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2016 Hyundai Veloster

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Veloster years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Veloster are substantially higher than the model-year median of 85.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Veloster years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

108 reports with mileage · 114 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports4 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

222 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2021
Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufac…

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The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI #11419192

77,800 miles · May 13, 2021
Engine

ON APPROXIMATELY 02/10/21 A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE STARTED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND A CLAIM WAS SENT TO WARRANTY SERVICES, TECK ACKNOWLEDGED ROD KNOCK, OIL QUALITY GOOD AND OIL LEVEL OK. ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, HYUNDAI DOES NOT WANT TO FIX VEHICLE, EVEN WITH KNOWN ENGINE ISSUE…

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ON APPROXIMATELY 02/10/21 A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE STARTED WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND A CLAIM WAS SENT TO WARRANTY SERVICES, TECK ACKNOWLEDGED ROD KNOCK, OIL QUALITY GOOD AND OIL LEVEL OK. ALMOST 3 MONTHS LATER NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, HYUNDAI DOES NOT WANT TO FIX VEHICLE, EVEN WITH KNOWN ENGINE ISSUES

NHTSA ODI #11416494

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2021
Engine

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET, MY VIN WAS JUST ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL AND I WANT TO GET IT CHECKED

NHTSA ODI #11415163

114,000 miles · May 3, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE PREVIOU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO HAD REPLACED THE ENGINE PREVIOUSLY DUE TO AN OIL CHANGE THAT WAS SERVICED INCORRECTLY. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVER THE 12,000 MILS WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AUTOMAX HYUNDAI (3221 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPY, KILLEEN, TX 76543) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL HOWEVER, SINCE THE ORIGINAL ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA ODI #11415016

78,687 miles · Apr 27, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOLLER HONDA (225 N SEMORAN BLVD, WINTER PARK, FL 32792, (407) 681-1234) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOLLER HONDA (225 N SEMORAN BLVD, WINTER PARK, FL 32792, (407) 681-1234) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN APPOINTMENT WAS NOT YET RESCHEDULED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY REMEDY THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,687.

NHTSA ODI #11414147

105,000 miles · Apr 22, 2021
Engine

WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE HEADING TO WORK I BEGIN TO HEAR A KNOCKING FROM MY ENGINE. I PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I BEGIN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE INTO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I CHECKED THE OI…

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WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE HEADING TO WORK I BEGIN TO HEAR A KNOCKING FROM MY ENGINE. I PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I BEGIN TO SMELL SMOKE. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE INTO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I CHECKED THE OIL JUST TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE OF THE SMELL AND THE OIL WAS DEPLETED. I PUT THREE LAYERS OF OIL INTO MY CAR SO I COULD GET IT STARTED ENOUGH TO GET IT TO THE EXPRESS OIL CHANGE NEARBY. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF THERE AND THEY PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. I MADE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALER WHO FINALLY CONTACTED ME BACK TODAY SAYING THEY WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR AND LET ME KNOW IF IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY HYUNDAI OR MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY ENGINE WAS RECALLED. I CURRENTLY AM WITHOUT A CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT A SERVICE VEHICLE MAY BE PROVIDED IF IT'S DEEMED THAT MY ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE RECALLED ISSUE. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $200 IN UBER RIDES.

NHTSA ODI #11413308

146,000 miles · Apr 16, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. HERRNSTEIN HYUNDAI, INC. (2827 RIVER RD, CHILLICOTHE, OH 45601) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, HE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. HERRNSTEIN HYUNDAI, INC. (2827 RIVER RD, CHILLICOTHE, OH 45601) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAULTY AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

NHTSA ODI #11408355

300 miles · Apr 8, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES THAT AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, STOP SIGN OR JUST WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC MY CAR STALLS AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL WRECKS. THIS IS VERY SCARY TO ME. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ODI #11407023

135,000 miles · Apr 6, 2021
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHEEHY HYUNDAI OF WALDORF (2910 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601) WHERE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHEEHY HYUNDAI OF WALDORF (2910 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20601) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V746000 (ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND AGREED TO PAY HALF THE EXPENSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #11406686

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2021
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

I BOUGHT A VELOSTER BUT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL MAINTENANCE

NHTSA ODI #11405902

Official recalls

1

20V746000 · Engine

Dec 1, 2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Veloster, 2012 Santa Fe, 2011-2013 Sonata Hybrid, and 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA21003 · Engine Fires

Opened Dec 22, 2021 · Closed Feb 5, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles.  During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types.  The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine replacement.  Additionally, both manufacturers have been installing an engine control software modification known as Knock Sensor Detection Software (KSDS) which is intended to detect impending engine failure, alert the driver, and limit engine power (to lessen likelihood of engine failure).KSDS is being installed under recalls and non-safety field actions, and both companies have extended limited engine warranties (see recall files). On December 22, 2021, ODI upgraded PE19-003 and PE19-004 to this Engineering Analysis (EA21-003, covering both Hyundai and Kia) to evaluate the scope of the prior recalls related to engine failures/fires and the efficacy of the recall remedies for the recalls, as well as the long-term viability of related programs and non-safety field actions being conducted by Hyundai and Kia.  The former issue involved approximately 550,000 MY 2013 Hyundai Elantra, MY 2011 Kia Sorento, and MY 2012-2015 Kia Rio.  The latter issue involved approximately 2.5 million recalled vehicles, which have been identified as displaying potential remedy concerns: Hyundai recalls 15V-568, 17V-226, 20V-746, and 21V-727; and Kia recalls 17V-224, 19V-120, 20V-750, and 21V-844. Regarding the recall scope issue, among all of the scope vehicles identified at EA opening, ODI found only the MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with both the Theta II 2.4L 4-cylinder Multi-Point Injection (MPI) and the Lambda II 3.5L 6-cylinder MPI engines experienced relatively high rates of reported fires.  In December 2023, Kia issued recall 23V-877 that will cover about 80,000 MY 2011 Kia Sorento vehicles equipped with the Theta II 2.4L MPI engines.  The remedy will involve an inspection, and if necessary, a replacement of the engine, as well as the installation of KSDS.  It should be noted that in 2021 these vehicles were included in a KSDS product improvement campaign with warranty extension.  For the MY 2011 Sorento vehicles equipped with the Lambda II 3.5L engines, ODI believes that future engine failures/fires involving these vehicles will likely be due to a lax in adhering to the proper or scheduled engine maintenance (regular engine oil changes), rather than a design or manufacturing engine issue. Regarding the issue of the efficacy of the recall remedies, ODI found the majority of the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles, by model, experienced lower reported fire rates after the remedies were applied.  Furthermore, ODI found that for most vehicles that did not receive the recall remedies, by model, experienced relatively high fire rates.  To address this problem, Hyundai informed ODI in December 2023, that it will renotify all of its owners covered by the Hyundai recalls of engine failures/fires every 8 months for the next 3 years.  In December 2023, Kia stated that it will renotify the majority of its owners every 8 months for the next 3 years.Several previously recalled Kia models are excluded from the renotification due to their lower reported rates of engine fires.  Overall, the renotification actions will help to increase the recall completion rates, thus reduce the frequency of engine fires in the future. In view of the recall action being taken by Kia and renotification actions being taken by both Kia and Hyundai, ODI is closing this Engineering Analysis.  Also, both companies have been released from the 2020-iniated Consent Orders (Kia since November 2022 and Hyundai since November 2023).  The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.  To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.