HyundaiExcel1991Overview/hyundai/excel/1991/base/

1991 Hyundai Excel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Excel.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Hyundai Excel is a passenger car fitted with a three-speed automatic transmission, EPA-rated at 23 city/29 highway/26 combined mpg, and specified for 3.6 quarts of engine oil in 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API viscosity grades. Reliability data for the model year show 44 owner complaints, with the power train flagged as the top concern and one recall recorded. Within the 1990–2001 Excel complaint history, 1991 sits just below the 1990 high of 53 complaints and far above the 1997 low of two, marking it as part of the higher-complaint early phase of the model run rather than the later, quieter years.

Model year199419931992199119901989198819871986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length161.4 in
Overall width63.4 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight2127 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 29 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume85 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Excel of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.60 sec — 1992 GS 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1992GS 3-door Hatchback 1.5L I-410.60 sec18.00 sec81 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.6 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.6 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Rack & Pinion Assembly (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In 1990 the Excel recorded 53 complaints and 2 recalls, while in 1991 complaints fell to 44 and recalls to 1, indicating an early improvement. The downward trend continued into 1992 and 1993, with complaints dropping to 36 and 29 while recalls remained at 1 each. A brief uptick occurred in 1994 (48 complaints, 2 recalls) before the model saw a sharp decline from 1995 onward, reaching as low as 5 complaints and zero recalls by 1995. For the 1991 model year the top complaint categories were Power Train (10), Electrical System (8), Visibility (5) and Service Brakes/Hydraulic (3), with 1 crash‑related and 4 fire‑related complaints reported. Because 1991 shows fewer complaints than 1990 but still higher than the low‑complaint years of the mid‑ to late‑1990s, it represents a modest improvement over the earliest model but is not among the most reliable years to purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
8
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
44
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 44 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train10
Electrical System8
Visibility5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Structure3
Seat Belts3
Unknown Or Other2
Latches/Locks/Linkages2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

93V192000Fuel System, GasolineReported 23/11/1993

THE VEHICLES FAILED THE LATERAL MOVING BARRIER IMPACT TEST REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE GAS TANK EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE AMOUNT OF SPILLAGE. Remedy: HYUNDAI HAS DEVELOPED AN APPROPRIATE COUNTERMEASURE THAT WILL COMPLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 301.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 8 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-BD-002H2023-01-30VisibilityThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
21-EM-003H2021-03-10Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain…
20-BR-002H2020-11-30Service BrakesThis bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear…
20-SS-004H2020-11-19WheelsThis bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize…
20-EE-003H2020-04-23EquipmentThis bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: •…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Excel. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Excel take?

3.6 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SM, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Excel have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Excel get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.