Total Complaints
26 filings
HYUNDAI EXCEL · model year
1993 HYUNDAI EXCEL
26 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993HYUNDAIEXCEL carries 26 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 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 1993 EXCEL is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (2) and seat belts:front:anchorage (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 1993 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.
26
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080825FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 HYUNDAI EXCEL. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER ONLY TRAVELING ONE MILE, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVE DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A FAILED ECU; HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO COVER ALL THE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND REMAINS AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 101,000.
Mileage: 101,000
20010212ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ALL FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE DEFECTS AT THE SAME TIME. *AK
20000725VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, TRANSMISSION SKIPPED GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AT A FAST SPEED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER .*AK
20000725POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC OR WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND UPON DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, TRANSMISSION SKIPPED GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AT A FAST SPEED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER .*AK
19990923POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AS REPORTED TRANSMISSION LOCKED 1+2 AT 15K-20K. TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE 60K
19981210POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19980522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PISTON RING CRACKED, CAUSING LOSS OF COMPRESSION.
19961028ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES HER ENGINE STALLS OUT WHEN IT GETS HOT SOMETIMES CAUSING NEAR ACCIDENT. *AK
19960904EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH
HEADLIGHT AND HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH ON SAME LEVER, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO ACCIDENTALLY BE TURNED OFF WHEN DIMMING LIGHTS.
19960731SUSPENSION:FRONT
MISALIGNMENT, CAUSIN GPREMATURE WEA ROF THE TIRES. *AK
19960731VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
DEFROSTERS FAIL TO WORK IN HEAVY HUMIDITY CONDITIONS. *AK
19960731POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK
19960717WHEELS
FOUR WHEELS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. BECAUSE THEY HAVE CRACKED WHERE THE JOINTS ARE WELTED TOGETHER. CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. *AK
19960711SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK WHEN JERKED. *DH
19960529CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES & STAYS ON, VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY, TRIED TO SWERVE BUT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ANYWAY. *AK
19960513EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
THE JACK BUCKLED AND BROKE IN HALF WHILE IN USE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960502SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE WHEN REAR ENDED, RESULTING IN INJURIES.
19960502EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
19960502POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE.
19960502ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED. *DSH
Compare 1993HYUNDAIEXCEL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 HYUNDAI EXCEL have?▼
The 1993 HYUNDAI EXCEL has 26 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 HYUNDAI EXCEL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 HYUNDAI EXCEL is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE.
Is the 1993 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.