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Hyundai ExcelModel year report

1988 Hyundai Excel Problems

Complaints
43filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
119,037miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Hyundai Excel (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 1988 Hyundai Excel. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 19 complaints (44% of the total), followed by seat belts (8) and transmission and drivetrain (7). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 119,037 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 6 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign, 2 NHTSA investigations and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Seat belts complaints overlap with 2 NHTSA investigations filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Fuel system (1), Other or unknown (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Seat belts: “Shoulder belt mounted on door, causing shoulder belt to stretch out when door flew open during accident, leaving driver unrestrained, resulting in injury.”

NHTSA complaint #480034, filed 1995-01

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 119,037 and 119,037 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–100100%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 119,037 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

1995191996199719981999200020032005
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1988 Hyundai Excel version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Excel FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual243328$2,400
Excel FWD1.5L 4-cyl3-speed automatic232926$2,600
Excel FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed manual233026$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1988 Hyundai Excel → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 6 on record; the latest 6 are shown.

Other model years of the Hyundai Excel

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20017—0———Not enough data
19955—0———Not enough data
19943380,0002—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199320101,0001—27—Stable
19923450,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19913836,7421—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199038—2—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198968—4—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198843119,0374—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198713119,0374—26—Not enough data
198613—5———Not enough data

All Hyundai Excel model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Hyundai Excel have?

NHTSA recorded 43 consumer complaints for the 1988 Hyundai Excel as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1988 Hyundai Excel is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 19 complaints (44% of the total), followed by seat belts with 8.

Has the 1988 Hyundai Excel been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1988 Hyundai Excel get?

The EPA rates the 1988 Hyundai Excel (Excel, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 23 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1988 Hyundai Excel reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 119,037 miles and the middle half falls between 119,037 and 119,037 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.