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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Engine complaints

132 reports
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147,400 miles · Jun 22, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the catalytic converter was replaced. On another occasion while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over on the side …

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The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the catalytic converter was replaced. On another occasion while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and shifted into neutral and was able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle operated normally. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 147,400.

NHTSA ODI #11528327

73,400 miles · Jun 8, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for trade-in and the contact was informed that the dipstick was burned and that the engine was defective. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7…

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The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for trade-in and the contact was informed that the dipstick was burned and that the engine was defective. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,400.

NHTSA ODI #11525981

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2023
Engine

Driving on highway at night coming around curve my car was still on which electrical was okay but my car started gliding like it was in neutral and could not accelerate. My car engine cuts off on highway. I'm luckily , a lot of cars were not on the highway at the time, letting me use my steering wheel to mauver to side of the hi…

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Driving on highway at night coming around curve my car was still on which electrical was okay but my car started gliding like it was in neutral and could not accelerate. My car engine cuts off on highway. I'm luckily , a lot of cars were not on the highway at the time, letting me use my steering wheel to mauver to side of the highway. I tried turning the car off and turning back on would not crack but lights would come on. I had to get a car towed to my house. Appointments book until first week of May so been without a car sense April 11th. I was made aware of the 2016 Hyundai Recall on premature connecting bearing rods vehicle that could lead to crashes because Veloster's are shutting down on the highway like mines did. I'm sending my car to dealership on May 2, 2023, to Thorton Rd Hyundai dealership to perform the steps the dealership recommended me to do to see if my car qualifies to get extended warranty to fix my engine. All complaints read on 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER 3C FWD | NHTSA reads to me that my car was underling and part of the effect it's just that I'm more fortune than others that my engine lasted longer due to the care that I gave to my car. I had no warning lights of this incident was near future going to happen to me. All warning lights presented itself when car shut down on highway while costing over to, emergency lane. I love my little bug and want my car to be fixed so we can joy ride again.

NHTSA ODI #11519309

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2023
Engine

I got an inspection on my car and was told to take it to dealership due to a recall The engine would sometimes stall while I was driving The last time I used it, it no longer turned on at all But a check engine light never turned on or anything of the sort The car hasn’t been inspected by anyone

NHTSA ODI #11511264

120,000 miles · Mar 6, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine made knocking sounds, with a burning odor coming from the vehicle and the vehicle then stalled. The failure occurred intermittently and while idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle became inoperab…

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The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine made knocking sounds, with a burning odor coming from the vehicle and the vehicle then stalled. The failure occurred intermittently and while idling. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle became inoperable. The contact had spoken to the dealer who confirmed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V7460000 (Engine) despite exhibiting the same failure. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11510297

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2023
Engine

Late Spring 2021–notified of recall due to connecting rod/bearing issue. Hyundai dealer does engine inspection on 4/27/2021 & clears it. Also installed software update to monitor the problem. April 27, 2022–Car dies multiple times while driving on highway. Starts back up each time, but making clacking noise with Check engine & …

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Late Spring 2021–notified of recall due to connecting rod/bearing issue. Hyundai dealer does engine inspection on 4/27/2021 & clears it. Also installed software update to monitor the problem. April 27, 2022–Car dies multiple times while driving on highway. Starts back up each time, but making clacking noise with Check engine & oil light on. Pulled over and had towed to mechanic. Couldn’t get diagnostic code, but told based on the incident, believe the issue related to recall & told to take it to dealer. Had car towed to Hyundai. Ran simple diagnostic. Got no codes. Manager drives & says some hesitation not unusual with Veloster. Did not stall. Recommends fuel additive. Early May 2022-Check engine light comes on & stays. Check at Autozone, Firestone, & dealer– told only catalytic converter code & car is drivable. Oil light starts flickering intermittently about every two weeks. Start scheduling earlier oil changes. Continues to flicker. Start adding oil between changes. August/September 2022?–Receive Hyundai letter stating warranty extended on my engine due to connecting rod recall. Warranty now 15 years/150,000 miles. December 20, 2022–Check engine light starts flashing. December 27, 2022–Dealer says can’t look at for 4 months, take to Firestone. Tech gets code 1326-returns no info in system but research & believe related to recall requiring Dealer fix. Connect with Dealer service & am able to get it looked at in a week. January 9, 2023–tech says excessive oil burnt at top of pistons & oil leaking into cylinders, due to internal seal failure. Recommend replacing engine, but not related to recall. Research finds recall due to faulty piston seals/oil leaks on 2019-2021 Velosters & plenty of complaints about oil seal problems & excessive oil burning problems with earlier Velosters as well. Car unsafe to drive on highway due to lagging acceleration & hesitation. 2/3/2023–call Hyundai America about safety concerns. 2/7/2023–Hyundai denies claim.

NHTSA ODI #11506036

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2023
EngineCrash

The engine overheated with no lights on the dash and the engine block cracked

NHTSA ODI #11505338

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2023
Engine

While driving down the highway the engine began to knock loudly. When the engine stalled. The vehicle stalled while traveling on a congested highway at a speed of approximately 70MPH. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road where I waited for a tow truck via AAA for 5 Hours. The vehicle was towed to an independent service…

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While driving down the highway the engine began to knock loudly. When the engine stalled. The vehicle stalled while traveling on a congested highway at a speed of approximately 70MPH. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road where I waited for a tow truck via AAA for 5 Hours. The vehicle was towed to an independent service center that diagnosed it with a worn rod bearing, which in turn is causing the knocking. The vehicle has been maintained and oil changed regularly. Vehicle is unusable in current state as it is at risk for complete engine failure and risk of fire. No warning lamps or messages were present at time of incident. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ODI #11503986

81,000 miles · Jan 9, 2023
Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The contact towed the vehicle to t…

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The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to her residence. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced; and the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The dealer replaced the catalytic converter but then informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The vehicle was not serviced under the recall. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

NHTSA ODI #11500762

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2022
EngineUnknown Or Other

I was driving my 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo when I started to hear a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. At this time I also noticed a decline in power and the check engine light came on. I made an appointment to bring the car to my local Hyundai dealership to have the car looked at. While en route to the dealership,…

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I was driving my 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo when I started to hear a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. At this time I also noticed a decline in power and the check engine light came on. I made an appointment to bring the car to my local Hyundai dealership to have the car looked at. While en route to the dealership, the car suddenly made a loud bang and a profusion of smoke came out of the engine and engulfed the car, inside & out, making it impossible for not only me to see but also limited visibility for the person following me, which was extremely dangerous. I couldn't see or breathe and had to rapidly exit the car on the side of a busy road with no shoulder. The engine completely failed and the car was not drivable. I had the car towed to the Hyundai dealership where they told me the engine had seized and needed to be completely replaced. Although my VIN is not yet included in engine recall 20V746000, my car has the 1.6 liter GDI Gamma engine included in that recall. In addition, the exact chain of events that I experienced have been described by others whose cars are included in the recall which describes connecting rod bearings inside the engine wearing prematurely (creating a knocking sound and reduced engine power), causing engine damage. I am requesting an investigation into this incident as I feel that my car should be included in the recall. It was a very dangerous incident and I don't want others to needlessly experience this same problem, possibly with more harmful consequences.

NHTSA ODI #11498872

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.