1986 Hyundai EXCEL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 11 complaints (36.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 36.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
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:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Webbing | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 11 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 | 8 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
1995: 8; 1996: 2; 2000: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
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 550300 · 2000-01-10 (January 10, 2000)
CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE A PART NO. / SERIAL NO. INPRINTED ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, WHICH IS CALLED A SPARKER. WITHOUT THE CORRECT SPARKEER PART NO. CONSUMER CANNOT START VEHICLE/IF THE WRONG ONE WAS PURCHASED IT WILL CAUSE OVERHEATING,BURNING OF THE IGNITION WIRES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. (SPARKER P/N 102271200020). *YC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959305 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)
WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT NIGHT AND BACK PASSENGER RIGHT WHEEL CAME OFF IT WAS RAINING HARD AND DEALER DON'T WANT TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962874 · 1995-03-31 (March 31, 1995)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRANS LOCKED UP, TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN RECALLED ONCE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962940 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP PRIOR TO RECALL (93V-167). *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962940 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 972025 · 1995-09-13 (September 13, 1995)
#PE94-003 THE HEATER CORE , RADIATOR WAS REPLACED WITHIN FOUR YEARS AT CONSUMER EXPENSE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972025 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
86V043000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 1986-03-17 (March 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.
Remedy: INSPECT AND INSTALL BRAKE LINKAGE COTTER PIN AS NECESSARY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V180000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
Reported: 1987-11-25 (November 25, 1987)
VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE BRAKE FADE AND RECOVERY PORTION OF FMVSS 105.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V100000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1989-06-19 (June 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: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗91V225000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
Reported: 1991-12-31 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V167000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 1993-10-04 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗