RecallMyCar

Hyundai Excel Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 319 owner complaints across 14 model years of the Hyundai Excel (1986–2001). The most-complained-about year is 1989.

9
safety recalls, all years
319
owner complaints, all years
1986
year with most recalls
1989
year with most complaints

Pick your Hyundai Excel model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2001 Hyundai Excel07
1998 Hyundai Excel02
1997 Hyundai Excel02
1996 Hyundai Excel03
1995 Hyundai Excel05
1994 Hyundai Excel233
1993 Hyundai Excel120
1992 Hyundai Excel134
1991 Hyundai Excel138
1990 Hyundai Excel238
1989 Hyundai Excel468
1988 Hyundai Excel443
1987 Hyundai Excel413
1986 Hyundai Excel513

What Hyundai Excel owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 319 complaints with NHTSA. The 1989 model year has the most, with 68.

All Hyundai Excel recalls (9)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Hyundai Excel, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Heater core (visibility)

    NHTSA 94V103000 Reported 270,000 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    The heater control valve stem does not meet the material specifications. High coolant temperatures can cause the stem to leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace defective valve stems.

    Model years: 1988, 1989

  2. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

    NHTSA 94V090000 Reported 600 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    In some vehicles, the manufacturer's protective internal coating of the electronic crank angle sensor does not meet specifications, which can cause an open circuit at high operating temperatures. This can cause the vehicle to stall.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the crank angle sensor to determine whether the sensor is involved in the recall, and replace any sensor found with the defective internal coating.

    Model years: 1994

  3. Fuel system, gasoline

    NHTSA 93V192000 Reported 257,001 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    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.

    Remedy: Hyundai has developed an appropriate countermeasure that will comply with all requirements of FMVSS 301.

    Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

  4. Manual transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 93V167000 Reported 515,000 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    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.

    Remedy: Hyundai will perform a cost free transmission oil change.

    Model years: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

  5. Exhaust system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 91V225000 Reported 895,000 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    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…

    Remedy: Replace the reed valve subassembly with one whose metal components are fabricated from corrosion resistant stainless steel.

    Model years: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

  6. Hubcap/cover (wheels)

    NHTSA 90V053000 Reported 2,281 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    Lock washer located under the nut that secures the front hub to the drive shaft may have had improper heat treatment and could crack.

    Remedy: Replace lock washer on each front wheel and repair area around lock washer as necessary.

    Model years: 1990

  7. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 89V100000 Reported 8,550 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    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.

    Remedy: Replace electronic control module.

    Model years: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

  8. Pads (service brakes)

    NHTSA 87V180000 Reported 321,000 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    Vehicle may fail to conform to the brake fade and recovery portion of FMVSS 105.

    Remedy: Replace front brake pads with newly designed semi metallic brake pads.

    Model years: 1986, 1987

  9. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 86V043000 Reported 8,197 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    A cotter pin in the brake pedal to brake master cylinder linkage assembly may be missing. This pin acts as a retainer for the brake master cylinder pushrod clevis pin. Consequence of defect: the clevis pin may slide out causing the master cylinder/brake pedal linkage to become disengaged. If this linkage becomes disengaged the service…

    Remedy: Inspect and install brake linkage cotter pin as necessary.

    Model years: 1986

Other Hyundai models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.