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.
2016 Hyundai Veloster engine complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 142, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
On March 2024, I had my veloster towed to a certified Hyundai service dealer because it suddenly began losing power, the oil light came on, the engine light flickered, and it began making a whining noise, and then the engine died and wouldn’t crank again. It took them weeks to diagnose it, and they told me the turbo was out in it, and quoted me an absurd amount to replace it. I had the turbo replaced, as well as some gaskets, the coils and spark plugs. It ran fine after that until June 2025 when the oil and check engine light came on and the engine died again while we were coming home from a vacation, 2 hours south of where we live in a tiny town that had no dealership or rental company within 100 miles. We found a small mechanic who said it needed a lower fuel pump. He put one in it and we got back on the road, but it still wasn’t running as well as it should. It don’t have quite as much power, but no dash lights came on. When I got home I took it to another local certified Hyundai service dealer, who said it needed new coils and spark plugs again, so they replaced them. Again it ran fine for a while until the day after thanksgiving this year, 11/25, when the oil light came on again at the end of my road. I took it to another local certified auto parts store who read the codes and found no suggested fix. No certified dealers were open that day, so I took it to Pep Boys where the engine light came on when I pulled in, and who said they thought it needed new timing solenoids, and put them in it. When they finished, they drove it and told me they felt like the turbo was going out and advised I take it to the dealer again. I had it towed to a certified Hyundai service dealer on Monday 12/01/25. They diagnosed it as needing a new turbo (again), a lower oil pan, and an oil switch. Quoted $3550. Over a week later today they told me that after putting it all in and tiring it on that the oil light came back on. They have now diagnosed it as needing an oil pump.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. While the contact’s wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then stalled at a stoplight. The vehicle was restarted and immediately driven to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine compression was abnormal and advised the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while at the dealer, the service and diagnostic guidelines were not followed regarding the federal safety agency Action Number: EA21003 (ENGINE), and the coverage was denied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 125,367.
While driving my 2016 Hyundai Veloster (VIN: [XXX] ) on the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration. I went from 60 mph down to 20 mph with no throttle response, and the car only continued moving briefly from momentum. I was forced to stop in unsafe highway conditions and had the vehicle towed home. Prior to this complete failure, the car had recurring transmission/drive issues: it would start, but when placed in reverse it moved backward, and when shifted into drive it still only moved backward. Despite repeated repair attempts, the problems persisted. A certified mechanic later inspected the vehicle and confirmed severe internal engine damage, including metallic noises, blue smoke, oil leakage from worn piston rings, and complete compression loss. The mechanic concluded the vehicle requires deep engine repair or replacement. These failures are consistent with widespread reports of Hyundai Veloster engine defects, which pose serious safety risks to drivers. My vehicle is now inoperable despite responsible maintenance and repeated attempts to fix the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My vehicle has been burning through oil for 2 years now. It started with me having to get oil changes every 3 months, then 2, then 1, now I am forced to go get oil top offs every 2-3 weeks or the check oil light comes on and car drives very rough. I have been reaching out and opening cases with Hyundai and working with my local dealer for a year now and still nothing is being resolved. I need my engine replaced and they refuse, wanting me to jump through hoops and doing various tests only to tell me that even after I pay thousands for the tests, there’s no guarantee they can replace the engine. This is a known issue when you search online and thousands of people’s Hyundais are being affected. This vehicle is less than 10 years old it should not be having these issues. Hyundai is at fault for creating faulty vehicles and they are refusing to do anything about it.
I am going to answer each point one by one for clarity. 1.) Mass oil consumption from bad piston rings, and yes it is available. 2.) I was driving after work one night and my oil pressure light was blinking red. Needed to immedelty pull to the side and have someone get me oil to top off. This was when I first found out about this issue. 3.) Yes as it is a constant problem and I've had two different mechanics look and confirm that my engine is essentially toast. 4.) No, not yet as I am not willing to pay an absurd amount of money for a dealer inspection unless they truely mean well with it. 5.) Other than the red oil pressure light I mentioned eariler, no. This was Augest 12th. Bought the car from the dealer April 18th.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that after completing a routine oil change, the contact discovered that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The contact had an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, who determined that the failure was related to the engine. The local dealer was contacted, and it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. There was corrosion around the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and requested the maintenance records, but declined to assist due to maintenance neglect. The contact stated that the maintenance records were not accessible due to not being the original owner. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine and low oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the connecting rod bearings failure had resulted in the engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000(Engine), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 99,000.
While driving home one late night, the engine completely locked up while driving causing the vehicle to come to a halt and left me stranded in the road. Got it off the road and eventually towed home where it was later inspected and found the engine bone dry of oil. There were no signs or indications there were any issues with oil leaking, etc. After much research, it's a commonly known issue with other Hyundai makes and models and even some of the same as mine in other years. This engine only has 100,000 miles on it. It just barely broke that mark before completely leaving me stranded. It's still an unresolved issue as no one wants to repair my car.
The reason I am submitting this form is because my 2016 Veloster Turbo has an open recall out for premature wear in the bottom end (bearings and rods) and my car has been experiencing the same problems. I have had the highest rated shop in my area to look at the wear directly and it is clear this is the problem with the engine. Despite this all attempts to contact dealers and the manufacture have resulted in those parties claiming my unit was not affected during the recall and therefore there is nothing they can do to help me. It is clear my engine is experiencing the exact problems detailed in the recall and I have treated this engine as well I can as I had knowledge of these problems, even still my engine is only a couple hundred miles away from blowing up completely and not running. When this car was bought I added a catch can to specifically help with the premature wear on the engine as well as never revving the engine to over 5,0000 rpms. As well to both of the previously mentioned conditions I have consistently changed the oil every 3,000 miles or before with the best oil and oil filter money can buy. Despite all of this and treating the car as well as I possibly could I still experienced significant terminal damage to my engine and I haven't even hit 99,000 miles yet. This whole experience has been awful and near impossible even for me someone who is very well equipped to handle car problems and I can't imagine how a regular family with basic car knowledge could ever navigate and handle this situation accordingly. All I am looking for is some type of help in any way to move forward my car is still running and driving but if I continue to drive it, it will most definitely blow up leaving me stranded. Thank you for your time.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle hesitated to respond while depressing the accelerator pedal, failed to exceed 45 MPH and made an abnormal knocking sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a BCT (Bearing Clearance Test) was performed, and the knock sensors were replaced; however, the failure recurred immediately while leaving dealer's parking lot. The vehicle was taken to two other independent mechanics, where the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced due to damage to the engine rod bearings. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V746000(Engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 79,700.
I am the second owner of a 2016 Hyundai Veloster Base, purchased used at approximately 19,976 miles. Since then, the vehicle has experienced multiple major powertrain-related failures. At 49,196 miles, the first catalytic converter failed and was replaced. Later, both the engine and second catalytic converter were replaced by Kearny Mesa Hyundai, a certified Hyundai dealership in San Diego, CA. When I brought the vehicle to Kearny Mesa Hyundai, there were no warning lights or active diagnostic trouble codes. However, the dealership’s service documentation stated that a P0420 code (catalyst system efficiency below threshold) was present — a code that was not active when I dropped off the vehicle, raising concerns about diagnostic accuracy or documentation. Now, at 61,982 miles, I brought the vehicle to Hyundai Ontario due to delayed shifting and hesitation when accelerating. The dealership diagnosed internal transmission failure and quoted approximately $5,000 for repairs. There were no warning lights or codes detected, meaning this diagnosis is based solely on driving symptoms. The failure of two catalytic converters, the engine, and now the transmission — all within approximately 42,000 miles of ownership — raises serious concerns about the long-term reliability of this vehicle and possible manufacturing defects. The transmission symptoms pose a serious safety risk, especially when merging or accelerating into traffic. I am requesting that this vehicle be investigated for potential systemic issues affecting its powertrain components.
About 2 years ago, my Veloster suddenly started using oil and began knocking. No check engine light or other indicators came on. I had it inspected by a mechanic who confirmed that there was a problem in the lower half of the motor and it would have to be replaced. I was aware that other Veloster owners had been experiencing the same issue. I found recall spawned by a class-action which extended the engine's warranty to 15 years and 150,000 miles, but the website said my Veloster was not covered by the recall. I called Hyundai and they also said that my Veloster was not covered by the recall. I was very frustrated. People I know that sell Hyundai vehicles remained hopeful that Hyundai would come around and recall my car too, but I do not think that is going to happen since it has been nearly 2 years now. I have a 2016 Hyundai Veloster R-Spec (which is a turbo model) and it has the same engine as other turbo models that were recalled. I am very frustrated that this issue is widely known and Hyundai seems to have gotten away with creating a vehicle that's longevity is subpar from any I have ever owned. It recently dawned on me to ask AI for help and it recommended I contact and you, the federal safety agency, so at the very least it is documented and patterns can be seen where this problem continues to occur with vehicles that were not part of the recall. I was very particular and admit about the maintenance on my Veloster. There is no reason that this car should be scrapped after experiencing a detrimental engine failure less than 7 years and 125,000 miles from when it was purchased brand new. I still have the car, which has been sitting in my driveway since before I had it towed to the mechanic about the engine problems.
The car is sluggish and loses power when it is taking off. It is like it is in slow mode. The other issue is that it uses lots of oil. I even had the dealership to repair the valve cover gasket. It should not use oil at the rate.
The engine has a known issue with the port holes being too small to allow adequate oil flow, this has been addressed in the non turbo engines. Our veloster had the same malfunction engine failure in which hyundai is not covering and the dealership is doing a goodwill coverage of only 70% expense of engine only. When the engine throws a rod due to the malfunction it damages the turbo most times and they are requiring a full payment for that issue. Main focus is the engine when replaced has larger holes/ports and the engine can perform adequately. So as a consumer and owner we want to advise on this unbalance of coverage of the extended warranty. Especially since the turbo engine is identical just adding the turbo which it's performing at a higher rate.
The car stall when I'm driving
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the vehicle started to jerk, and the oil warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the highway to inspect the vehicle and the contact became aware that the oil level was low. The contact waited for several minutes before restarting the vehicle and continued driving to the residence. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the catalytic convertor had caused the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 132,000.
The component that failed is acceleration. He came from work at the Frywed when he reduced the speed from 65 to 30 and no longer accelerated .. if an independent service had no warning or failure at that time they were detected
Oil continuously drains beyond normal usage. Fuel consumption has also been consumed beyond normalcy. Taken major advantage of lack of knowledge on car maintenance by Hyundai dealership. No repair orders are issued as of late for any major changes to the vehicle. Last repair order(s) was completed 10/24/2023.
Shortly after finishing major repairs at my local dealer, I started to expirience, what I believe, now, to be a "low-end engine knock". Engine knock can usually occur due to oil starvation, where the connecting rod bearings are worn and debris enters the engine. So, I brought my car back to the dealer to ask them what this strange noise was I was hearing; I asked them if it could be the brand new clutch, or their equipment they left in the engine bay for me. They gave me an answer and it was to not drive the car anymore. One employee of the dealer even suggested "wrapping it around a telephone pole"... They told me what the repairs would cost and I had not qualified for a warranty extention so I left. I acquired a definitive diagnostic elsewhere and was shown the gravity of the situation. My oil filter had caught pieces of the engine and it was dubbed an engine knock. This incident took me completely by surprise. I regularly changed my oil and never saw my levels get so low that they would be considered empty. I have only owned the car for 5 years and it being only 8 years old, I was hoping to enjoy the driving expirience for years to come. That sensation has been replaced with apprehension and possible engine fire... how do I afford to buy a new car every 5 years if I can't drive the one I have now??
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where diagnostic test codes indicated a timing chain failure and other diagnostic test codes were retrieved. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed due to low engine oil, and the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that 2 quarts of oil was added to the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the engine was overfilled with oil. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the failure was related to the knock sensor. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer, Great Lakes Hyundai of Dublin (2441 Billingsley Rd, Columbus, OH 43235), where it was diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that no engine failure was found; however, the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, went into LIMP Mode, and failed to exceed 5 MPH. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving 35-40 MPH. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle had become undrivable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they relied on the dealer’ assessment. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
On May 13, 2024 my car had it's motor replaced. This was done at no charge by Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (Not where I bought it). The motor was replaced because of a recall (Product Improvement Campaign 966/ Knock Sensor Detection System). On July 28, 2024 my car engine ( the new one they had given me 10 weeks earlier) overheated and broke down. We had the car towed back to Hyundai of Wesley Chapel. They were unable to determine the cause of the engine breaking down, other than that is was leaking coolant. Hyundai is asking me to pay for a diagnostic test, estimated at between $3,000 and $4,000 to determine the cause. We do not want to do that and don't believe we should be held responsible for this cost. We have not been provided with a loaner car. This is a big inconvenience that we need resolved.
As I was driving on the highway I started losing power and a warning of transmission over heating appeared on screen. I let the car sit and cool down and when I started it up again the same issue persisted, I had the car towed home. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My safety was put at risk since I was driving and highway speed and car just slowed down during rush hour traffic. The vehicle has not been expected at this time.
Rod knocking noise engine.
How do I get help with a complaint against Hyundai for non compliance . This is my 2nd engine fire!!
After noticing a significant shortage of oil, I took my 2016 HYUNDAI Veloster Turbo to get an oil change. There continued to be persistent low oil in my vehicle even after an oil change. I put things under my car to make sure there was no leak and the vehicle maintenance advisor informed me there is no external leak present when getting the oil change. I drove a week and my oil dipstick was already showing significantly low oil in the engine. After contacting Hyundai about this issue, they said I would need to go through the same process with them and they would not be held responsible for billing. This comes at a time where Technical Service Bulletin #23-EM-007H was recently released in December 2023 applying to 4-Cylinder Gasoline Engines. I’m concerned about the safety of myself and others due to the probability of a fire, however I have already paid out of pocket for maintenance that had diagnosed the issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and responded slowly. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where both catalytic converters were replaced, and the fuel lines were cleaned; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where the vehicle was test-driven, and the mechanic informed the contact that the failure could be related to the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Knocking on engine. All service necessary for the vehicle has been up to date. Hyundai Dealer has said to wait for a recall. Rod bearing recall has happened and my vehicle was never recalled.
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