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Hyundai Veloster: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Hyundai Veloster problems by model year, from 1,354 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2016 (80%, 170 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (72%, 33 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (67%, 90 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 10 Hyundai Veloster years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 3 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (18%), 2022 (22%) and 2012 (29%). 2021 and 2022 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (46%) to 2021 (18%), down 28 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2013 drew the most drivetrain complaints (196 of 656 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Hyundai Veloster year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Veloster | no elevated signal | 29% | 81 | 296 | 8/10 | 6 |
| 2013 Veloster | high | 49% | 196 | 424 | 5/10 | 3 |
| 2014 Veloster | high | 48% | 38 | 86 | 6/10 | 2 |
| 2015 Veloster | very high | 67% | 90 | 137 | 3/10 | 2 |
| 2016 Veloster | very high | 80% | 170 | 222 | 1/10 | 1 |
| 2017 Veloster | very high | 72% | 33 | 50 | 2/10 | 0 |
| 2019 Veloster | high | 51% | 23 | 46 | 4/10 | 3 |
| 2020 Veloster | high | 46% | 12 | 27 | 7/10 | 2 |
| 2021 Veloster | no elevated signal | 18% | 5 | 29 | 10/10 | 3 |
| 2022 Veloster | no elevated signal | 22% | 8 | 37 | 9/10 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Hyundai Veloster years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Hyundai Veloster engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Hyundai Veloster involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 12 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2020 | 20V746000 | engine | 2015–2016 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V301000 | engine | 2019–2021 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V746000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2021–2022 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V528000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module | 2019–2022 |
8 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2012 | 12V567000 | parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cable | 2012 |
| Dec 2012 | 12V568000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2012 |
| Feb 2013 | 13V051000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2012 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V204000 | electrical system: software | 2013 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V311000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2019 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V393000 | equipment: electrical | 2012 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V132000 | electrical system | 2012–2014 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V651000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2012–2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Hyundai Veloster
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Hyundai Veloster
What are the worst years for the Hyundai Veloster?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Hyundai Veloster years are the 2016 (80% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (72% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2015 (67% of relevant complaints, very high). 7 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Hyundai Veloster?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Hyundai Veloster years are the 2021 (18%), the 2022 (22%) and the 2012 (29%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Hyundai Veloster have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 656 of 1,315 relevant NHTSA complaints (50%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Is the Hyundai Veloster reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 10 Hyundai Veloster years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 50% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Hyundai Veloster?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Hyundai Veloster years we track, out of 12 in total: 21V301000 (Apr 2021, 2019–2021), 22V746000 (Oct 2022, 2021–2022), 24V528000 (Jul 2024, 2019–2022), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.