HYUNDAI EXCEL · model year

1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL

39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992HYUNDAIEXCEL carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1992 EXCEL is power train:automatic transmission with 14 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc (2) and latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1992 EXCEL, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

39
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

39 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION14
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1

Recent Complaints

20090127SUSPENSION:FRONT

DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM..1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL..CORRODES AND RUSTS, ESPECIALLY ON PASSENGER SIDE LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 99,999

20070201ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THERE IS A HUGE SAFETY DEFECT IN THE OLDER HYUNDAI AUTOMOBILE COMPUTERS OR ECU BOXES. THE INTERNAL CAPACITORS (RUBYCON AND NICYCON) FAIL CAUSING ACID TO LEAK OUT ON THE COMPUTER BOARD, LEADING TO COMPLETE COMPUTER FAILURE. THE CAR STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY WITH NO WARNING, LEADING TO A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD FOR ALL OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE . THE CAR WILL ALSO IDLE ERRATICALLY, YIELDING NUMEROUS COMPUTER , AND NO START AND STALLING SITUATIONS THAT ARE UNPREDICTABILITY HAVE REPLACED 4 COMPUTERS (ECU'S) IN MY 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL . THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERNET ARTICLES AND AUTO COMPUTER REBUILD SITES DOCUMENTING THESE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IN THE HYUNDAI COMPUTER. I ALSO SENT CLOSE-UP PHOTOS OF THE ECU COMPONENT DEFECTS, AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER TO HYUNDAI MOTORS, BUT THEY ARE UNCOOPERATIVE. I HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES TO CONTACT HYUNDAI MOTORS AND THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REPLACEMENT OR REBUILD ON THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFINITE , SERIOUS AND

Mileage: 50,000

20050921WHEELS:RIM

DT: THE TIRES WERE LEAKING AIR. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIRE, BUT FOUND OUT IT WAS THE RIM. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE EIGHT YEARS AGO, AND ONCE A YEAR AGO, AND ONCE SIX MONTHS AGO. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER HAD THE RIM REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE DEALER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AFTER THE LAST TIME, AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FORTH ONE FAILING. *AK (11/16/05) THE TIRES WERE HEAVILY UNDER INFLATED. *SC

Mileage: 25,000

20010221LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH FRONT HOOD FLIPPED UP, BLOCKING VISION. KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE, DRIVING OFF ROAD. PUSHED DOWN HOOD AND TIED IT WITH A ROPE THEN, LATCH HAD TO BE FIXED. *AK

20001219SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

VEHICLE WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE IN WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT BELT DID NOT LOCK, THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S CHEST TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE LAP BELT DID NOT FAIL IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

20000922POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP OVER A DOZEN TIMES AND I HAVE THE PAPERS TO PROVE IT THE REPAIR SHOP HAD MY CAR MORE THEN I DID AND I REPLACED JUST ABOUT EVERY THING ON THE CAR BUT I WENT THROUGH 3 TRANSMISSION AND NOW I NEED ANOTHER BEFOR I HAD AN EXSTENDED WARRANTY AND I JUST HAD TO PAY $50.00 NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS GONE NONE OF THE TRANSMISSION SHOPS WANTED TO FIX IT THEY SAY THAT IT IS TO MUCH TROUBLE AND THE MAKE OF THAT TRANSMISSION FOR THAT YEAR HAS PROBLEMS AND THAT IF I WOULD FIX IT IT WOULD JUST DO IT AGAIN. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES ALREADY AND NOW THE CAR NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IT WAS JUST REPLACED IN 1998 WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU LARAY RANSOM. *AK

19991021SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS LIGHT ILLUMNATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19990908POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (REPLACED 3 TIMES). ENGINE DIED.

19990908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (REPLACED 3 TIMES). ENGINE DIED.

19990411POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NO SUMMARY

19990115FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

MY FIRST HEADACHE WITH THIS VEHICLE OCCURED WHEN THE GAS PUMP WHEN OUT. I WAS SITTING AT A LIGHT AND I HEARD A LOUD, BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS, ONLY TO FEEL A LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECANHIC. AFTER THE PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE MECANHIC SOUNDED ME WHERE THE GASKET ON THE TOP OF THE PUMP HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR HAPPEND THIS PAST SUMMER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HAD JUST PASSED A GREEN LIGHT. I TRIED TO SPEED UP, BUT THE CAR HESITATED REALLY BAD, AND JERKED EACH TIME I TRIED TO GO FASTER. I PULLED OFF THE CAR OF THE ROAD TO START UP THE CAR AGAIN, BUT IT FAILED TO TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSON SHOP. IT SAT THERE FOR TWO WEEKS UNTIL I CAME UP WITH THE $1800 NEEDED TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

19990115POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY FIRST HEADACHE WITH THIS VEHICLE OCCURED WHEN THE GAS PUMP WHEN OUT. I WAS SITTING AT A LIGHT AND I HEARD A LOUD, BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS, ONLY TO FEEL A LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECANHIC. AFTER THE PUMP WAS REPLACED, THE MECANHIC SOUNDED ME WHERE THE GASKET ON THE TOP OF THE PUMP HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE INCIDENT WITH THIS CAR HAPPEND THIS PAST SUMMER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HAD JUST PASSED A GREEN LIGHT. I TRIED TO SPEED UP, BUT THE CAR HESITATED REALLY BAD, AND JERKED EACH TIME I TRIED TO GO FASTER. I PULLED OFF THE CAR OF THE ROAD TO START UP THE CAR AGAIN, BUT IT FAILED TO TURN OVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSON SHOP. IT SAT THERE FOR TWO WEEKS UNTIL I CAME UP WITH THE $1800 NEEDED TO PAY FOR AN ENTIRELY NEW TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.

19990114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT REGISTERING IT ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE INSIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE COMPRESSION/ ANTI-FREEZE/OIL AND STALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

19990114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHOUT REGISTERING IT ON TEMPERATURE GAUGE INSIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE COMPRESSION/ ANTI-FREEZE/OIL AND STALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

19981014POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

19980807CrashSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 45 MPH CONSUMER WENT TO AVOID HITTING A DEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, AND TOTALING VEHICLE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

19980417POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES.

19980402LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING HOOD TO SMASH WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)

19980220POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED SEVERAL TIMES, A TOTAL OF THREE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN VEHICLE.

19980205POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR.

Compare 1992HYUNDAIEXCEL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL have?
The 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL has 39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL?
The most-complained component for the 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH.
Is the 1992 HYUNDAI EXCEL safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.