Hyundai Veloster Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Hyundai Veloster options? We analyzed 10 model years (2012–2021) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Hyundai Veloster has 1,283 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls across model years 2012–2021. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2013 drew the most complaints; 2021 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Hyundai
- Model
- Veloster
- Model years analyzed
- 2012–2021 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,283
- Safety recall campaigns
- 18
- Crash-related complaints
- 42
- Fire-related complaints
- 57
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2013 (420 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2021 (11 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Hyundai Veloster: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe HYUNDAI VELOSTER has 1,283 NHTSA complaints and 18 recalls on record. 42 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 1,283 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 18 federal recall campaigns
- 42 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
18 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
ENGINE
ENGINE
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
ENGINE
ENGINE
ENGINE
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2012–2021. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,283 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,283 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
high pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced twice before 1k miles the car just stalled out of no where .. now the car needs a new wheel berrings at 10k miles .
Constant False positives, already took to dealership and issue still persists
This car came with summer tires(Pirelli P-Zero summer tires), so I decide to change to all-season CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT DWS06 PLUS with the same size as OEM tires which is 235/35/19. I got my new tires installed on the morning of Feb 27, 2021, next day my blind spot system started to acting up without any error message on the dash. The indicator on both sides of the mirrors stays on while no vehicle around me, sometimes they remain off when there is a vehicle around.
The first oil change, December 2020, no oil was in the vehicle, it was under the recommended miles. Second oil change, April 2021, cut the recommended miles down and again no oil was in the vehicle. May 28, 2021 Leaving a parking lot, the Veloster began to cut out and stall. Within 2 miles it died completely, three times. There was no oil in the Veloster. No lights or warnings came on, until I was leaving the dealership. I continue to have issues with the motor dragging, not shifting properly and trying to die. The recall was closed on the Veloster for the oil rings not being heat treated properly, without Hyundai actually fixing the problem. I have been told the whole time the stalling and cutting out is not connected to the oil ring issue.
No warning lights came on during the whole time this happened ... purchased this car with 98 miles on it.... I had the car for 7 days .. mind you i did not use the special features of the car like launch control or NGrin Shifting ... i did not take the car past 4k RPM as per the manual ... @ 1100 miles exactly i had just filled up with gas and as i pull out the car dies on me ... i go to start it .. it keeps trying to turn over .. and over and over ... till i smelt gas .... so i put the car into neutral and roll back to the curb i could see the trail of gas left behind it .... so i had it towed to a different dealer as the one who sold it to me .. was not a option to take it to on the app... so the dealer calls me and tells me its the HIGH PRESSURE FUEL pump ... but funny thing is , that It had all ready been replaced before they sold me the car..... witch they did not disclose to me .... as soon as the dealer who sold me the after i filed a formal corporate complaint had the car towed to thier shop where it currently sits and its been over 2 weeks waiting on a part ... but the fact is this is the second time they have had to replace the pump or line and the car only has 1100 miles on it .....
Around 6000 miles the steering wheel froze while coming from a long highway trip and tried to veer me across 3 lanes into a wall. Had to man handle it off the roadway up the off ramp. Turned the car off, then turned it back on, and it was like nothing happened. Took it to the dealer and they couldn't find anything, because they say there was no code. Well, same thing just happened again while I'm out of state. Another icon appears on the screen and my steering wheel locked up at 65 miles per hour, surrounded by 18 wheelers. Had to grip the wheel again like superman and thread between 2 trucks to make it to the right shoulder. Hurried up to turn the car off and turn it back on quickly to avoid being hit from behind by any other vehicles. It worked. Car started and acted like nothing happened again. I continued on my long trip carefully and cautiously. This was the second time at 15,000 miles on car now. I googled it and saw on other car forums the same problem, but no one has complained yet. I have to make another appointment, but I'm sure they will say the same thing. This is a big safety issue that hyundai need to figure out and fix. I love my car, but its trying to kill me, and possibly others around me. So please investigate this issue. Thanks.
Read 14 more owner reports
1. What failed - BSM monitoring fails to an always on state 2. Safety affected - Visibility out of the Veloster N is already quite poor, BSM also failing makes lane changes uncertain 3. Yes it's a known issue 4. No 5. The only warning is that the BSM in the mirrors stays on constantly and doesn't respond to cars in the blindspot
- Blind spot monitoring system - It rarely works and if it does work, it warns me of vehicles when none are around. I believe this could cause an accident if someone is not warned of a vehicle in the blind spot. - Yes, it was recalibrated by the dealer but it was not fixed. - No
I recently switched on winter tires for my 2021 Hyundai Veloster N. This car comes with stock summer tires and they would be unsafe for winter conditions in New England. After switching on the winter tires, the blind spot monitoring system has started registering a lot of false positives, especially at low speeds. I verified this issue is strangely caused by the tire change because if I put my stock summer tires back on the car, the false positives go away. Other 2021 Veloster N owners have already submitted similar reports to NHTSA so I am helping out by highlighting this issue as well. Once a driver such as myself becomes acclimated to the blind spot monitoring system, having constant false positives is dangerous and I am getting subconsciously trained to ignore the warnings. Also turning off the system is not a good option either because I am too used to the system being on and might momentarily forget that the system is off and mistake that as nothing in my blind spot. Switching tires on my other vehicles with blind spot monitoring does not pose any such issues, I want to note that here. It seems to be exclusive to Hyundai and this model also as reported by other Veloster N owners.
Blind Spot Warning no longer works correctly after replacing stock Pirelli high performance summer tires with All-Season tires. The system constantly detects a vehicle on the passenger side, even when nothing is there. Numerous other Veloster N owners have reported this issue on the "velostern.com" forum site. I drive my car 300+ miles a week and depend on the Blind Spot Warning system while driving on busy highways, especially now that it is dark out so much. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership and they also could not figure out the issue. They claim to have spoken with Hyundai Tech Support and they said to replace the radar unit. This was on 11/16/21. The radar is still on back order with not estimated date of arrival. This car is not even a year old with 10,000 miles and a safety system that I depend on for safety has stopped working after replacing the tires.
Blind spot warning system does not work correctly when using any wheel or tire other than the OEM supplied wheel and tire. The mirror light will stay on when there is no car in the blind spot or will fail to detect when there is a car there. The system works correctly with the OEM wheel and tire and also notably will work in rain and snow conditions. Dealership seems not especially willing or able to assist in resolving this, as also reported by other Veloster N owners as well.
The clutch actuator failed, so I sold to a junker that I didn't know had such a shady background. The ownership per the tax collector's office has been transferred to them- Sky Recycling. They have an active DOT number. I am still being charged for the balance of my loan and accruing late payment and believe they did something potentially illegal to transfer ownership without satisfying the lien.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while her sister was driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to be restarted, but made an abnormal knocking sound. The check engine warning light was flashing. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed to confirm whether it was covered under warranty. The dealer informed the contact that towing assistance would be provided; however, the dealer drove the vehicle to the repair center, where it was diagnosed, and metal debris was found in the oil control solenoid. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. A mobile independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and recommended either the rod bearings or engine replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and contacted the dealer. The manufacturer then informed the contact that the dealer advised that the vehicle could not be diagnosed or receive a free repair unless unrelated repairs were first performed. The manufacturer denied a Goodwill Assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.
The engine failed due to suspected rod bearing failure related to Hyundai’s known rod bearing recall issue. The vehicle exhibited a flashing check engine light with diagnostic trouble code P1326, knocking noises, metal debris found in the oil control solenoid, and subsequent secondary damage to the catalytic converter. The engine has not been opened by the Hyundai dealership despite these indicators. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request. The engine condition poses a serious safety risk. An independent mechanic advised that the rod bearing issue presents a fire hazard and stated the vehicle should not be driven due to the risk of engine failure, fire, loss of life, loss of power while driving. A sudden engine failure or fire could endanger the driver, passengers, and other motorists. Yes. The Hyundai dealership documented secondary engine damage but failed to perform the required open-engine rod bearing clearance test despite recall-related symptoms. An independent mechanic confirmed the issue is consistent with rod bearing failure and advised that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealership and reviewed by Hyundai corporate. Hyundai corporate relied solely on the dealership’s incomplete inspection and denied further investigation or goodwill repair. The vehicle has also been inspected by an independent mechanic who identified the rod bearing issue as a safety hazard. Yes. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced a flashing check engine light and stored diagnostic code P1326. The engine produced knocking noises and showed signs of internal metal debris and secondary damages. The absence of early warning indicators prevented earlier detection. However, the extent of internal metal debris and secondary component damage demonstrates a progressive engine failure consistent with known rod bearing defects, rather than a sudden event after the warranty threshold.
I bought the vehicle 14 days ago and everything was going well until black smoke started to come out of the exhaust and it started to smell burnt. I brought a mechanic to my house and he told me that the engine had already died
The 2017 Hyundai Veloster- Value edition is a Lemon straight from the manufacturer. I purchased mine in July of 2024 with 27,000 miles. When I test drove it I questioned the clicking noises that could be heard while switching gears along with minor "shuddering" at acceleration. I was informed by gentleman at Dealer that it was a normal characteristic of owning a DCT vehicle. One year later 7/2025 I have been experiencing more intense issues with clutch/transmission. I have a great loss of power at acceleration, it will stay bogged at 1,000-1,500 RPM'S before it engages and revs with a jolt forward. It is unsafe to pull out or lane change on highway. It also is shuddering upon every acceleration from a dead stop. The clicking noises are now accompanied by clicking noises any time it shift gears. I get an intermittent smell of something burning. It is DEFINITELY UNSAFE to drive in any temperature above 75° due to the vehicle not being able to get out of its own way. All issues are intensified. I brought the vehicle to Hyundai service center and all that was recommended was a coolant flush and Dual Clutch Transmission service, which I paid to have done. I am not the original owner so any manufacturer warranty is out the window. Any research done by consumer will show pages and pages of complaints about the 2017 Veloster and DCT problems. Hyundai NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD on the unsafe garbage they sold us! Let me inform you that the vehicle I am currently making this complaint about has less than 48,000 miles today 7/9/2025
Here is what happened I left my house about 8 am and I head towards the 101 south from union hills drive and 83rd Ave I'm on the 101 south and yhe time I am passing the Thunderbird exit I hear a loud explosion and I duck a little bit and I see a bunch of black debris in the air it happened so fast and then a bunch of glass from my sunroof starts hitting me in the head on my neck falling into my lap going down my shirt and into my coffee. So I pull over off the next exit ramp and pull into and industrial park and I got out and started to sweep glass off of me and out of my car so I can still make it to work on time, I took a couple pics at that time, then I proceeded back towards the highway to make it to work. I get back onto the 101 south and make it to work in Goodyear, I cleaned some more glass off of me and called my insurance. This is a huge safety issue, glass landed everywhere. I could have crashed, it could have hit other vehicles, im not injured but it scared me really bad after the explosion I was covered in glass from head to toe.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that on three separate occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle had been towed and driven to the dealer and an independent mechanic to be repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer and an independent mechanic that a knock sensor failure had caused the failure. The contact stated that the combustion chamber had been cleaned and the catalytic converter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact also stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Paint peeling issue on hood. Filed for Hyundai to repair last 12/24, Hyundai denied claim 12/20/2024, without detailed reasons. Secondary extended warranty is suppose to be for 10 years regardless of mileage.p Hyundai case# [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
White paint peeling on hood.
Showing 20 of 1,283 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Hyundai Veloster
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Hyundai Veloster, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Hyundai Veloster has 1,283 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Hyundai Veloster has 18 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 42 of the Hyundai Veloster's 1,283 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Hyundai Veloster vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Hyundai Veloster vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Hyundai Veloster has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a Hyundai Veloster by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Hyundai Veloster.
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Hyundai Veloster reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Hyundai Veloster reliable?
Poor. The Hyundai Veloster has 1,283 NHTSA owner complaints and 18 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Hyundai Veloster years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2013 (420 complaints), 2012 (295 complaints), 2016 (221 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Hyundai Veloster problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (528 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (207 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (177 complaints).
Does the Hyundai Veloster have recalls?
Yes — 18 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Hyundai Veloster. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.