2016 Hyundai Veloster: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Engine · FL

I was instructed by Hyundai USA to tow my Veloster to West Palm Beach Hyundai dealership specifically for the rod bearing diagnostic after I reported huge amount of smoke coming from the engine, engine oil leak, failed thermostat, and failed water pump, all while I was driving to work. I have repeatedly asked for Hyundai USA to send me a copy of the technician's notes, oil pressure test results, and bearing clearance measurements, part of Hyundai's TSB 21-GI-009H. Hyundai USA continues to refuse to release to me the technical rod bearing diagnostic report completed on my 2016 Veloster. Since rod bearing failure is a safety recall issue (stalling), I am listing your help to explicitly request the Service Manager's diagnostic report and photos of the rod bearing clearance test. I can't get to work with my Veloster because it is unsafe to drive and has been at the dealership since January 17, 2026. My safety is at risk.

Filed Jan 12, 2026 · Engine · TX

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.

Filed Oct 11, 2024 · Engine · 115,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving at an undisclosed speed. No warning light illuminated. The contact also noticed black smoke coming from the vehicle The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rod bearings failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Aug 16, 2024 · TX

I have a 2016 Hyundai Veloster turbo and my AC started making a weird noise coming from my AC controller, I opened and my climate control resistor was burned and smelling and I’m worried about my car getting on fire and I seen this is a common problem in velosters

Filed Feb 2, 2024 · Engine · 129,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The contact stated that while driving onto the driveway at the residence, the vehicle was vibrating violently and then stalled. The contact turned off and later attempted to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle started momentarily and then stalled. The contact stated there was cloud of smoke coming from the exhaust. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure, he became aware that the vehicle was consuming approximately 1 quart of engine oil every two weeks. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2024 · Electrical · WA

I have done a lot of research on my car when it started having issues with major oil burning/consumption (I took it in because I had an engine recall and they did their testing and said no recall for my car). And since 2021, I haven't had a consistent working heater and a/c because a wiring issue. Which I have spoke to hyundai on a few occasions and told me "you just need a new hvac control head unit" which I had already replaced. The harness connector was fried, had that replaced by someone I know. May be not to standards, but it would usually work with most vehicles. I have replaced the head unit 3 times now, and the wiring harness 3 times. And it eventually fries the knob control for my blower speed. I have an 16 month old child and its a safety issue. The wires keep frying (my resistor has been replaced a few times thinking that was the issue), telling me the wires are not capable of the output for something so simple. In my research, this has happened to thousands of other velosters around the year of mine. And one was a mechanic and said it is a safety issue. It can catch on fire, and this should be a recall on all cars. I've also read how hyundai has told people with recalls, their cars were fine (after testing) then the engine blows and they're incompetent and so not care to help its consumers. Please help me somehow?

Filed Aug 10, 2023 · Engine · NC

The engine is stalling. Check engine light is flashing. Car is in limp mode. Dealership say it not a matter of it but when the engine blows up. Have seen where some of these cars blow up and catch on fire. Hyundai want help me or thousands of other people with this problem

Filed Aug 8, 2023 · Engine, Seats · CA

When my car 2016 Hyundai Veloster reached almost 95000 mileage the oil starts to dissipate much faster so started to do oil change much often. Recently and my care already at 97000 mileage. We are driving going up a hill and it started to make some noise kind of like a motorcycle noise and I know there is something wrong but no light warnings or anything. I was trying to push it to get to a safer side of the road because I have my 86 year old mother with me but the car did nor make it and heard something snap really loud and the car just stopped and saw a little bit of smoke. Had to stop immediately on the side of the road and it was a bad spot against the rail and that blocked the 2 doors on the right side. the car only have 3 doors so now my mother is stuck and had to figure out how to have her crawl out to get out the driver side of the vehicle. If the car was on fire that would have been really dangerous. Took it to the mechanic and my insurance inspector already saw the car and determined that there was some kind of rod that came off and that the engine is blown an that it is with a hole. it is beyond repair or if I do it will cost $5000-$6000. I bought it on 2018 with only 5000 miles on it. I kept up with yearly maintenance. I think it is insane that it will break that fast and we are traumatize with the danger. I am not ready financially for this.

Filed Dec 26, 2022 · Engine · CO

I was driving my 2016 Hyundai Veloster Turbo when I started to hear a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. At this time I also noticed a decline in power and the check engine light came on. I made an appointment to bring the car to my local Hyundai dealership to have the car looked at. While en route to the dealership, the car suddenly made a loud bang and a profusion of smoke came out of the engine and engulfed the car, inside & out, making it impossible for not only me to see but also limited visibility for the person following me, which was extremely dangerous. I couldn't see or breathe and had to rapidly exit the car on the side of a busy road with no shoulder. The engine completely failed and the car was not drivable. I had the car towed to the Hyundai dealership where they told me the engine had seized and needed to be completely replaced. Although my VIN is not yet included in engine recall 20V746000, my car has the 1.6 liter GDI Gamma engine included in that recall. In addition, the exact chain of events that I experienced have been described by others whose cars are included in the recall which describes connecting rod bearings inside the engine wearing prematurely (creating a knocking sound and reduced engine power), causing engine damage. I am requesting an investigation into this incident as I feel that my car should be included in the recall. It was a very dangerous incident and I don't want others to needlessly experience this same problem, possibly with more harmful consequences.

Filed Oct 25, 2022 · Engine · 100,000 miles · MD · fire

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH a loud booming sound from the engine compartment had occurred and a knocking noise followed along with white smoke from the exhaust pipes. The vehicle drove off the road before flames were present coming from under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. A police report was taken and the vehicle was towed away. No injuries were reported. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet contacted. The contact indicated that the vehicle had previously been serviced several times for a faulty engine and catalytic converter. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Jan 28, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · 58,900 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine) and the dealer-installed a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System; however, while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle began to stall. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with assistance. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. Then, the vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist who diagnosed that the transmission was in great condition; however, the engine was not communicating with the transmission. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who completed a transmission relearn; however, the vehicle was sluggish while accelerating from a complete stop. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that there were metal shavings in the engine oil, the engine was knocking loudly, and there was a significant amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust. The dealer reset the Knock Sensor Detection System software. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring and the vehicle would not exceed 45 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer - Hyundai of Yuma (1125 E 32nd St, Yuma, AZ 85365) who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The second dealer sent a diagnostic report to the manufacturer and requested a new engine; however, the manufacturer denied the request due to the vehicle having a salvage title. The contact stated that only the rear end of the vehicle was reconstructed as the vehicle was involved in a crash. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 58,900.

Filed Feb 27, 2021 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · FL

The plug behind the AC control panel (the blower motor switch) has melted because the current isn't being conducted properly. This issue started months ago when I noticed the AC control knob was getting stuck & stopped working on the numbers. This last week I smelt smoke coming from the AC control panel, which is what LED me to remove the console to see behind. Apparently, this iis a very common complaint of the 2012-2016 velosters & some people have had their dash set on fire before. I fear for my safety if the car were ever to set fire because of this design flaw & I were driving. I, & other people, could die from this. Hyundai has never issued a recall or addressed this issue.