RoadVitals

1991 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.
38
Latest Mar 30, 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.
1
Latest Nov 23, 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.
5
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 38 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Hyundai Excel, most frequently naming the transmission, electrical and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 5 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

  • Transmission1026.3%
  • Electrical513.2%
  • Visibility410.5%
  • Body & structure37.9%
  • Brakes37.9%
  • Interior & seats37.9%
  • Seat belts37.9%
  • Other / unspecified25.3%

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

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
93V192000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Nov 23, 1993
257,001 units potentially affected
The defect: THE VEHICLES FAILED THE LATERAL MOVING BARRIER IMPACT TEST REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE GAS TANK EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMOUNT OF SPILLAGE.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE FUEL SPILLAGE CAN RESULTIN A FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: HYUNDAI HAS DEVELOPED AN APPROPRIATE COUNTERMEASURE THAT WILL COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE95060ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SCISSOR JACK FAILURE

Opened Dec 9, 1995
Closed Mar 21, 1996

There is no summary currently available

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
PE94043ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURES

Opened May 27, 1994
Closed Oct 31, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EA92032ClosedEngineering Analysis

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION

Opened Oct 13, 1992
Closed Oct 29, 1993

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN
EA91039ClosedEngineering Analysis

TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP

Opened Sep 24, 1991
Closed Oct 13, 1992

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 38
Transmission
Filed Mar 30, 2005

CAR BEGAN TO ONLY DO 20 MILES PER HOUR AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. DROVE FIN ON ROAD. THAN BEGAN TO DRIVE SLOWLY AFTER TWO WEEKS. HAD TRANSMISSION FLIUD CHANGE AND DROVE GREAT FOR A WEEK THEN FAILED. I AM VER UPSET BY THIS MOTOR COMPANY FOR HIDING THIS MAJOR DEFECT. MY CAR ONLY HAD 68,485 ORIGINAL MILES!*AK

NHTSA ID
10116097
Incident
Jan 19, 2005
Mileage
68,485 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 16, 2004

TRANSFER SHAFT BEARING BROKE, KNOCKING A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE, CAUSING FLUIDS TO LEAK FROM TRANSMISSION, CAUSING COMPLETE LOCK UP AND DESTRUCTION OF TRANSMISSION AND CASE. MY CAR WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 50,000 MILES ON IT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10066298
Incident
Mar 11, 1993
Mileage
5,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION CASE CRACKED, DUE TO DRIVING OVER A DIP IN THE DRIVEWAY, (CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE)*JB

NHTSA ID
567302
Incident
Jun 17, 1995
Filed Sep 28, 1999

NO SUMMARY.

NHTSA ID
712400
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 10, 1999

TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE. NLM

NHTSA ID
547859
Visibility
Filed Aug 11, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WINDOWS(PASSENGER AND DRIVER) IN THE REAR EXPLODED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 2 OTHER OCCASIONS. THE WINDOWS WERE REPLACED BY OWNER ALL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROLBEM. *AK THE FIRST WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TWO OTHER TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SLC

NHTSA ID
826531
Incident
Aug 11, 1998
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 1998

VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS NEVER GONE OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, AND THE CAR CUTS OFF. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
823870
Brakes
Filed Aug 6, 1997
Crash reported

UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD/COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THE PROBLEM, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A SLIPPED PIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
813821
Incident
Jul 4, 1997

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
1991Viewing381553.6
1990382563.4
19896841172.3
19884341269.9
19871341269.3
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.