Your vehicle report
2016 Hyundai Veloster
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 225
- Received Feb 2016 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine stalls and loses power while driving35 complaints · 16% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips14 complaints · 6.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine knocking from rod or main bearings12 complaints · 5.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #20V746000Hyundai 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Apr 2021
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Apr 2024
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 15 crashes, 4 fires, 11 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 15 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Engine stalls and loses power while driving
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Engine knocking from rod or main bearings
7 more problems
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 16 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 53 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 23 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 18 |
| Total | 225 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 35 | 16% | 14.1× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.4% |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 14 | 6.2% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 12 | 5.3% | – | NHTSA recall #20V746000 |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 9 | 4.0% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 9 | 4.0% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 9 | 4.0% | 8.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2024 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.6% |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 7 | 3.1% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 6 | 2.7% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.7% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 4 | 1.8% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Vehicle suddenly loses engine power at speed | 3 | 1.3% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #20V746000December 1, 2020128,948 vehicles affected
engine
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.
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2016 Hyundai Veloster.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN