1997 Hyundai Excel problems

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The Hyundai Excel (Korean: 현대 엑셀), also known as the Hyundai Pony, Hyundai Pony Excel, Hyundai Presto, Mitsubishi Precis, Hyundai X2 and Hyundai XL, is an automobile which was produced by Hyundai Motor Company from 1985 to 1999. It was the first front-wheel drive car produced by the South Korean manufacturer. The Excel range replaced the rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Pony.

Background

The Excel was based on the second generation of the Mitsubishi Mirage, but it received its own sheet metal design by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Excel was available in three- or five-door hatchback and four-door sedan models. The Excel was the first Hyundai car to be exported to the United States.

The Excel was available with either a manual or automatic transmission mated to a four-cylinder engine aspirated by a carburetor or fuel injection system, depending on market and model year.

Originally, the Excel was supposed to be replaced by the Elantra in 1990, but it ended up being sold for four more years until being replaced by the Hyundai Accent in the model year 1995. From 1990, there was a coupé variant called the Hyundai Scoupe, which was replaced by the Hyundai Coupé in 1996.

1997 Hyundai Excel

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Common 1997 Hyundai Excel problems

The Hyundai Excel, produced in the 1990s, is known for its robustness and reliability, with many owners reporting high mileage and minimal issues. However, some common problems have been identified by owners and mechanics, which include:

  • Gearbox issues: The manual gearboxes in the Hyundai Excel, particularly in the X3 models, have been reported to have problems with second-gear synchronization. This issue was not fully addressed until the release of the Accent. Additionally, reverse gear can be challenging to select, but a workaround is to engage a forward gear first before selecting reverse.
  • Electrical problems: Some owners have reported issues with the electrical system, such as spongy brakes, which could be due to bad bearings in the shaft behind the firewall or a faulty brake booster. Another electrical issue is the fuel gauge sticking at half and not changing, which could be related to the fuel sender.
  • Excessive oil consumption: Some Excel models, particularly those with the 1.5-liter engine, have been reported to consume excessive amounts of oil. This issue can be caused by worn piston rings, valve guides, or cylinder walls.
  • Cooling system issues: The cooling system in the Hyundai Excel has been known to have problems, such as leaks and overheating. These issues can be caused by a faulty water pump, radiator, or thermostat.
  • Power steering problems: The power steering system in the Hyundai Excel can develop leaks and become noisy. This issue can be caused by worn or damaged seals or hoses in the power steering system.
  • Exterior and interior issues: Some owners have reported issues with the exterior and interior of the Hyundai Excel, such as faded paint, dents, and scrapes on the bodywork, as well as warped or cracked plastic trim components in the interior. These issues can be caused by exposure to the sun and lack of maintenance.

In summary, while the Hyundai Excel is known for its robustness and reliability, some common problems have been identified by owners and mechanics. These issues include gearbox problems, electrical issues, excessive oil consumption, cooling system problems, power steering issues, and exterior and interior problems. However, with regular maintenance and care, many of these issues can be avoided or mitigated.

1997 Hyundai Excel engine

What is the fuel consumption of a 1997 Hyundai Excel?

Hyundai Excel 1997 Fuel consumption

Hyundai Excel ModelBody TypeFuel Consumption
GLXHatchback6L/100km
GLXHatchback6.3L/100km
GLXSedan6L/100km
GLXSedan6.3L/100km

What happened to the Hyundai Excel?

The Hyundai scoop was a two-door only sporty variant of the Excel. We started getting them for the 1991. Model year the name using the s for sport along with coop Scoops started at 8 500.

What engine is in a Hyundai Excel?

Since it was built as a hatchback, the carmaker installed a split-folding rear bench. Under the hood, Hyundai installed two engine choices: a 1.3-liter and a 1.5-liter unit. Mitsubishi supplied both versions.

How much does a Hyundai Excel cost?

Hyundai Excel Pricing and Specs

The Hyundai Excel is available from $1,650 to $4,070 for the 2000 range of models in Hatchback and Sedan body types. Interested in a Hyundai Excel?

1997 Hyundai Excel car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Hyundai Excel problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Visibility problems
  • Air bags problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1997 Hyundai Excel vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1997 Hyundai Excel complaints

The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1997 Hyundai Excel.

1999-05-08

VISIBILITY PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1998-07-07
  • VIN: KMHVD34N9VU
  • Components: VISIBILITY
  • Summary: SUN ROOF LEAKED AND WAS REPAIRED UNSUCCESSFULLY 3 TIMES BY MISSOULA HYUNDAI.DEALER FINALLY TOOK SUN ROOF OFF AND REPLACED SEAL. WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY THE ROOF CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND FLEW OFF. FORTUNATELY IT DIDN'T HIT ANOTHER CAR!! DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME FROM VACATION(THIS HAPPENED WHILE WE DRIVING TO CA FROM MT). HYUNDAI WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS THE DEALERS PROBLEM! HELP!!!! TRIED TO GET HELP THROUGH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BUT DIDN'T GET ANY! *AK
1998-08-20

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1998-06-01
  • VIN: KMHJW34M5VU
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A LARGE PUDDLE IN THE ROAD WAY, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED AND STAYED ON.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1997 Hyundai Excel problems:

What causes auto transmission problem in my '97 Hyundai Excel X3 ...
What causes auto transmission problem in my '97 Hyundai Excel X3 ...
https://www.justanswer.com/hyundai/4fzt4-hyundai-excel-x3-accent-x3-97-sohc-hyundai-excel.html

Jan 9, 2011 ... Problem resolved. The plug that connects to the gearbox (just next to the selector cable connection) was not pushed all the way in, and two of ...

2001 accent electrical problems - Hyundai Forum - Hyundai ...
2001 accent electrical problems - Hyundai Forum - Hyundai ...
https://www.hyundaiforum.com/forum/hyundai-accent-16/2001-accent-electrical-problems-16832/

Hyundai Accent - 2001 accent electrical problems - So I have 2001 Hyundai Accent with snow balling electrical issues. So it all started when ...

What are the common problems that could cause a 1992 Hyundai ...
What are the common problems that could cause a 1992 Hyundai ...
https://www.justanswer.com/car/2lioc-1992-hyundai-excel-it-just-died-when-driving-on-inspection.html

Sep 29, 2009 ... I got a 1992 Hyundai Excel,it just died when driving.On inspection i found it had no injection pulse(has good spark and fuel pressure) would ...

1997 Hyundai Excel Sprint Comments (r30290)
1997 Hyundai Excel Sprint Comments (r30290)
http://www.carsurvey.org/reviews/hyundai/excel/r30290/comments/

Mar 30, 2004 ... I never had any problems whatsoever, even though I drove it like a manual F1 racing car and mounted a few curbs, roundabouts, through a shallow ...

Was the Hyundai Excel a bad car? - Quora
Was the Hyundai Excel a bad car? - Quora
https://www.quora.com/Was-the-Hyundai-Excel-a-bad-car

Mar 15, 2021 ... What are common problems with Hyundai cars? I must say earlier there were a bunch of ...

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1997 Hyundai Excel photo