17th Nov 2004, 02:25

I had a similar problem with my 03' Tiburon paint. I printed out the comments posted here and presented them to the Hyundai reps. They refused to look as they were deemed 'hearsay'.

I suppose it's their right. Has anyone else been told that their paint damage was due to 'environmental fallout'? Ha!

I've also had a problem with my car starting recently. Sometimes it will and sometimes it won't. I can't wait to get rid of this car. It's beautiful, but not worth the worry. I just wonder what it's going to take for Hyundai to worry about their customers a little more.

17th Dec 2004, 13:39

I just bought a brand new 2004 Santa Fe two months ago and the paint is peeling right off the sides and the back bumper. The manager said that they will probably not cover it because rocks chip the paint and then moisture gets under the paint and causes the paint to peel. Pretty lame excuse!! Please contact me if any action is going to take place.

Buggs81@yahoo.com.

7th Nov 2005, 11:57

I also have a 2004 elantra. A beautiful car, rides comfortable however it looks awful because the paint chipped off. It is cracking and bubbling and like so many other people's. The dealer told me it was the berry in the bird feces. Everyone around me who hears it says they have never heard of such a thing!

30th Aug 2006, 14:55

I've got a 2001 Tiburon, luckily, I don't have the paint peel problem, BUT on the bumper, there are swirls in the paint, similar to big finger prints in wet paint, if you can picture that. The bumper is full of nicks and indentations due to rocks, not really a dealer problem though.

THE PAINT DOES SCRATCH REALLLLLY EASILY though. There are lines, scratches, chips, everywhere from the roof/hood to the doors and bumpers. It seems the only thing that's still in decent shape is the spoiler. Why not build the body from that material? :o)

17th Oct 2006, 15:54

I have a 04 Tiburon black, and also have the cracking, spider webbing on the paint. I took the car to dealer several times, and they said the rep. has to look at it. What a joke the rep is. He says that it is due to environmental fallout, acid rain, bird droppings, tree sap. I park my car in a garage, so I guess I have tree sap, and birds in my garage. I tried to be patient, but when he told me he is the paint expert, and he has the final word, that made me go to real paint experts in the auto body business. I met with the rep again, shocker they send the same one. I now have an arbitration hearing with the Better Business Bureau, and I am very well equipped with letters, articles, and estimates. I plan on fighting till the end, so my 2 year old car looks 2 years old, not 15. Don't give up.

21st Oct 2006, 08:43

GREEAAAAT. I just bought a used 2001 tiburon se. this is not sounding very promising, although the car IS in great shape, save for a few scratches on the back bumper and driver side door (which the dealership agreed to touch up). ugh, I was really excited when I got the car (i pick it up in four days) but I have been hearing some horror stories. does anyone have ANYTHING positive to say?

24th Oct 2006, 06:25

I recently bought a used 2001 Tiburon at an auto auction. I didn't have time to inspect the paint in detail. I noticed that the hood and other areas were splattered as if a chemical got into the clear coat. We assumed these areas could be buffed out. Later we found the problem was down to the metal. My paint expert determined it was a production paint problem. What a deal.

3rd Jul 2007, 11:51

I have a Hyundai Tiburon GT SE 2004. The only place where the paint has been peeling on my car is on the windshield wipers (repainted after ~3k miles) and on the gas cap. My problem is that the paint on the bumpers & side skirts is fading at a faster rate than the rest of the car. I first noticed it at about 6 months after I bought the car, but the difference was so minute, I didn't bother reporting it. As time has passed, the difference has grown larger, and I finally brought the car into be seen. I was told that the area representative would have to look at the car, and today I finally spoke with him. They're willing to repaint the gas cap, but the fading yellow paint is "normal wear and tear." Apparently, I can't expect to buy a car and have it look "showroom" after driving it every day. I also got blamed for not washing my car enough. I didn't know that 3-4 shades of difference in color were "normal wear and tear" after ~36k miles. I knew the paint looked kind of cheap when I bought it, but I didn't expect it to be this bad.

14th Oct 2007, 21:37

I have a 2001 Tiburon that I purchased new and now has just under 170,000 miles. The only major problems that I have had have been the VSS sensor that died last year and a manifold gasket seal that began leaking in March. The dealer replaced (and charged me) everything related to the seal before finally replacing the right part.

These last few months have found the clear coat peeling away on the truck fin and around the head lights. Does anyone have a solution to curbing this erosion? Otherwise, my Tiburon has been an absolute joy to own and drive!

7th Jun 2008, 23:19

I have a 2006 Red Fire Pearl Tiburon. It is now a year and 5 months old. After 8 months the hoods clearcoat started peeling off. the hood and fenders were repainted. A month later the trunk started peeling. it was repainted. A month and a half later my roof and driverside quarter panel started painting. those were repainted. Yes I am happy the car was fixed, but the paint has a blue fleck in it and where it was repainted the paint is completely different cause it has no fleck. Also the radio has been changed out due to defect, the catalytic converter shield came unbolted, the seat belt clamp (drivers side) is currently broken, the sunroof motor sticks and get stuck open sometimes. I was told it has trash in the track but even after being cleaned it still sticks. My drivers seat doesn't always lock when I move it back. I love my car but it is basically brand new and just been problem after problem after problem. I have contacted Hyundai Consumer Affairs but never get a response. Great car but NO!