IllustrationPREMATURE FAILURE OF CV JOINT. *TW
1988 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: 2 of 43 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 7 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 reports6 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
43 reportsHEATER LEAKED HOT COOLANT, BURNING DRIVER'S FOOT, PRIOR TO RECALL. (94V103)
FRONT SEAT BELT ARE WITHOUT LAP BELTS. TT
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, OVERHEATED VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. TT
5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. TT
TRANSMISSION FAILED, RESULTING IN NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-167). *AK
ALTERNATOR REPLACED THREE TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. *SKD
REAR SHOCKS REPLACED DUE TO RATTLING NOISE, ALSO REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINTS/ BUSHINGS.
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL. (91V-225) *AW
ALTERNATOR REPLACED SIX TIMES. *AW
Official recalls
494V103000 · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:heater Core
Jun 6, 1994
THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE STEM DOES NOT MEET THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURES CAN CAUSE THE STEM TO LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A BURN INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET AND LEGS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS.
93V167000 · 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.
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
12PE94043 · 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
EA91048 · Auto Shoulder Belt Failure
Opened Nov 19, 1991 · Closed Oct 26, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
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
PE91097 · Auto Shoulder Belt Fails
Opened Jul 10, 1991 · Closed Nov 19, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE91083 · Transmission Lockup
Opened Jun 10, 1991 · Closed Sep 24, 1991
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
EA90021 · Frnt Suspension Vibrates
Opened Apr 2, 1990 · Closed Apr 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE90011 · Front Suspension Vibration
Opened Oct 25, 1989 · Closed Apr 2, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available