1989 Hyundai Excel: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1989 Hyundai Excel. The newest campaign is 94V103000. NHTSA received the report on 6 Jun 1994. The NHTSA record gives the component Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Heater Core. NHTSA has 68 complaints on file for this model year. 10 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 94V103000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will inspect and replace defective valve stems.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns, newest first. 1,688,550 units in total.

94V1030006 Jun 1994Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Heater Core
93V1670004 Oct 1993Power Train / Manual Transmission
91V22500031 Dec 1991Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System
89V10000019 Jun 1989Vehicle Speed Control

94V103000Received 6 Jun 1994. 270,000 units.
Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System / Heater Core
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The heater control valve stem does not meet the material specifications. High coolant temperatures can cause the stem to leak.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This can result in a burn injury to the front seat passenger's feet and legs.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will inspect and replace defective valve stems.
Report filed by HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Sep 1994.
93V167000Received 4 Oct 1993. 515,000 units.
Power Train / Manual Transmission
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Hyundai will perform a cost free transmission oil change.
Report filed by HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 27 Nov 1993.
91V225000Received 31 Dec 1991. 895,000 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
The melting plastic air filter case may lead to a firein the engine compartment.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace the reed valve subassembly with one whose metal components are fabricated from corrosion resistant stainless steel.
Report filed by HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Jan 1992.
89V100000Received 19 Jun 1989. 8,550 units.
Vehicle Speed Control
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
This could cause erratic cruise control operation, whichcould result in an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace electronic control module.
Report filed by HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 3 Jul 1989.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

68 complaints, 92 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

1989 Hyundai Excel
All 1989 vehicles

1989 Hyundai Excel: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1989 Excel	All 1989 vehicles	Excel, all years	Mentions
Engine and Engine Cooling	326.1	127.3	200.5	30
Visibility	271.7	30.7	101.4	25
Electrical System	130.4	139.7	125	12
Power Train	108.7	73.8	172.2	10
Structure	32.6	53.9	35.4	3
Fuel System, Gasoline	21.7	65.8	40.1	2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	21.7	115.1	47.2	2
Suspension	21.7	25.3	33	2
Seat Belts	21.7	121.1	73.1	2
Interior Lighting	10.9	1.8	2.4	1

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 13.

Complaints that report a crash: 2
Complaints that report a fire: 19
Injuries in the complaints: 2
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 29 Jan 2001

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1989 Hyundai Excel, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1995, with 42 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1989 Hyundai Excel
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
PE94043	Preliminary evaluation	CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURES	Electrical System	27 May 1994	31 Oct 1994
PE94003	Preliminary evaluation	HEATER CORE FAILURE	Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System	14 Jan 1994	10 Jun 1994	94V103000
EA91048	Engineering analysis	AUTO SHOULDER BELT FAILURE	Seat Belts	19 Nov 1991	26 Oct 1992
EA91039	Engineering analysis	TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP	Power Train	24 Sep 1991	13 Oct 1992
PE91083	Preliminary evaluation	TRANSMISSION LOCKUP	Power Train	10 Jun 1991	24 Sep 1991
EA91024	Engineering analysis	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	Engine and Engine Cooling	3 May 1991	7 Jan 1992	91V225000
PE91053	Preliminary evaluation	PASSENGER BRAKE	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	26 Feb 1991	5 Jun 1991
PE91027	Preliminary evaluation	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	Engine and Engine Cooling	4 Jan 1991	3 May 1991
EA90021	Engineering analysis	FRNT SUSPENSION VIBRATES	Suspension	2 Apr 1990	30 Apr 1991	91E021000
PE90011	Preliminary evaluation	FRONT SUSPENSION VIBRATION	Steering	25 Oct 1989	2 Apr 1990

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19865
19874
19884
19894
19902
19911
19921
19931
19942
19950
19960
19970
19980
20010

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1989 Hyundai ExcelThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1989 Hyundai Excel: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/hyundai/excel/1989/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1989 Hyundai Excel?: 1,688,550 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Hyundai Excel have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the Hyundai Excel, model years 1986 to 2001. 4 of them name the 1989 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1989 Hyundai Excel name most often?: Engine and Engine Cooling: 30 of 92 component mentions, or 326.1 per 1,000. For all 1989 vehicles the figure is 127.3 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1989 Hyundai Excel open?: No. Each of the 10 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.