1991 Hyundai Excel

Routine

Owners filed 38 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Hyundai Excel years to avoid. Which Hyundai Excel years to avoid →

Most common 1991 Hyundai Excel problems

10 of the 38 complaints (26%) are about the transmission.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission8
000
Visibility › Windshield3
000
Unknown or Other2
000
Structure › Body · body and frame2
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission · transmission2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline · fuel system2
000
Wheels › Rim1
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration1
000
Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut · body and frame1
001

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline93V192000
Filed Nov 23, 1993257,001 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

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.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE FUEL SPILLAGE CAN RESULTIN A FIRE IF EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy. HYUNDAI HAS DEVELOPED AN APPROPRIATE COUNTERMEASURE THAT WILL COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 30, 200568,485 milesVA

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

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Apr 16, 20045,000 milesCA

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 30, 2002LA

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

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 28, 1999PA

NO SUMMARY.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 10, 1999VA

TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE. NLM

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Aug 11, 1998NY

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 2, 1998CA

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master CylinderCrash
Filed Aug 6, 1997CT

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

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate › Support Device/Strut1 injured
Filed Jul 7, 1997NY

HATCH LIFT ASSIST BARS FAILED, CAUSING HATCH TO FALL ON PERSON'S HEAD.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Apr 9, 1997CT

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 60MPH AND THE HOOD RELEASED. PULLED OVER TO CLOSE HOOD, AND THEN NOTICED THE U-SHAPED METAL CLIP DETACHED FROM THE HOOD. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 6, 1997VA

BOTH REAR WINDOWS SHATTERED.

Structure › Body
Filed Jan 19, 1997NJ

LOOSE MOLDING AROUND REAR WHEEL WELL BROKE OFF, CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL BY STRIKING THE CENTER WALL OF THE VEHICLE. (NEW JERSEY POLICE REPORT)

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Nov 14, 1996CA

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, WHEN IT STARTED AGAIN IT WOULD BEARLY GO. DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF THIS. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Oct 21, 1996OH

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OWNER HAD INTERFERENCE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. HEAD LIGHTS DIMMED WHEN OTHER ELECTRIC ACCESSORIES WERE USED/ALTERNATOR CHARGED CORRECTLY AND BELTS TIGHTENED W/NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. TWO MECHANICS STATED EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE.*

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Oct 21, 1996NY

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 16, 1996MI

SHE REQUESTED THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER OVER A YEAR AGO AND SHE STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE PART REGARDING FUEL SYSTEM RECALL 93V192000. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 1996IL

WHILE DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP THE CAR, CUT OFF AND WOULD NOT GO.*AK WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE MADE A ROUGH SOUND AND CONTINUED TO DROP SPEED AND CUT OFF, VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE, DEALERSHIP ADVISED CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PART, BUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY CO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE COVERED PART WITHOUT CONSUMER'S AUTHORIZATION TO BREAK DOWN THE TRANSMISSION FIRST AND TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT WAS WRONG.*JB

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Jun 11, 1996MO

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED, FIRE UNDER THE DASH. FIRE DEPT. SAYS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 5, 1996WV

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STOPPED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Feb 27, 1996UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, FUSE KEEPS BURNING OUT CAUSING ENGINE STALLING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Dec 8, 1995TN

POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. TT

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Nov 9, 1995WA

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE. TT

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 29, 1995CA

SPARE TIRE JACK COLLAPSED WHILE HOLDING VEHICLE UP DURING TIRE CHANGE. *AW

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 7, 1995CA

THE ENGINE SURGED, BUT VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SEEM TO ROLL WITH NO MOMENTUM. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jun 26, 199500

IN AN UNLOCK POSITION THE DOOR WILL LOCK YOU OUT THE SEAT BELT LOCK YOU IN PLACE . TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 21, 1995LA

THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT. IT HAS A CRACKED TRANSMISSION CASE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 21, 1995NJ

HYUNDAI ZONE OFFICE 93V192. OWNER TRIED TO OBTAIN A LISTING FOR NEAREST DEALER TO HIM. AFTER SECOND ATTEMPT HE CALLED NHTSA TO TRY TO HAVE RECALL WORK PERFORMED

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 16, 1995KY

DRIVER/PASSENGER SHOULDER AND LAP BELTS EXTEND ALL THE WAY WITHOUT CATCHING; HANGS LOOSE AROUND OCCUPANTS; DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Jun 14, 1995WA

PASSENGER FRONT SHOULDER/LAP BELT WON'T EXTEND FAR ENOUGH ACROSS PASSENGER FROM ASSEMBLY. TT

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 6, 199500

GLOVE COMPARTMENT LOCKS FAILED, BRUSING KNEE AND CATCHING DRIVERS ATTENTION WHEN FALLEN OPEN. TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 3, 1995OH

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. TT

Equipment › Mechanical › Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
Filed Apr 3, 1995CA

VEHICLE JACK IN CAR BROKE WHEN BEING USED TO LIFT CAR. TT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 14, 1995OH

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AFTER 4 YEARS. TT

Electrical System › Ignition › ModuleFire
Filed Mar 8, 1995KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, BRAIN CELL MELTED DOWN, FUSES BLOWN. TT

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Mar 1, 1995UT

ENGINE ELECTRICAL FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT; WHILE DRIVING, STALLED, BURST INTO FLAMES; VEHICLE TOTALLED. TT

Wheels › Rim
Filed Feb 22, 1995CA

5 RIMS DEFLATE YOUR TIRES AND THEY HAVE CRACKED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE. TT

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Feb 3, 1995NY

VEHICLES FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED. ALSO REAR HATCHBACK AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOW EXPLODED INTO PIECES FOR NO REASON. TT

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads
Filed Jan 31, 1995CA

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE RUN DOWN ALL THE OTHER BRAKES ARE FINE. TT

All 38 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20017000Routine
19982000Routine
19972000Routine
19963002Fatalities reported
19955000Routine
199433220Routine
199320110Routine
199234100Routine
1991 — this page38130Routine
199038240Routine

Compare every Excel year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 23, 1993. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.