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1990 Hyundai Excel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Excel.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Hyundai Excel is a passenger car fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA fuel-economy ratings of 24/29/26 mpg, requiring 3.6 quarts of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API engine oil. Within the 1990–2001 model timeline, this year registers the peak complaint load at 53 owner-reported cases—centered primarily on engine and engine cooling systems—backed by two manufacturer recalls. That volume of documented grievances marks the 1990 Excel as the most troubled year of its generation, establishing a reliability nadir that later model years would progressively distance themselves from, culminating in just two recorded complaints by 1997.

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 economy24/29/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length161.4 in
Overall width63.4 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight2127 lb
Track (front / rear)55.1 / 53.1 in

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 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; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

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 Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Line (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 Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Rack & Pinion Assembly (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 52,500 miEGR System (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Timing 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.

The 1990 Hyundai Excel sits at the very start of the recorded generation and represents the peak of federal complaint activity, with 53 complaints, 2 recalls, and 5 investigations — the highest or tied-highest figures across every category in the dataset. From this apex, complaints decline steadily through 1993 (down to 29) before a secondary spike in 1994 (48 complaints, 2 recalls), after which activity drops off sharply as the generation ages out of active regulatory scrutiny. Investigations follow the same arc, falling from 5 in 1990–1991 to just 1 by 1993 and effectively zero thereafter, while TSBs trend in the opposite direction — starting at a low of 7 in 1990 and climbing to 23 by 2001 — indicating Hyundai continued issuing technical guidance long after formal complaints subsided. The target year's top complaint concentrations are Engine & Engine Cooling (12), with Power Train and Electrical System tied at 7 each, alongside 4 crash and 4 fire complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for any of these areas. The fact that 1990 is the worst-performing year on record, combined with its position as an early-production model at the top of a declining complaint curve, strongly suggests teething issues that were progressively addressed in later build years. **A buyer should view the 1990 Excel as the least desirable model year in this generation; if the vehicle must be purchased, a 1992 or 1993 example offers meaningfully lower complaint volume with comparable TSB coverage and fewer recalls.**

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
53
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’90’91’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’01

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 53 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling12
Power Train7
Electrical System7
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Visibility4
Equipment3
Wheels3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 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.

90V053000Wheels:Hubcap/CoverReported 15/03/1990

LOCK WASHER LOCATED UNDER THE NUT THAT SECURES THE FRONT HUB TO THE DRIVE SHAFT MAY HAVE HAD IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT AND COULD CRACK. Remedy: REPLACE LOCK WASHER ON EACH FRONT WHEEL AND REPAIR AREA AROUND LOCK WASHER AS NECESSARY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 7 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.

Vehicles taking 3.6 qt

Reference guides

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

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 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 1990 Excel have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Excel get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 29 highway / 26 combined mpg.