1989 Hyundai Excel Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Hyundai Excel, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine2430.0%
- Visibility2328.7%
- Electrical1012.5%
- Transmission810.0%
- Fuel system33.8%
- Suspension22.5%
- Interior & seats22.5%
- Brakes22.5%
- Powertrain (other)22.5%
- Seat belts22.5%
- Other / unspecified11.3%
- Body & structure11.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE OVERHEATED, COOLANT ADDED SEVERAL TIMES, FINALLY RESULTED IN FIRE.
EXHAUST SYSTEM - EGR VALVE: WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL BEGAN TO SMELL FUMES, SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSAXLE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE.
(RECALL)TOOK THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED AND THE DEALER GAVE HIM A HARD TIME WITH TRYING TO CHARGE FOR A DIAGNOSIS. HEATER CORE RECALL 94V103000. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY, AND SHE NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS HESITATING/POPPYING, AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED. ALSO, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL 93V167000; 4 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL HAD BEEN SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
RECALL # 93V167000 POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION: STANDARD: MANUAL CAR WILL NOT SHIFT BETWEEN 4TH & 5TH GEAR. THERE WAS NOT A PROLBEM WITH THE GEARS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP CAN CAUSE LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO BE PUSHED OUT OF A HOSE NEAR THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED INTO A FIRE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECAL. *AK
2 ENGINE VALVES REPAIRED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT.
2 ENGINE VALVES REPAIRED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING INTO VEHICLE THROUGH VENTS, THEN SUDDENLY ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT COULDN'T DETERMINE THE CAUSE. TT
WINDOWS FOG UP EVEN WHEN DEFROSTER IS ON, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN ICE IS UNDER THE SNOW YOU JUST SLIDE ON THE ROAD. ABS IS NOT WORKING. TT
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSAXLE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE.
TRANSAXLE FAILED, CAUSING SHAFT TO BE DRIVEN INTO MOTOR, RESULTING IN MOTOR FREEZING UP. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, TRAVELING 45 TO 50MPH, LOOKED DOWN AND SPILLED FOOD. WENT OFF THE ROAD, HIT A TREE AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RETRACT OR HOLD. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN A COLLISION CAUSING CHILD (6YRS OLD) TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANUAL INDICATES HOW TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION OIL LEVEL BY LOOSENING AND REMOVING THE OIL FILLER BOLT AND USE YOUR FINGER TO FEEL INSIDE THE HOLE TO SEE IF THE OIL LEVEL IS AT THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE HOLE WHICH IS INCORRECT. THE AREA IN TH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSAXLE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .