Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA about the 1989 Hyundai Excel, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 48 | 36% |
| Visibility | 37 | 28% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 13% |
| Power train | 16 | 12% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 2% |
| Structure | 3 | 2% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1% |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
RECALL 93V167000; 4 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL HAD BEEN SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
ENGINE FIRE AS A RESULT OF ENGINE OVERHEATING. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT). *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ENGINE OVERHEATED, COOLANT ADDED SEVERAL TIMES, FINALLY RESULTED IN FIRE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1989 Hyundai Excel. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: THE MELTING PLASTIC AIR FILTER CASE MAY LEAD TO A FIREIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Fix: 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.
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION, WHICHCOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE.
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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: HYUNDAI WILL PERFORM A COST FREE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE.
THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE STEM DOES NOT MEET THE MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS. HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURES CAN CAUSE THE STEM TO LEAK.
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A BURN INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FEET AND LEGS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE VALVE STEMS.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 48 of them (36%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1989 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 72/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.