Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Hyundai tiburon. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy after another vehicle crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. No injuries were reported and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was driven to the repair shop. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000.
2007 Hyundai Tiburon airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2007 Hyundai Tiburon have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 27,337 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Tiburon | 6 |
| 2006 Tiburon | 5 |
| 2007 Tiburon (this page) | 12 |
| 2008 Tiburon | 10 |
7crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 12 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Hyundai Tiburon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Hyundai Tiburon we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 12.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of this 2007 Tiburon describe two distinct failure patterns: complete non-deployment in crashes and persistent warning light issues.
For non-deployment: Multiple owners report being in collisions ranging from 7 mph to 65 mph—including head-on impacts, barrier strikes, and vehicles flipping—yet airbags did not deploy. Owners sustained back, neck, and rib injuries; one suffered a spinal injury, cracked sternum, and concussion. Hyundai's stated deployment requirement was that both front sensors must be hit simultaneously, a condition owners found inadequate. One owner called Hyundai about known airbag complaints and was told repair would cost $100. One owner had the airbag system fail a second time after prior repair.
For warning light issues: Owners report the airbag warning light illuminating intermittently or staying on continuously. Dealers repeatedly reset the light rather than repair the underlying issue. One incident involved moisture from a cup holder dripping onto the airbag computer, causing light illumination at 14,000 miles; the dealer replaced the computer but the light reappeared days later. Dealers offered no lasting solution. One owner noted the car went out of warranty before the recurring warning light was addressed.
One report describes a passenger-side airbag deploying without impact at 25 mph on normal road, causing loss of control and a tire blowout. The dealer could not determine the cause.
Same Hyundai Tiburon airbags reports on nearby years: 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Front and side airbags fail to deploy during collisions of various severities, from low-speed impacts to high-speed highway crashes and vehicle rollovers.
When: During crashes ranging 7 mph to 65 mph; mileage at failure varied 6,500 to 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag inflation during frontal impact; No airbag inflation during side/sideswipe impact; Steering wheel impact without airbag cushioning; Repeated non-deployment after prior repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai stated that both front sensors must be hit to deploy airbag; some owners had airbag system replaced but failure recurred
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai representatives indicated dual-sensor requirement and quoted $100 for repair in at least one case; no recall issued
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag warning light on instrument panel illuminates intermittently or stays on persistently; dealers reset the light without identifying or fixing the root cause.
When: As early as 14,000 miles; persisted across multiple visits and vehicle remained out of warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light illuminates and will not dim; Warning light goes on and off intermittently; Warning light stays on continuously
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced airbag computer; light reappeared within one week; dealers only reset the light on repeat visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refused to replace computer a second time; no recall or TSB mentioned; owner asked why recall was not issued while car was under warranty
Inadvertent airbag deployment
Passenger-side airbag deploys without any collision or impact event during normal driving conditions.
When: 27,337 miles; occurred at 25 mph on normal road conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag deploys without impact; No warning indicators on instrument panel prior to deployment; Sudden deployment causes driver to swerve onto curb
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to authorized dealer; technician unable to determine cause; vehicle has not been repaired
Airbag computer moisture damage
Airbag computer located directly below cup holder without protective shield; moisture from cup holder drips onto computer, triggering warning light and system failure.
When: 14,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates after moisture exposure; Computer malfunction following liquid intrusion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced airbag computer on 2-08-08; light reappeared 2-15-08; dealer refused second replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer replaced computer once but refused warranty on repeat failure
Passenger-side airbag weight-dependent deployment
Front passenger-side airbag does not deploy unless passenger weighs over 115 pounds.
When: 100 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag will not deploy for lighter occupants; Weight-dependent deployment behavior
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet diagnosed by dealer
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I hit a cement barrier my car flipped I hit the steering wheel and hit my head my air bag did not deploy. I already had the airbag fixed once in this car. I was wearing my seat belt. I had just called Hyundai two days before to tell them I had read numerous things on line with problems with the air bag in my year and make of car. They told me if I wanted it fixed they would charge me another 100…
My son had a accident in a 2007 Hyundai tiburon. He hit a pole going approx. 40 MPH. He bent both frame rails and did major front end damage to the car. On impact his air bag did not deploy. The car is currently in the body shop waiting on the insurance company. Hyundai told us both front sensors must be hit to deploy airbag. The frame is bent and that wasn't enough to deploy the airbags. I have…
Tl*the contact owns a 2007 Hyundai tiburon. The contact stated that the front passenger side air bag does not deploy unless the passenger weighs over 115 pounds. The dealer has not yet inspected the vehicle. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 100.
This vehicle was in a hit-and-run accident on the highway. It hit the wall going 65mph and the airbags did not deploy causing me to have a spinal injury, bruised ribs, a cracked sternum, a concussion, and a fractured metatarsal. after the first collision, the car rolled back and hit the wall a second time which the airbags still did not deploy. It is totaled and in the hands of State Farm.
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Hyundai Tiburon?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Hyundai Tiburon?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 14,000 and 41,000 miles, with the median around 27,337. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 41,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Hyundai/Tiburon.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.