adrian S
Fun car to drive -- fast pickup and looks good!
Great car, regular maintenance required. Did have an emission issue but otherwise no issues. It is a manual car and get good mileage. I especially enjoy the quick pick up. Not a large backseat so not ideal for families. It is low to the ground so some people might have trouble getting in and out.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Samantha S
The tires are horrible and have to constantly be replaced.
Dashboard lights always come on and off. Change tires way to often. Have had many electrical issues.
accountCircle Mike Johnston
Will it work
Can i put a new timing belt in without having any problems or will it ruin the car??
accountCircle Dave M
HIGH MAINTENANCE COSTS LOW FUEL INTAKE
The car is older and it breaks down. The bucket seats are uncomfortable for me.
accountCircle Emma D
It is pretty old. I would probably just go for a newer model.
Very reliable. All of the problems that it has had are mostly my fault, such as tires and a wreck. My brakes are pretty bad as well as my struts.
accountCircle Samantha W
It gets me where i need to go. It runs, it is fast
It's a nice car. Very fast can get up and go. But some things on car are cheaply made like handles, things on seat, levers
accountCircle Rick M
Sounds amazing and feels fast!
A lot of electrical problems aside from traction in the tires I have changed them multiple timers and they still slip up. The car runs great but small problems aside on a daily basis. It's a great starter car nothing else. My brake lights works go out a lot, the battery would be dead or the plug would disconnect.

Hyundai Tiburon Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
GS
138 HP 24-24 MPG 4 Seats
car
GT
172 HP 21-21 MPG 4 Seats
car
SE
172 HP 20-20 MPG 4 Seats
car
GT Limited
172 HP 21-21 MPG 4 Seats
Photos may not match model

2008 Hyundai Tiburon Owner Reviews

4.26
35 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 57%
4 stars 26%
3 stars 9%
2 stars 3%
1 star 6%
accountCircle Al H on April 3, 2021
Review of obsidian black tiburon
The tiburon is surprisingly reliable. I have had no problems with it other than cracked leather in the driver's seat but that is to be expected after all the years of use. Other than that all that has gone wrong is an alarm system that was installed via aftermarket that caused the door to jam
accountCircle Mike Johnston on March 17, 2021
Will it work
Can i put a new timing belt in without having any problems or will it ruin the car??

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Taylor S.

It is attractive, and now becoming unique because it is not made anymore. Few on the road. Also, it is a good car all around. Solidly built. After 11 years no mechanical problems. Not even any squeaks or rattles.

likeFilled Toni M.

The car is v8, the body style is my type of car, leather seats, and the color. It has 17 inch tires. It looks stylish and low rider. It is automatic car. It gives me happiness toc ride in style. Love the car.

likeFilled Mariya G.

Fast, small, no blind spots, great on gas and reliable. I like the sunroof and the ability to just have a moonroof as well. The hatchback opens and gives me lots of space for groceries because I have access to the backseat through the door as well.

likeFilled Sian M.

Do not take much to fill her up. It do not take time for the air to get cold. Fits my small family of 5. Lots of trunk space. Do not take that long to warm up. Do not cost that much to fix her if something breaks.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Taylor S.

Not very good in snow; the car is too light. Also has trouble with small hills in fourth gear. But second gear handles that. (My Tiburon is a stick.) Being a sporty coupe, it does not have a soft ride.

dislikeFilled Toni M.

The car is not a good gas economy. It takes a lot of gas and gas reduce fast. It has mechanical issues possibly cheap parts. The timing belt is needed more often than what is recommended. The spoiler is gets rusty after some years. The paint is fading on the car.

dislikeFilled Mariya G.

I cannot fit things inside the back seat unless I go through the trunk. Annoying to have a coupe and have to constantly push the front set down to get passengers in or out. Car is black and attracts dirt very easily.

dislikeFilled Sian M.

Low profile tires which means have to replace them more often. The car sits to low on the ground. Wish we had a little bit more room in our car. Our tires are hard to find so we have to stock up on our tires.

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Owners

The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon has an average owner rating of 4.31 out of 5 which ranks it #9 of 29 other Small Cars.

1
car
5
2
car
4.56
9
car
4.26

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon has a combined MPG of 33 which ranks it #9 of 30 other Small Cars.

1
car
36 MPG
2
Tie
car
35 MPG
9
Tie
car
27 MPG

Is The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon A Good Car?

It's an excellent car! 6 speed manual transmission GT. LOVE IT! Great gas mileage, reliable, and still runs perfectly with appx 95,000 miles on it.
Christian J.

How Reliable Is The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon?

It has absolutely no problems. Only issue that's disappointing is the spoiler fades so badly. Looks like acid in it.
Colleen C.

Is The 2008 Hyundai Tiburon A Good Value?

Great value. I paid $7000 for a used model they had 39,000 miles on it. Had new tires and very clean.
Jude J.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon power steering fluid type?

Answer: For the 2008 Hyundai Tiburon You are free to use any kind of automatic transmission fluid that You'd like for the power steering system and You will be fine. The power steering fluid and ATF are similar in that...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Not Rated

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test
(Not Tested)
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety