1992 Hyundai Excel

Routine

Owners filed 34 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc2
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch2
000
Wheels › Rim1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages1
100
Suspension › Front1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing1
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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Front
Filed Jan 27, 200999,999 milesFL

DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM..1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL..CORRODES AND RUSTS, ESPECIALLY ON PASSENGER SIDE LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Electrical System2 injured
Filed Feb 1, 200750,000 milesFL

THERE IS A HUGE SAFETY DEFECT IN THE OLDER HYUNDAI AUTOMOBILE COMPUTERS OR ECU BOXES. THE INTERNAL CAPACITORS (RUBYCON AND NICYCON) FAIL CAUSING ACID TO LEAK OUT ON THE COMPUTER BOARD, LEADING TO COMPLETE COMPUTER FAILURE. THE CAR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY WITH NO WARNING, LEADING TO A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD FOR ALL OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE . THE CAR WILL ALSO IDLE ERRATICALLY, YIELDING NUMEROUS COMPUTER , AND NO START AND STALLING SITUATIONS THAT ARE UNPREDICTABILITY HAVE REPLACED 4 COMPUTERS (ECU'S) IN MY 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL . THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERNET ARTICLES AND AUTO COMPUTER REBUILD SITES DOCUMENTING THESE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IN THE HYUNDAI COMPUTER. I ALSO SENT CLOSE-UP PHOTOS OF THE ECU COMPONENT DEFECTS, AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER TO HYUNDAI MOTORS, BUT THEY ARE UNCOOPERATIVE. I HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES TO CONTACT HYUNDAI MOTORS AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REPLACEMENT OR REBUILD ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE , SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS, ROAD HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL IN ALL THESE 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL AUTOMOBILES. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE AT STAKE DRIVING WITH THESE DEFECTIVE COMPUTERS IN THEIR CARS. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP~MANY THANKS. *NM

Wheels › Rim
Filed Sep 21, 200525,000 milesFL

DT: THE TIRES WERE LEAKING AIR. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE, BUT FOUND OUT IT WAS THE RIM. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND ONCE A YEAR AGO, AND ONCE SIX MONTHS AGO. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER HAD THE RIM REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DEALER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AFTER THE LAST TIME, AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FORTH ONE FAILING. *AK (11/16/05) THE TIRES WERE HEAVILY UNDER INFLATED. *SC

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Feb 21, 2001NY

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH FRONT HOOD FLIPPED UP, BLOCKING VISION. KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE, DRIVING OFF ROAD. PUSHED DOWN HOOD AND TIED IT WITH A ROPE THEN, LATCH HAD TO BE FIXED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing1 injured
Filed Nov 28, 2000NV

VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE IN WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT BELT DID NOT LOCK, THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S CHEST TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE LAP BELT DID NOT FAIL IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Sep 14, 2000NY

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP OVER A DOZEN TIMES AND I HAVE THE PAPERS TO PROVE IT THE REPAIR SHOP HAD MY CAR MORE THEN I DID AND I REPLACED JUST ABOUT EVERY THING ON THE CAR BUT I WENT THROUGH 3 TRANSMISSION AND NOW I NEED ANOTHER BEFOR I HAD AN EXSTENDED WARRANTY AND I JUST HAD TO PAY $50.00 NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS GONE NONE OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANTED TO FIX IT THEY SAY THAT IT IS TO MUCH TROUBLE AND THE MAKE OF THAT TRANSMISSION FOR THAT YEAR HAS PROBLEMS AND THAT IF I WOULD FIX IT IT WOULD JUST DO IT AGAIN. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES ALREADY AND NOW THE CAR NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IT WAS JUST REPLACED IN 1998 WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU LARAY RANSOM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 21, 1999OH

ABS LIGHT ILLUMNATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 11, 1999MA

NO SUMMARY

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jan 15, 1999GA

MY FIRST HEADACHE WITH THIS VEHICLE OCCURED WHEN THE GAS PUMP WHEN OUT. I WAS SITTING AT A LIGHT AND I HEARD A LOUD, BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS, ONLY TO FEEL A LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECANHIC. AFTER THE PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE MECANHIC SOUNDED ME WHERE THE GASKET ON THE TOP OF THE PUMP HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR HAPPEND THIS PAST SUMMER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HAD JUST PASSED A GREEN LIGHT. I TRIED TO SPEED UP, BUT THE CAR HESITATED REALLY BAD, AND JERKED EACH TIME I TRIED TO GO FASTER. I PULLED OFF THE CAR OF THE ROAD TO START UP THE CAR AGAIN, BUT IT FAILED TO TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSON SHOP. IT SAT THERE FOR TWO WEEKS UNTIL I CAME UP WITH THE $1800 NEEDED TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jan 14, 1999OH

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT REGISTERING IT ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE INSIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE COMPRESSION/ ANTI-FREEZE/OIL AND STALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle BarCrash
Filed Aug 7, 1998PA

WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 45 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO AVOID HITTING A DEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AND TOTALING VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 17, 1998NY

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 17, 1998PA

PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (REPLACED 3 TIMES). ENGINE DIED.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 15, 1997PA

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, A TOTAL OF THREE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN VEHICLE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 15, 1997PA

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 12, 1997PA

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch
Filed Oct 20, 1997NJ

HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING HOOD TO SMASH WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 20, 1997NY

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash
Filed May 13, 1997UT

WHILE IN MOTION VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Mar 18, 1997NJ

FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

20 of 34 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20017000Routine
19982000Routine
19972000Routine
19963002Fatalities reported
19955000Routine
199433220Routine
199320110Routine
1992 — this page34100Routine
199138130Routine
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.