AI Damage1989 Hyundai Excel: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Hyundai Excel filed 68 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and visibility. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 68
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 35% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 34% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 16% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 3% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 3% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 24 complaints (35% of all).
- Visibility: 23 complaints (34% of all).
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (16% of all).
- Powertrain: 10 complaints (15% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (4% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 68 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Went off the road, hit a tree and driver's side seat belt didn't retract or hold. Didn't contact dealer or manufacturer.
The seat belts failed to restrain occupant in a collision causing child (6yrs old) to hit his head on the windshield. Tt
Consumer was traveling about 30mph on highway, and she noticed that vehicle was hesitating/poppying, and didn't have any speed. Also, smoke was coming from underneath vehicle. Vehicle was on fire.
Defective fuel pump can cause large amount of fuel to be pushed out of a hose near the air conditioning compressor. This could have resulted into a fire. There should be a recal.
Engine fire as a result of engine overheating. (ohio state police report).
Recall 93v167000; 4 months after the recall had been serviced the transmission has gone out. Dealer says it needs to be replaced.
Recall # 93v167000 power train:transmission: standard: manual car will not shift between 4th & 5th gear. There was not a prolbem with the gears before the transmission fluid was changed in the vehicle.
Exhaust system - egr valve: while driving up a hill began to smell fumes, smoke started to come from vehicle. The vehicle lost power and driver noticed that the vehicle was on fire.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,491 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 12% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Excel has 22 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 68, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Hyundai Excel?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, visibility, electrical system. Total complaints: 68. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (29%), A/C or heater (26%), overheating, coolant loss (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Hyundai Excel?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Hyundai Excel from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.