1989 Hyundai Excel Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around two long-running campaigns: coolant leaking from the heater control valve into the cabin, and failures in the secondary air (reed valve) system. Owners writing about these often mention that the work had already been done, or that they never received the notice, rather than describing a new type of failure. Remember that this is a 1989 vehicle, so most of these complaints were filed in the 1990s.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Heater control valve coolant leak (recall campaign)

   • 17 complaints (25%)
   • typically at 6.2 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–1996

   Complaints describe coolant leaking from the heater control valve stem, sometimes after the vehicle had not yet been repaired under the recall campaign. Owners say they had the heater core work performed at a dealer, and in some cases they report being asked to pay for the diagnosis or to cover part of the cost when the repair was already done. Others report problems after the repair, such as the car no longer running above a certain speed, or strong fumes inside the cabin that made the car hard to drive in for the recall work. Filed in the mid- to late 1990s. The sample records do not include mileage, so no mileage range is set.

   Recall 94V103000

   What to check: Ask whether the heater control valve recall work was completed and keep the paperwork. Look for coolant residue or a sweet smell around the heater box and check the cabin for damp carpet.

2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Reed valve failure and exhaust leaks

   Mentioned in 4 of 19 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the reed valve subassembly in the secondary air system breaking up, and one report says the resulting exhaust leak cracked the exhaust manifold. Some of these complaints were filed before the recall notice reached the owner. Several accounts connect an exhaust or fuel smell with smoke and fire in the engine compartment while driving, including one where the vehicle lost power before the fire started. Filed from the mid-1990s into 2001; the sample records do not show mileage.

   Recall 91V225000

   What to check: Check whether the secondary air system recall was completed. Listen for exhaust tick or rattle from the manifold area and look for soot streaks or a burned smell in the engine compartment.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Exhaust system - EGR valve: while driving up a hill began to smell fumes, smoke started to come from vehicle. The vehicle lost power and driver noticed that the vehicle was on fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #812295, filed 1997-07
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Dashboard and electrical oddities with defrost or lights on

   Mentioned in 4 of 19 sampled complaints

   Owners report that switching on the defroster and headlights makes the fuel gauge read beyond full, the temperature gauge climb into the red, the clock stop, and the dash lights fail to come on at times. Other reports describe the car hesitating and losing power at highway speed, with smoke from underneath the vehicle, and fires in the engine compartment where the cause was not determined. Reported from the mid-1990s through 2001. Records in the sample do not include mileage.

   What to check: With the engine running, turn on the defroster and headlights and watch the gauges for false readings. Have a shop check ground straps and the charging system, and look for melted or chafed wiring under the hood.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer was traveling about 30mph on highway, and she noticed that vehicle was hesitating/poppying, and didn't have any speed. Also, smoke was coming from underneath vehicle. Vehicle was on fire.”

   NHTSA complaint #879268, filed 2001-01

   “When defrost and lights are turned on, the gas gauge reads way past full, temperature gauge goes to red, clock stops, and sometimes dash lights do not come on.”

   NHTSA complaint #515630, filed 1997-03

Buying note. On a vehicle this old, ask for documentation that the heater control valve and secondary air system recalls were completed, and budget for a careful inspection of the cooling system, wiring, and seat belts. Parts availability and prior repair quality matter more than the complaint patterns themselves.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 19 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.