HyundaiExcel1993Overview/hyundai/excel/1993/base/

1993 Hyundai Excel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 Excel.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Hyundai Excel is a passenger car powered by an engine requiring 3.6 quarts of oil with viscosity options of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API grade, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and achieving EPA fuel economy ratings of 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. This model year represents a middle chapter in the Excel's production span from 1990 to 2001, falling between the vehicle's initial launch period which generated the highest complaint volume of 53 owner reports in 1990 and the later refinement that would produce the lowest complaint count of just 2 in 1997. With 29 total owner complaints logged, the 1993 Excel shows improvement over the problematic early years while still recording Power Train as the primary concern area, and the single recall issued reflects the typical regulatory attention for this era of compact economy vehicles.

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 economy24/30/26 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length168.5 in
Overall width63.4 in
Overall height51.6 in
Wheelbase93.7 in
Curb weight2196 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined24 / 30 / 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 Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (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.

Within the federal record, the 1993 Hyundai Excel marks the low point of a three-year downward trend, with complaints falling from 53 in 1990 and 36 in 1992 to 29, while recalls held steady at one and investigations dropped to one. It also sits just before a 1994 reversal, when complaints jumped back to 48 and recalls rose to two, making 1993 the calmest of the early-model years. Across the generation, complaints and recalls trended downward through 1993, spiked in 1994, then faded to minimal levels as the fleet aged, even as technical service bulletins climbed in later years. For 1993 specifically, the leading complaint areas were Power Train (8), Engine & Engine Cooling (4), Electrical System (3), and Seat Belts (3), with two crash-related and one fire-related complaint, though the data does not specify root causes. Because it records the lowest early-year complaint volume and avoids the 1994 spike, the 1993 Excel appears to be the most favorable model year in this generation from a federal-filing standpoint, but any purchase still demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection given its age.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
7
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
29
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 29 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train8
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Electrical System3
Seat Belts3
Equipment3
Wheels2
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control1
Suspension1

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 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 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 1993 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 24 city / 30 highway / 26 combined mpg.