Hyundai EXCEL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
235 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 235 complaints (8.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 38 | 16.2% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 6.4% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 21 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 20 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 16 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 13 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 21; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 20; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 16; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 13; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 225 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 135 |
| 1996 | 59 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 135; 1996: 59; 2000: 11; 2001: 8; 2002: 9; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 38 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 489744 · 1995-05-04 (May 4, 1995)
TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501358 · 1996-01-29 (January 29, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO NUT INSIDE TRANSMISSION WITHIN INPUT SHAFT, HAVINB THE ABILITY TO BACKOFF, ALLOWI NG DISCONTINUENCE OF POWER. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965202 · 1995-05-11 (May 11, 1995)
ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481361 · 1995-03-06 (March 6, 1995)
ALTERNATOR REPLACED THREE TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480047 · 1995-02-03 (February 3, 1995)
BRAKES FAILED. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 978309 · 1996-01-26 (January 26, 1996)
WHEN ICE IS UNDER THE SNOW YOU JUST SLIDE ON THE ROAD. ABS IS NOT WORKING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973377 · 1995-10-13 (October 13, 1995)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 8 DIFFERENT TIMES, VEHICLE HAS 50K MILES. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972405 · 1995-09-25 (September 25, 1995)
WIRING HARNESS ATTACHED TO FIREWALL RELEASED AND WRAPPED AROUND TIRE AXLE; STOPPED VEHICLE FROM 55 MPH TO 0 MPH; VEHICLE WAS ON EDGE OF CLIFF. TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718057 · 2000-01-30 (January 30, 2000)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483228 · 1995-08-21 (August 21, 1995)
REPLACED FUEL PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 966466 · 1995-06-08 (June 8, 1995)
CAR WAS IN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 557595 · 2000-11-28 (November 28, 2000)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 557595 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1986 | 5 |
| 1987 | 4 |
| 1988 | 4 |
| 1989 | 4 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 |
| 1994 | 2 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1986: 5; 1987: 4; 1988: 4; 1989: 4; 1990: 2; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 2; 1995: 0; 1998: 0; 2001: 0