Faults:
Where to start with this car? For one, we bought this back in October 2000, when the air conditioner wasn't needed. It was until that summer that it proved to be a terrible conditioner. The car never really did become cold at any point in that car.
The heating system as well was just at shabby. It took well over 10 minutes for the heat to start working right, even if it wasn't that cold. Forget about winter! The car had to be warmed up a good 30 minutes or it would be frozen inside.
The passenger side's window also is touchy. You roll the window up too far, the actual glass runs off track and goes beyond the frame, causing the door to not properly shut. The locks in the car also had an electrical problem, and would work one day, and not the next.
The cockpit of the car is also not made for people any taller than perhaps 5'4". Anyone who's bigger will find it difficult to get comfortable in the car.
Now onto the major problems.
The transmission had been jerking in and out of place about 4 months into the purchase. Turns out it was a pulse generator. Not that expensive of a part to repair, however, once it was fixed, it broke another 3 times. Faulty part? Yes. But, having the dealer fix a part that was under the guarantee proved to be a hassle. It came to a point where they beat around the bush, and cost $400 out of my own pocket, for them to eventually fix what was wrong. (That being the generator that we suspected before hand)
Having the pulse generator go out was a very scary experience. Having the car on the freeway at 60 to suddenly thrust in and out of positions, topping the RPM's over 6000 isn't something you ever want to experience.
Along with the pulse generator, the car supposedly needs the Hyundai transmission fluid only, or "it'll ruin the transmission" so said the dealer. The fluid costs approx. $45 per container. This gets very pricey.
The airbag light came on at approx. 50,000 miles and has yet to go off. It in buyers guide, it says this is a serious problem, and needs to be fixed asap. We went to the dealer and they told us it was an electrical problem, and not to worry.
The engine light has come on and off all throughout this period of owning the car. First time it came on was at 55,000 miles, then at 67,000 and again at 84,000. It still is on, and they said the faulty generator is causing this again. This makes it the 4th time we've had to repair this.
General Comments:
Buyer beware. Better get the checkbook out, it's going to cost you. Everything they can't fix is "normal" and what they can fix, will be pricey.
Cargo space is very limited, and forget trying to get anyone, but children in the back seat.
Overall, this is a terrible car. My son owns a 2000 Tiburon, not having learned from my experience, and at 34,000 miles the whole transmission went out. These cars are nothing, but a money guzzler.
18th May 2003, 19:11
I bought a used 97 in 2000 and in the last 3 years, along with going for almost 50k miles, nothing has gone wrong. I heard a little whirring in the engine at about 110k, turned out the belt was getting, replaced that, nothing major. My advice, find a good garage, stop going to the dealer that rips you off. I never go to the dealer unless it's a problem I can't figure out through my garage or by myself. Find a mechanic, not a salesman to fix your car. Just my opinion of course.