Engine sputtered, stopped running, caught fire.
The worst 1990 Hyundai Excel problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical8
- Engine8
- Transmission6
- Fuel system5
- Visibility4
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical8
- Engine8
- Transmission6
- Fuel system5
- Visibility4
- Wheels3
- Acceleration2
- Brakes2
- Suspension2
- Airbags1
- Body1
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
- Tires1
Recalls 2
Fuel system, gasoline
- What is wrong
- The vehicles failed the lateral moving barrier impact test requirements of fmvss 301, "fuel system integrity." the fuel leakage from the gas tank exceeded the maximum allowable amount of spillage.
- Risk
- In the event of an accident, the fuel spillage can resultin a fire if exposed to a source of ignition.
- Remedy
- Hyundai has developed an appropriate countermeasure that will comply with all requirements of fmvss 301.
Recall number 93V192000 · Recall details
Wheels: hubcap/cover
- What is wrong
- Lock washer located under the nut that secures the front hub to the drive shaft may have had improper heat treatment and could crack.
- Risk
- This could cause wheel bearing freeplay and could result in bearing damage, and possible loss of vehicle control through wheel failure.
- Remedy
- Replace lock washer on each front wheel and repair area around lock washer as necessary.
Recall number 90V053000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1990 Hyundai Excel
Defect investigations
Scissor jack failure
There is no summary currently available
PE95060
Charging system failures
There is no summary currently available
PE94043
Transmission malfunction
There is no summary currently available
EA92032
Transmission lock-up
There is no summary currently available
EA91039
Passenger brake
There is no summary currently available
PE91053
Technical service bulletins for the 1990 Hyundai Excel 7
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below.
- This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake...
- This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration...
- This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: • A Battery SOC alert
- The Blind Spot Detection (BSD) or Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW) is a system that measures the speed...
- Shift condition caused by short circuit in inhibitor switch
1990 Hyundai Excel fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4‑cyl | FWD | 24-25 | 29-33 | 26-28 |
What 1990 Hyundai Excel owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Air conditioner failure.
The clutch fork broke, jamming the transmission. Also, causing the clutch to become inoperable. Please give any further details.
While driving about 40 MPH another vehicle crossed consumer's vehicle and consumer crashed into it. Upon impact, driver's air bag did not deploy.
While proceeding up a slight incline during the commuting hour, the car lost all power and I came close to being hit in the rear. After about 30 seconds I regained some power and was able to proceed. The car was idling rough and I had to keep my foot on the accelerator at all times to keep it running. I had it turned up and it ran better but still a lack of power. I had to have it inspected and it failed inspection because the pollution was at 1200. I then had it tuned up again (fully) and it failed again. I had it checked out at a station and found out that cylinder 3 did not have any pressure at all. I also found out that to get it fixed it would cost around $1,000. It still is not fixed.
Engine locked up while driving at 20-25mph. No prior indication or warning. Dealer contacted and no warranty. Vehicle was towed, repairs can be remedied at owner expense.
Check engine light comes on.
Electrical problem, trouble opening drivers side door, and fuel pump failed.
During rapid acceleration, while stopping, brakes required excessive pressure, and could feel "chattering" in brakes & then a loss of braking power. Vehicle would not stop like it suppose to; slow response time.
All four rims are cracked due to design.
Compare the 1990 Hyundai Excel
Other model years
Questions about the 1990 Hyundai Excel
Is the 1990 Hyundai Excel reliable?
Owners have filed 38 complaints about the 1990 Hyundai Excel, 5.4 times a typical Excel model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1990 Hyundai Excel?
Electrical system, with 8 complaints. Next is engine (8).
How many recalls does the 1990 Hyundai Excel have?
2 recalls, covering fuel system, gasoline and wheels.
What gas mileage does the 1990 Hyundai Excel get?
Official estimates for the 1990 Hyundai Excel range from 26 to 28 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.5L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 24-25 city and 29-33 highway.
VIN decoder
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