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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1988 Hyundai Excel.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4 cyl Automatic 3-spd | 23 | 29 | 26 | $2,300 |
| 1.5L 4 cyl Manual 4-spd | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,300 |
| 1.5L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 24 | 33 | 28 | $2,150 |
NHTSA has not published 5-star crash-test ratings for the 1988 Hyundai Excel. New vehicles are often added to the NCAP rating program after initial release; check nhtsa.gov/ratings for the latest status.
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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: THE MELTING PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE MAY LEAD TO A FIREIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE REED VALVE SUBASSEMBLY WITH ONE WHOSE METAL COMPONENTS ARE FABRICATED FROM CORROSION RESISTANT STAINLESS STEEL.
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
PROBLEMS WITH BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT, RACK AND PINION LEAKAGE, BENT CROSSMEMBER IN THE SUBFRAME, ETC. (NAR) *PH *CB THE CONSUMER SENT ANOTHER COMPLAINT REFERENCING 10040082,10022196,10011711, & 10003824 ALL OF WHICH WENT UN-ANSWERED. *TC
RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT AND UPPER TIE BAR IS BENT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY WELDED ON ONE SIDE OF THE SUBFRAME *TS THE CROSS MEMEBER WAS BENT. *JB
DRIVING OUT OF DRIVEWAY HEARD A NOISE LIKE THE TIRE WAS FLAT OR SOMETHING DRAGGING BENEATH MY VEHICLE. EXITED FOUND NOTHING. DROVE TO NEXT STOP SIGN, NOISE CONTINUED. EXITED A SECOND TIME AND OBSERVED TRED FROM TIRE EXTENDING ABOUT SIX INCHES TO THE REAR OF TIRE. TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED BUT THE TRED TRAILED BEHIND THE TIRE. DROVE IN REVERSE TO ALLOW TRED TO WRAP AROUND TIRE AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. CHANGED TIRE TWO DAYS LATER. COUPLE WEEKS PASSED. NOTIFIED FIRESTONE BY CALLING THEIR EIGHT HUNDRED NUMBER TODAY 8-22-2000 AND WAS TOLD ONLY THE TIRES SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL WOULD BE EXCHANGED FOR FREE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW TIRE. I EXPRESSED TO THEM THAT MY SERIES TIRE HAD TRED SEPERATION AS THE OTHER RECALLED TIRES HAVE HAD OCCUR. THEY DID NOT TAKE MY NAME, NUMBER OR EVEN TELL ME WHERE TO TAKE IT FOR INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO NEAREST DEALER AND BUY ANOTHER ONE, MINE WAS NOT COVERED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS INVESTIGATED SINCE I AM A POLICE OFFICER BY PROFESSION, NOT TO MENTION I OR A FAMILY MEMBER MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT A FASTER RATE OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY RATHER THAN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE IF PICTURES ARE NEEDED OR IF AN INSPECTOR NEEDS TO RESPOND TO VIEW THE TIRE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER SERIES OF FAULTY FIRESTONE BRAND TIRES OUT THERE JEOPARDISING MORE INNOCENT LIVES. PLEASE ADVISE ME ON THE NEXT STEP I NEED TO TAKE TO RESOLVE THE MATTER. FIRESTONE SEEMED UNCOOPERATIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. SINCERELY, STEVEN W. GORDON.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: I75/70R138 )
The 1988 Hyundai Excel has 4 NHTSA recalls and 71 consumer complaints on file. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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: 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: HYUNDAI WILL PERFORM A COST FREE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE.
Component: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE STEM DOES NOT MEET THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURES CAN CAUSE THE STEM TO LEAK.
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A BURN INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET AND LEGS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE BROKE CAUSING CAR TO LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING.
ENGINE HEAD FAILED.
RADIATOR FAILED.
VEHICLE SOLD WITHOUT PRIOR HISTORY INFORMATION STATING VEHICLE WAS SALVAGED.
WINDOW CRANKS FALL OFF.
VALVE TRAIN CAME LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL.
RECALL ON TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF GRINDING, REPLACED TRANSMISSION OIL.
PRE-CAT AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACED DUE TO COMPONENTS OVERHEATING, CAUSING CRACKING AND DISINTEGRATING.
VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH LAP BELTS.
VEHICLE, UNPREDICTABLY, LACKS POWER WHEN ACCELERATION FROM IDLE OR NEAR IDLE.
VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERLY WITH LOUD SHAKING AND A RATTLING NOISE.
Showing 15 of 71 complaints