RoadVitals

1988 Hyundai Excel Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Jul 15, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
44%
of 43 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1988 Hyundai Excel submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureEngineSteering
Filed Jul 15, 2005

PROBLEMS WITH BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT, RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE, BENT CROSSMEMBER IN THE SUBFRAME, ETC. (NAR) *PH *CB THE CONSUMER SENT ANOTHER COMPLAINT REFERENCING 10040082,10022196,10011711, & 10003824 ALL OF WHICH WENT UN-ANSWERED. *TC

NHTSA ID
10064949
Incident
Jan 30, 1997
Mileage
119,037 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 23, 1999
Fire reported

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
705918
Incident
Apr 16, 1999
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 9, 1999

TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE BROKE CAUSING CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
543819
Incident
Dec 30, 1996
EngineTransmissionVisibility
Filed Oct 8, 1998

WINDOW CRANKS FALL OFF.

NHTSA ID
541926
Engine
Filed Jun 10, 1998

PRE-CAT AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO COMPONENTS OVERHEATING, CAUSING CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATING.

NHTSA ID
536491
Engine
Filed Jan 29, 1998

VEHICLE, UNPREDICTABLY, LACKS POWER WHEN ACCELERATION FROM IDLE OR NEAR IDLE.

NHTSA ID
529577
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID
508890
Incident
Aug 18, 1996
Engine
Filed Aug 12, 1996
1 injury reported

ENGINE OVERHEATED, CAUSING OVERFLOW CONTAINER TO ERUPT IN DRIVER'S FACE, RESULTING IN FACIAL BURNS.

NHTSA ID
507298
Incident
Jun 27, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 21, 1996

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AT OXYGEN SENSOR, CAUSING EXHAUST SYSTEM TO BACK UP/FAIL, AS WELL AS THE ENGINE/HEADS/HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. *DH

NHTSA ID
505857
Incident
Aug 1, 1988
Engine
Filed May 20, 1996

MONTES AUTO CTR 91V225. ITS BEEN 1 1/2 YEAR AND THE DLR AND ZONE OFFICE CAN NOT MAKE A DECISION ON REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
984660
Incident
Oct 20, 1994
Engine
Filed May 15, 1996
Fire reported

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE COUGHT FIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

NHTSA ID
984491
Incident
Apr 30, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 15, 1996

EMISSION SYSTEM REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY FAILED. *DSH

NHTSA ID
503480
Incident
Apr 2, 1996
Engine
Filed Mar 5, 1996

OIL LEAK FROM REAR MAIN SEAL/VALVE COVER GASKET. *DH

NHTSA ID
502251
Incident
Feb 18, 1994
Engine
Filed Jan 23, 1996

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD RATTLING SOUND AND ENGINE DIED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
978044
Incident
Dec 9, 1995
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed May 3, 1995

GASKET REPLACE DUE TO LEAK, AND VEHICLE STALLING.

NHTSA ID
489645
Incident
Oct 24, 1989
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Apr 4, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

HEATER LEAKED HOT COOLANT, BURNING DRIVER'S FOOT, PRIOR TO RECALL. (94V103)

NHTSA ID
482879
Incident
Jun 1, 1993
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, OVERHEATED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
962302
Incident
Sep 15, 1994
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 1995

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL. (91V-225) *AW

NHTSA ID
480319
Incident
Jan 10, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *AW

NHTSA ID
480030
Incident
Mar 27, 1993

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Seat belts8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .