RoadVitals

1987 Hyundai Excel

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Aug 3, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Oct 4, 1993
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
12
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Hyundai Excel, most frequently naming the engine, steering and transmission categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 12 NHTSA investigations name it; and 7 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine320.0%
  • Steering213.3%
  • Transmission213.3%
  • Visibility213.3%
  • Body & structure16.7%
  • Seat belts16.7%
  • Powertrain (other)16.7%
  • Electrical16.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
93V167000

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Oct 4, 1993
515,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS MAY LOCK UP FROM INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION OF THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE DRIVE WHEELS TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
The risk: SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLEOCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND IN THE CAR, AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROLWHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: HYUNDAI WILL PERFORM A COST FREE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov
91V225000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Dec 31, 1991
895,000 units potentially affected
The defect: DETERIORATION OF THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY MAY LEAD TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SECONDARY AIR SUPPLY PORTION OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SCREWS WHICH ATTACH THE REEDS TO THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY MAY RUST, AND IF THE RUSTING BECOMES SEVERE, THE SCREW HEADS WILL ERODE AND ALLOW THE REEDS TO SEPARATE FROM THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY. CORROSION MAY ALSO OCCUR ON THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY, DEFORMING THE REED SEATS AND PREVENTING THE REEDS FROM CLOSING PROPERLY. SEPARATION OF THE REEDS FROM THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY OR IMPROPER CLOSING OF THE REEDS ALLOW HOT EXHAUST GASES TO FLOW BACKWARD INTO THE PLASTIC SECONDARY AIR FILTER CASE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THESE HOT EXHAUST GASES MAY MELT THE SECONDARY PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE.
The risk: THE MELTING PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE MAY LEAD TO A FIREIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY WITH ONE WHOSE METAL COMPONENTS ARE FABRICATED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov
89V100000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jun 19, 1989
8,550 units potentially affected
The defect: IF CRUISE CONTROL MAIN SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, SYSTEM CAN BE AFFECTED BY A SHORT DURATION VOLTAGE DROP CAUSED BY OPTIONAL HI-POWER (H340) RADIO.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE94043ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURES

Opened May 27, 1994
Closed Oct 31, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PE94003ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HEATER CORE FAILURE

Opened Jan 14, 1994
Closed Jun 10, 1994

There is no summary currently available

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEMLed to recall 94V103000
C92001ClosedInvestigation

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION

Opened Sep 28, 1992
Closed Oct 29, 1993

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN
EA91048ClosedEngineering Analysis

AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE

Opened Nov 19, 1991
Closed Oct 26, 1992

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Body & structureSteering
Filed Aug 3, 2005

1987 HYUNDAI EXCEL HAS A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT AND BOTH CROSSMEMBERS ARE BENT.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY WELDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME. THE COVER SUPPORT BENT. THE RACK AND PINION LEAKED. THE UPPER TIE BAR BENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132401
Incident
Aug 1, 2005
Mileage
119,037 mi
Engine
Filed May 21, 1999
Fire reported

HYUNDAI PARTS DEPT WILL NOT REPAIR FIRE DAMAGE UNDER HOOD CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE RECALLED PART "REED VALVE." THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE PART THAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THIS IS A CAR THAT NEVER MADE SENSE. PLEASE HELP. REPAIR BILLS WILL BE VERY COSTLY AND HYUNDAI MOTOR CORP. DOESN'T WANT TO ADMIT THEIR MISTAKES. THEY EVEN SAID THE 1999 CARS ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE '86-'87 YEARS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. RECALL 91V225. *AK

NHTSA ID
706722
Incident
Jul 12, 1998
TransmissionVisibility
Filed Jan 29, 1998

HEATER CORE RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER SERVICE RECALL REPAIRS. (94V-103.001). *AK

NHTSA ID
529400
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 18, 1997

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE MAKES NOISE, SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR'S KNOCKING AGAINST SOMETHING. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WAS INFORMED THAT DRIVESHAFT PLATE FAILED, RESULTING IN SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER TO BE VERY HARD. *AK

NHTSA ID
809061
Incident
Feb 18, 1997
Filed Feb 17, 1997

UNSPECIFIED.

NHTSA ID
546757
Transmission
Filed Sep 13, 1996

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY CABLE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
508637
Incident
Sep 11, 1996
Fuel system
Filed Dec 13, 1995
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD CAR REAR END CATCHES ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
976527
Incident
Dec 11, 1995
Engine
Filed Nov 21, 1995

LEAKING OIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
975272

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

23-BD-002H

VISIBILITY

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.

21-EM-003H

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.

20-BR-002H

SERVICE BRAKES

This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area.

20-SS-004H

TIRES; WHEELS

This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the “Tire Balance Data Sheet” must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) data. The Data Sheet can be found at the end of this bulletin.

20-EE-003H

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT

This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: • A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. • A 30 Day alert - vehicle has not started and reported an SOC in 30 days.

19-BE-011H-1

BACK OVER PREVENTION; LANE DEPARTURE

The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) or Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) is a system that measures the speed of and distance from the following vehicles by using two magnetic wave radar sensors attached in the rear bumper. The BSD/BCW detects vehicles within the blind spot zone and gives off an alarm (visual and audible). The two magnetic radar sensors provide these functions for BSD/BCW: ? Senses other vehicles in the BSD/BCW zone and turns on the BSD/BCW warning lamp for the driver. The warning lamp starts blinking, along with an audible sound, when the driver turns on the turn signal lamp to enter the lane where another vehicle is driving.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Hyundai Excel by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001700—
1998200—
1997200—
1996300—
1995501—
1994332154.8
1993201150.0
1992341251.4
1991381553.6
1990382563.4
19896841172.3
19884341269.9
1987Viewing1341269.3
19861351064.8
1985000—
1980000—
1978000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.