2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
5/5
Safety Rating
288
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
13
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
The 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER has received a total of 288 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE. 13 technical service bulletins have been issued by Hyundai Motor America for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (124 complaints), Power Train (40 complaints), and Unknown Or Other (31 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER, potentially affecting up to 515,792 vehicles.
Recall 20V746000 — ENGINE
| 128,948 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 20V746000 — ENGINE
| 128,948 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 20V746000 — ENGINE
| 128,948 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 20V746000 — ENGINE
| 128,948 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
288 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 124 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 40 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention Warnings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinestorage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
As I was driving to work one day my 2016 Veloster suddenly lost power on the expressway at expressway speeds. Now that in itself is very dangerous seeing as how there were big rigs around me. Luckily I managed to make it off of the expressway traveling slower than I turtle.i was almost rear ended on various occasions. I parked right away and left to work. I came back later that day and cranked her over and it started,but now with the check engine light blinking. So I attempted to drive it a little and it worked but now I've come to find out that it is in protect mode.I took it to my local Hyundai dealership (Hyundai of pharr) in pharr Texas and was told that Hyundai would not honor their extended warranty because whatever is wrong with it is not covered according to them. So a while back there was a class action lawsuit in California against the Hyundai Corporation of which I was a part of. When it was time for settlement I had a choice of monetary gain or and overly extended warranty on my 2016 Veloster that covered engine and transmission for I believe was 10 more years. So I chose the warranty but Hyundai still won't cover it. I guess I have to wait for my car to catch on fire before they submit the warranty and even then they will blame something else. So here I am,telling my story.
The climate control knob and AC system failed due to an apparent wiring defect. This is a known issue affecting hundreds or thousands of Hyundai Veloster owners. The failure causes loss of climate control and creates a safety issue due to a lack of defrosting and cabin airflow, as well as electrical fires. I have spent thousands of dollars trying to get this fixed, and mechanics are turning me away.
On March 2024, I had my veloster towed to a certified Hyundai service dealer because it suddenly began losing power, the oil light came on, the engine light flickered, and it began making a whining noise, and then the engine died and wouldn’t crank again. It took them weeks to diagnose it, and they told me the turbo was out in it, and quoted me an absurd amount to replace it. I had the turbo replaced, as well as some gaskets, the coils and spark plugs. It ran fine after that until June 2025 when the oil and check engine light came on and the engine died again while we were coming home from a vacation, 2 hours south of where we live in a tiny town that had no dealership or rental company within 100 miles. We found a small mechanic who said it needed a lower fuel pump. He put one in it and we got back on the road, but it still wasn’t running as well as it should. It don’t have quite as much power, but no dash lights came on. When I got home I took it to another local certified Hyundai service dealer, who said it needed new coils and spark plugs again, so they replaced them. Again it ran fine for a while until the day after thanksgiving this year, 11/25, when the oil light came on again at the end of my road. I took it to another local certified auto parts store who read the codes and found no suggested fix. No certified dealers were open that day, so I took it to Pep Boys where the engine light came on when I pulled in, and who said they thought it needed new timing solenoids, and put them in it. When they finished, they drove it and told me they felt like the turbo was going out and advised I take it to the dealer again. I had it towed to a certified Hyundai service dealer on Monday 12/01/25. They diagnosed it as needing a new turbo (again), a lower oil pan, and an oil switch. Quoted $3550. Over a week later today they told me that after putting it all in and tiring it on that the oil light came back on. They have now diagnosed it as needing an oil pump.
While driving my 2016 Hyundai Veloster (VIN: [XXX] ) on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration. I went from 60 mph down to 20 mph with no throttle response, and the car only continued moving briefly from momentum. I was forced to stop in unsafe highway conditions and had the vehicle towed home. Prior to this complete failure, the car had recurring transmission/drive issues: it would start, but when placed in reverse it moved backward, and when shifted into drive it still only moved backward. Despite repeated repair attempts, the problems persisted. A certified mechanic later inspected the vehicle and confirmed severe internal engine damage, including metallic noises, blue smoke, oil leakage from worn piston rings, and complete compression loss. The mechanic concluded the vehicle requires deep engine repair or replacement. These failures are consistent with widespread reports of Hyundai Veloster engine defects, which pose serious safety risks to drivers. My vehicle is now inoperable despite responsible maintenance and repeated attempts to fix the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled at a stoplight. The vehicle was restarted and immediately driven to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine compression was abnormal and advised the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while at the dealer, the service and diagnostic guidelines were not followed regarding the NHTSA Action Number: EA21003 (ENGINE), and the coverage was denied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 125,367.
Safety Rating for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
The 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
Hyundai Motor America has issued 13 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
22-01-092H — STRUCTURE
In certain areas, a vehicleâs underbody may exhibit corrosion due to road-salt usage. As a preventative measure, a cavity wax coating is applied to the internal surfaces of underbody components and an undercoating spray is applied to exterior surfaces of specified underbody components. This bulletin describes the procedure to perform...
21-01-024H — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Certain vehicles listed below may experience the Check Engine warning lamp illuminated with DTC P1326. Follow the procedure to inspect the vehicle and replace the engine and/or update the engine ECU software (if new ROM is available) based on the inspection results.
21-01-025H — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Consult the Hyundai Warranty Policy & Procedures and the below tables to determine New or Reman engine usage. Please note that a Reman engine may not be available for certain vehicle models/model years listed in this TSB.
Campaign T3F FS — SERVICE BRAKES
Hyundai has launched a Service Campaign to inspect and repair or replace the vacuum pump cap on certain Veloster (FS) vehicles.
5NP-Z2J3V-04 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Some Veloster (FS) and Sonata Hybrid (YF HEV) vehicles may experience a check engine warning light ON with any of the following DTCs found stored: ? P0442 - Evaporative System (EVAP) - Small Leak ? P0455 - Evaporative System (EVAP) - Large Leak ? P0456 - Evaporative System (EVAP) -...
5NP-M6E8A-03 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
This bulletin provides information related to ECM (Engine Control Module) software update for diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0441 - Canister Purge Valve (CPV) - Incorrect CPV Flow. There is no vehicle performance concern associated with this condition.
5NP-M6E8A-03 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
This bulletin provides information related to ECM (Engine Control Module) software update for diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0441 - Canister Purge Valve (CPV) - Incorrect CPV Flow. There is no vehicle performance concern associated with this condition.
5NP-D7T2K-01 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA IS CONDUCTING A SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SWITCH ON CERTAIN 2015-16 MODEL YEAR VELOSTER VEHICLES. SERVICE CAMPAIGN T1O PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPLACE THE TAILGATE SWITCH.
5NP-N3T9R-01 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE
ON CERTAIN 2015-16MY VELOSTER (FS) THE TAILGATE HANDLE MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DUE TO AN INTERNAL ISSUE WITH THE TAILGATE SWITCH. THIS CONDITION MAY AFFECT THE TAILGATE OPEN AND CLOSING FUNCTIONALITY.
5NP-R8E8D-12 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Hyundai Motor America is conducting a Service Campaign to update both the ECM (Engine Control Module) and the TCM (Transmission Control Module) on certain 2016MY Model Year Veloster equipped with 7 speed DCT. Service Campaign TZZ provides a procedure to update the ECM and TCM.
Showing 10 of 13 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the HYUNDAI VELOSTER
- 2011 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 0 complaints
- 2012 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 404 complaints
- 2013 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 570 complaints
- 2014 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 111 complaints
- 2015 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 183 complaints
- 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER (current)
- 2017 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 67 complaints
- 2019 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 62 complaints
- 2020 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 29 complaints
- 2021 HYUNDAI VELOSTER — 15 complaints
Other HYUNDAI Models
- HYUNDAI SONATA — 21,725 total complaints
- HYUNDAI ELANTRA — 11,768 total complaints
- HYUNDAI SANTA FE — 9,835 total complaints
- HYUNDAI TUCSON — 7,920 total complaints
- HYUNDAI ACCENT — 2,733 total complaints
- HYUNDAI PALISADE — 2,456 total complaints
- HYUNDAI GENESIS — 1,702 total complaints
- HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 — 1,636 total complaints