Home > Lawsuits > Hyundai Motor America Tiburon Defective Clutch
Hyundai Tiburon Clutch Defect
March 28 2006
A class action lawsuit filed on behalf of consumers who purchased or leased a 2003 GT Coupe Hyundai Tiburon with a 2.7 liter engine claims that the motor company sold the vehicle with defective clutch components. The manufacturer also marketed its product with a warranty (which claimed to be America's Best WarrantyTM) then refused coverage, blaming failure of its product on its customers.
Lawsuits have been filed claiming that Hyundai has refused to cover the cost of repairs to fix defective clutch parts, which failed after as little as 19,000 miles of driving.
Hundreds of complaints against the 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT with six-speed manual transmissions have been received by lawyers pursuing the lawsuits.
Although they claim to have "America's Best WarrantyTM", Hyundai is refusing to honor the warranty for the Tiburon owners who's clutches failed within 30,000 miles of driving.
In a Technical Service Bulletin sent to its dealers, Hyundai referred to the 2003 Tiburon clurch parts as "deformed". Yet when people complained about the problem and tried to claim compensation to replace the defective parts, Hyundai tried to blame their customers driving habits on the clutch failures and refused to cover any costs for replacement parts or labor.
People have reported having to pay up to $2,000 to replace the faulty clutch parts, just so they could drive their car again.
If you or a loved one has purchased a 2003 GT Coupe Hyundai Tiburon with a 2.7 liter engine, and have had your clutch fail prematurely, you may qualify for damages or remedies that may be awarded in a Tiburon clutch class action lawsuit. Please fill in our form on the right to submit your complaint to a lawyer for a free evaluation.
I had the clutch replaced at 59, 200 miles and shortly after that noticed that the clutch had begun slipping in first gear before actually grabbing and going. I have since been advised that the clutch needs to be replaced. Due to the cost of the repairs it's been a while and the clutch is getting worse.
Posted by Virginia
on
The clutch messed up the master cylinder on the car and I had to pay to get that fixed. Then less than 3 months later, the master cylinder went out again. I now need to have both the master cylinder and the clutch replaced. The master cylinder was still under warranty, but I was quoted $2400 to have the clutch replaced.
Posted by Florida
on
I repair computers on the road and the car breaking down cost me work and reputation resulting in the loss of money and customers. The dealer also financed the car as a Straw Purchase.
Posted by Arizona
on
My name is Albert Martinez Sr. I'm 61 years old and I've been driving standard for as long as I could remember. I bought my 2006 Tiburon brand new and after around 17,000 miles my clutch went out, my son who was 19 at the time also drove the vehicle so they gave me the same run around I've been hearing / reading in post's "Driver error" so the first time I accepted it and paid $1,500 U.S.D. so now a year later with almost the exact same amount of mileage my clutch is ready give away and it's only at 38,000 miles. More recently I owned a standard 95' Eagle Talon and for over 100,000 miles I never had problems. I personally beleive that Hyundai should be held responsible for the "Faulty clutches" There are far too many people with the same identical problem and even around the same mileage, coincidence? I think not.
Posted by Nevada
on
Car only has 36000 miles. Replaced 1st time at about 17000 miles. Had to pay out of pocket. 2nd time dealer warrantied. Third time paid again out of pocket.
Posted by Pennsylvania
on
I just had to have the clutch replaced on my "03" Tiburon. It had 78K miles on it. I was furious. It cost $2038.00. It would stick and you could'nt get it out of gear. I had the job done at the Hyundai dealership and they said that the flywheel had to be replaced also. It was bad. The new one now shifts so much better than it ever did when I bought the car ,used, from the dealer at 24K miles. The first time I complained about it they said that there was nothing wrong.
Posted by Arizona
on
I have a 2001 Elantra rather than a Tiburon, but it is already on its 3d clutch, with less than 80k miles. Dealer refused to cover each time on grounds it's a "wear item," notwithstanding independent expert's opinion that the clutch was defective. Please consider investigating the Elantra. About $900 repair each time.
Posted by Colorado
on
The clutch on my 2004 Tiburon GT (6-spd) has been failing since it reached 35k miles, give or take. Shortly after 40k miles, I took it to the dealer for repair. Much to my chagrin, I was told that the clutch is a "wearable item" and is therefore not covered by the warranty. They actually want me to pay almost $3000 to repair it.
Brake pads and tires, I can understand. Fan-belts, too. But the clutch?! Good grief, any part can be defined as "wearable". The drive shaft rotates. Pistons scrape against cylinder walls. Valves constantly move up and down. Are all these, too, not covered by "America's best warranty"?
I realize that I'm not part of the 2003 class. But is this problem only common among owners of that specific model? Or are there enough complaints from 2004 owners to justify expanding the scope of the lawsuit?
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Posted by Indiana
on
Just replaced the clutch, $1200 and now the flywheel needs replaced, $1300 (have not done this yet as car just got finished with clutch job).
Car has less than 50,000 miles, this is not the only issue we have had. Just recently the turn signal would not shut off, this was under warranty but cost $1100.
Posted by Arizona
on
Inability to shift normally, massive loss of inertial power, esp. upon shifting into higher gears. At 26,000 miles, car taken to mechanic for repairs, including clutch replacement and substitution with non-aluminum, steel or iron chromealloy coated flywheel to obviate future failure. I wish to join the class action against Hyundai. Use of an aluminum flywheel that is made to act as a pressure plate is unconscionable.
Posted by Maryland
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I had to have my clutch replaced Dec-2004 Jan-2005 and again Jan-2008. The first 2 times at the dealership. This last time I have it at a local auto repair shop.
Posted by North Carolina
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I have been taking the car to the dealrship for more than a year about issue that it is having. They told me it was the "clutch pressure switch" and they adjusted it twice and replaced it once. There is no such thing as a clutch pressure switch. Never gave me an receipts since it was "covered under warranty", but have brief notes in their computer. Now they say it is the clutch and will cost almost $1000 to fix and charged me $51.03 to tell me what was wrong. Should have been fixed a year ago!
Posted by Ohio
on
I have driven manual transmission cars only for more than 30 years. I had the clutch on my 1986 Celica last more than 105,000 miles in mostly city driving, so I know how to use the clutch.Twice in the past 2 years I have taken my car into the dealer and complained about a whistling noise when I let out the clutch. I was told there was nothing wrong.
Posted by Kentucky
on
Son's Clutch assembly, flywheel, clutch mastercylender all out at 15,000 miles on a 2006 2.7 liter, 6 speed Tiburon. Warrenty didn't cover clutch assembly or flywheel. We are waiting to hear back about the clutch master cylinder. The cost to get the clutch assembly and flywheel replaced was $1,858.00.
Posted by Florida
on
I am not sure if you are representing Hyundai Santa Fe owners but felt compelled to share my expirience with you.
In April, 2004, I bought a new 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe along with an extended, "Platimum" 100,000 mile/10 year warranty plan from Fidelity Warrant Service, Inc.
The vehicle currently has 43,000 miles.
On Jun 22, 2007, the clutch became inoperative. I had the car towed to an authorized Hyundai Dealer/Service center to be repaired.
I am being told by the warranty company, Fidelity Warranty Services, Inc, that all repair costs will not be covered regarding "clutch and associated clutch parts" of manual transmissions.
The service center is estimating that repair cost will be $1200.00 for replacing the slave cylinder, clutch assembly, resurfacing of the fly wheel and possible replacement of the flywheel.
The sole reason I purchased the warranty was to cover exactly this type of repair - premature mechanical failure.
I have talked to the service center, the warranty company and Hyundai Consumer Affairs and all are saying I must bear the costs of the repair.
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