The 1989 Hyundai Excel has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,688,550 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE STEM DOES NOT MEET THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURES CAN CAUSE THE STEM TO LEAK.
THIS CAN RESULT IN A BURN INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET AND LEGS.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS.
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.
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.
HYUNDAI WILL PERFORM A COST FREE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE.
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…
THE MELTING PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE MAY LEAD TO A FIREIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
REPLACE THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY WITH ONE WHOSE METAL COMPONENTS ARE FABRICATED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL.
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.
THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
REPLACE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While driving on a local road, traveling 45 to 50mph, looked down and spilled food. Went off the road, hit a tree and driver's side seat belt didn't retract or hold. Didn't contact dealer or manufacturer. *ak”
“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”
“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. *ak”
“Engine fire as a result of engine overheating. (ohio state police report). *ak”
“Engine overheated, coolant added several times, finally resulted in fire.”
“Manual indicates how to check the transmission oil level by loosening and removing the oil filler bolt and use your finger to feel inside the hole to see if the oil level is at the bottom edge of the hole which is incorrect. The area in th”
“Vehicle fire. (ohio state police report) *dh”
“The b+ wire becomes very hot and causes the alternator to burn. *ak”
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Hyundai Excel as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.