IllustrationMileage unknown · Dec 11, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicInjury
BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #512552
1986 Hyundai Excel
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Excel years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
2 reportsBRAKE FAILURE.
#PE94-003 THE HEATER CORE , RADIATOR WAS REPLACED WITHIN FOUR YEARS AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. TT
Official recalls
593V167000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
Oct 4, 1993
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLEOCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND IN THE CAR, AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROLWHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: HYUNDAI WILL PERFORM A COST FREE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE.
91V225000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System
Dec 31, 1991
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 SUBASSEMBLY. CORROSION MAY ALSO OCCUR ON THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY, DEFORMING THE REED SEATS AND PREVENTING THE REEDS FROM CLOSING PROPERLY. SEPARATION OF THE REEDS FROM THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY OR IMPROPER CLOSING OF THE REEDS ALLOW HOT EXHAUST GASES TO FLOW BACKWARD INTO THE PLASTIC SECONDARY AIR FILTER CASE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THESE HOT EXHAUST GASES MAY MELT THE SECONDARY PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE MELTING PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE MAY LEAD TO A FIREIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY WITH ONE WHOSE METAL COMPONENTS ARE FABRICATED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL.
89V100000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Jun 19, 1989
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
87V180000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:pads
Nov 25, 1987
VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE BRAKE FADE AND RECOVERY PORTION OF FMVSS 105.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THERE MAY BE A LOSS OF BRAKING EFFICIENCY DURINGREPEATED HARD APPLICATION OF BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIORWARNING.
Remedy: REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED SEMI METALLIC BRAKE PADS.
86V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages
Mar 17, 1986
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 BRAKES CANNOT BE APPLIED, CREATING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSPECT AND INSTALL BRAKE LINKAGE COTTER PIN AS NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
10PE94043 · Charging System Failures
Opened May 27, 1994 · Closed Oct 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE94003 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Jan 14, 1994 · Closed Jun 10, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
C92001 · Transmission Malfunction
Opened Sep 28, 1992 · Closed Oct 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA91039 · Transmission LOCK-UP
Opened Sep 24, 1991 · Closed Oct 13, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA91024 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened May 3, 1991 · Closed Jan 7, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE91053 · Passenger Brake
Opened Feb 26, 1991 · Closed Jun 5, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91027 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jan 4, 1991 · Closed May 3, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE89099 · Heater Core Failure
Opened Mar 14, 1989 · Closed Jul 5, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
===
PE88088 · Steering Shaft Separation
Opened Aug 8, 1988 · Closed Nov 17, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE87027 · Brake Loss
Opened Apr 28, 1987 · Closed Dec 9, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: HYUNDAI HAS AGREED TO RECALL1986 AND 1987 EXCELS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.ANALYSIS: ODI'S INQUIRY TO OVSC ABOUT THE 1986 MODEL'S PERFORMANCEIN THE FMVSS-105 COMPLIANCE TEST, PROMPTED OVSC TO TEST THE 1987 MODEL,AND FOUND IT TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE. BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATIONS, HYUNDAIAGREED TO RECALL BOTH 1986 AND 1987 MODEL VEHICLES. RCN- 87V-180PROPOSED ACTION: BASED ON THE ABOVE ACTION, IT RECOMMENDED THAT THISP.E. BE CLOSED.===