Hyundai Veloster engine problems, 2016–2022
203 of the 411 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Veloster 2016–2022 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (140), 2017 (26), 2019 (21). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin, 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Hyundai Veloster engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 11% | — | 9 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 3 | 10% | — | 13 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2020 | 9 | 33% | — | 14 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2019 | 21 | 46% | — | 51 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2017 | 26 | 52% | — | 35 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 in depth | 140 | 63% | 82k | 41 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 53 · 2022: 29 · 2023: 34 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 28 · 2026: 13
Across the model years, half of the 78 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 44,000 and 106,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact 's son owned a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact purchased the vehicle used on 06/02/20. A month later the vehicle stalled, while the contact's son was driving home. They found three codes that had to do with the catalytic converter, the fuel injector, and the coils .
Veloster hyundai's 7-speed DCT contains a design defect in the transmission control module (TCM) that causes, among other problems, failure to shift, stalling, delayed acceleration, or loss of power.
2017 Hyundai Veloster, about 85,000 miles. Engine seized at 50 MPH on a busy three lane city street during rush hour traffic. This is a safety issue as i could have been rear ended if i did not change lanes to get off the Main Street. There was no check engine light, even after engine failure.
While Driving on the freeway my CEL came on and started blinking i loss power and slowly got to the first exit on the freeway. A week later i brought the vehicle to the Patriot Hyundai in Elmonte CA., i mentioned the extended powertrain warranty Ref# TXXM and the dealer held on to my vehicle for 40 days giving me excuses and not calling…
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine would overheat and the vehicle would stall. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced and failures were remedied.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 21V301000 CriticalApr 28, 2021 · 158,493 vehicles
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
- 20V746000 HighDec 1, 2020 · 128,948 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- EA21003 Engine Firesopened Dec 22, 2021 · closed Feb 5, 2024
- 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, includ…
1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Mar 26, 2026
- This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Hyundai Veloster years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 140; 2017, 26; 2019, 21. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (63%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Hyundai Veloster?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 21V301000 (2021), 20V746000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Hyundai Veloster?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 79,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 44,000 and 106,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.