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Hyundai ExcelYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 319 NHTSA owner complaints across 14 model years, no Hyundai Excel year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994. The Excel has 9 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1989Best years'90 '91 '92 '94Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints319Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls91986–2001 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Hyundai Excel years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Excel median. Tap a year for its full report.

'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2001Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1994Solid55/10033 complaints · 2 recalls1993Not rated–/10020 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid56/10034 complaints · 1 recall1991Solid54/10038 complaints · 1 recall1990Solid46/10038 complaints · 2 recalls1989Caution33/10068 complaints · 4 recalls1988Solid43/10043 complaints · 4 recalls1987Not rated–/10013 complaints · 4 recalls1986Not rated–/10013 complaints · 5 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Hyundai Excel problems

All model years combined: 319 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling7324
Power train711
Electrical system4613
Visibility404
Seat belts2816
Service brakes, hydraulic195
Fuel system, gasoline173
Suspension140
Structure122
11 other systems6412
9 recalls

Hyundai Excel recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core94V-103 · 1988–1989 · Jun 6, 1994 · 270,000 vehicles–Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator94V-090 · 1994 · May 11, 1994 · 600 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline93V-192 · 1990–1994 · Nov 23, 1993 · 257,001 vehicles–Power train: manual transmission93V-167 · 1986–1989 · Oct 4, 1993 · 515,000 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system91V-225 · 1986–1989 · Dec 31, 1991 · 895,000 vehicles–Wheels: hubcap/cover90V-053 · 1990 · Mar 15, 1990 · 2,281 vehicles–Vehicle speed control89V-100 · 1986–1989 · Jun 19, 1989 · 8,550 vehicles–Disc: pads87V-180 · 1986–1987 · Nov 25, 1987 · 321,000 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages86V-043 · 1986 · Mar 17, 1986 · 8,197 vehicles
19 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Excel

  1. SCISSOR JACK FAILUREPE95060 · 1990–1995 · closed Mar 21, 1996
    No recall
  2. CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURESPE94043 · 1986–1991 · closed Oct 31, 1994
    No recall
  3. HEATER CORE FAILUREPE94003 · 1986–1989 · closed Jun 10, 1994
    Led to recall 94V-103
  4. TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONEA92032 · 1990–1992 · closed Oct 29, 1993
    No recall
  5. TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONC92001 · 1986–1989 · closed Oct 29, 1993
    No recall
  6. AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILUREEA91048 · 1987–1989 · closed Oct 26, 1992
    No recall
  7. TRANSMISSION LOCK-UPEA91039 · 1986–1991 · closed Oct 13, 1992
    No recall
  8. AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILSPE91097 · 1987–1988 · closed Nov 19, 1991
    No recall
  9. TRANSMISSION LOCKUPPE91083 · 1988–1989 · closed Sep 24, 1991
    No recall
  10. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA91024 · 1986–1989 · closed Jan 7, 1992
    Led to recall 91V-225