Total Complaints
53 filings
HYUNDAI EXCEL · model year
1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL
53 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994HYUNDAIEXCEL carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 2 fires, 3 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 1994 EXCEL is power train:manual transmission with 4 filings, followed by wheels (3) and engine and engine cooling:engine (3). 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 1994 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.
53
Complaints
4
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 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:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| WHEELS | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110720ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MISINFORMATION CONCERNING VEHICLE BRAKES AND TIRE TREAD DEPTH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A LEAK, THE SPARK PLUGS, DRIVE BELTS AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNTIL FINALLY THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND UPON STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION TO NEEDING NEW BRAKE SHOES, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED NEW DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS. *JB
20110720TIRES
1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MISINFORMATION CONCERNING VEHICLE BRAKES AND TIRE TREAD DEPTH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A LEAK, THE SPARK PLUGS, DRIVE BELTS AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNTIL FINALLY THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND UPON STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION TO NEEDING NEW BRAKE SHOES, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED NEW DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS. *JB
20110720SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MISINFORMATION CONCERNING VEHICLE BRAKES AND TIRE TREAD DEPTH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A LEAK, THE SPARK PLUGS, DRIVE BELTS AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNTIL FINALLY THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND UPON STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION TO NEEDING NEW BRAKE SHOES, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED NEW DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS. *JB
20110720ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MISINFORMATION CONCERNING VEHICLE BRAKES AND TIRE TREAD DEPTH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A LEAK, THE SPARK PLUGS, DRIVE BELTS AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNTIL FINALLY THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND UPON STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION TO NEEDING NEW BRAKE SHOES, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED NEW DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS. *JB
20110720SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MISINFORMATION CONCERNING VEHICLE BRAKES AND TIRE TREAD DEPTH. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A LEAK, THE SPARK PLUGS, DRIVE BELTS AND WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, UNTIL FINALLY THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HEARING A GRINDING SOUND UPON STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE METAL AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKING FLUID. IN ADDITION TO NEEDING NEW BRAKE SHOES, THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED NEW DRUMS AND WHEEL CYLINDERS. *JB
20041124TIRES
HEARD A LOUD NOISE , LOOKED TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE SOUND. WHITE SMOKE, FIRESTONE TIRE BLOW OUT. *BF THE TIRE HAD BLOWN. IT LOOKED LIKE THE TIRE WAS CUT COMPLETELY AROUND THE RIM. *SC
20040422FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FOR INSPECTION I HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH DETERIORATED SEVERELY. THE COST WAS 175 DOLLARS. TODAY THE CAR BECAME A FIREBALL ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED! THE FIREMAN STATED THE CAUSE WAS THE FUEL PUMP IN THE REAR OF THE CAR! I WAS ONLY RUNNING THE CAR AND WENT INSIDE TO GET SOMETHING & RETURNED TO A FIREBALL. I TOTALLY LOST CAR IN FIRE!
Mileage: 80,000
20020415ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING KEY IN THE IGNITION TURNED OF BY ITSELF. LOST ALL POWER. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK
20010626POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
A BLOWN MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
20010208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WAS MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND WAS INFORMED THAT BOLTS CAME OUT AND ROCKER SHAFT CONNECTED TO EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD BROKEN. *AK 2 WEEKS AFTER REPAIR, CLUNKING NOISES STARTED AGAIN, CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW HYUNDAI AND HOPES THE SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR WITH THE NEW VEHICLE. *SLC
20010117FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
19990921POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
WHEEL BEARING FAILED, CAUSING GRINDING NOISE ON LEFT FRONT WHILE DRIVING. YH
19990921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPAIRED, CAUSING GRINDING NOISE. YH
19990921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REPAIRED, CAUSING GRINDING NOISE. YH
19990921STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS LOOSE AND REPAIRED. YH
19980127POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT STAY IN 4TH GEAR.
19980114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A ROCKER ARM CAME LOOSE DURING OPERATION, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE.
19980106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AT 45,000 MILES THE HEAD GASKET IN ENGINE HAS BLOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19970916WHEELS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEEL'S TIRE MOUNT CRACKED, CAUSING A FLAT TIRE. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
19970806CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT
REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP UPON IMPACT, CAUSING CHILD IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT NOT REMAIN IN PLACE. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP, CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY. PROBLEM NOT SOLVED AS YET. *AK
Compare 1994HYUNDAIEXCEL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL have?▼
The 1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL has 53 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 HYUNDAI EXCEL is POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1994 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.