Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Hyundai Veloster owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We purchased the vehicle in March 2022 and in May 2022 the engine light came on and there was knocking in the engine until finally the engine quit while driving. Upon inspection of the engine it appeared to have blown as there was oil all under the hood. The car was towed and serviced at a Hyundai dealer and I was told it needed a new engine. They put another engine in the car. We got the car back December 31, 2022 with the "new/used" engine and that night the engine overheated and had to be towed back to the dealer that did the repairs costing almost $10K. They repaired the engine again, saying that they put another engine in and we got the car back in late February 2023. April 2023 the car engine light came on again and the car began to smoke. My son had been driving, pulled into our driveway, popped the hood to see why it was smoking and the car then caught fire! …
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who performed a tune-up on the vehicle. The contact stated that several days after the tune-up, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle hesitated and sounded as if the vehicle was going to stall. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine was losing pressure and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that before the vehicle had the tune-up, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact had not noticed any oil stains on the ground. …
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal knocking sound and smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle then lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. An unknown warning light was flashing before the vehicle had lost power; however, there were no warning lights illuminated once the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure and had not provided the contact with a specific diagnostic report. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. …
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the check engine light was illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The interior cabin of the vehicle was vibrating when the contact pulled over. Knocking sounds were heard then the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the vehicle would not exceed 10 - 15 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the connecting rod bearings inside the engine were worn prematurely, resulting in engine damage. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was taken to an independent mechanic where it remained. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
The contact called on behalf of his girlfriend who owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while his girlfriend was driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated independently, and the driver pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted and driven to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to an unknown NHTSA Campaign Number related to the engine. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the unknown recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the engine temperature increased, and the check engine warning light illuminated before the engine failed and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the head gasket was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed and determined that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced under a Manufacturer Service Campaign. The failure mileage was 129,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the recall repair was performed; however, the contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 15 MPH. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted into LIMP Mode and the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 149,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the engine was running rough causing the vehicle to vibrate abnormally. The vehicle also lost motive power. The contact had to depress the accelerator pedal several times before the vehicle would respond and drive as needed. The contact stated that the vehicle had also begun to consume an abnormal amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was constantly flashing. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the catalytic convertor needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer for a recall repair; however, after leaving the dealer, while driving approximately 30-40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle sat for two hours before being restarted and slowly driven to the place of employment, and was then driven to the residence. The contact was unable to determine if there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact called the dealer and was provided with information for towing services and a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving 65MPH, the engine started knocking and shaking then stalled. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact then stated that she was able to coast the vehicle off the road. Upon checking under the hood of the vehicle, she noticed that oil had spilled throughout the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Related recalls
Engine
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.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a new Knock Sensor Detection System…
NHTSA investigations
Engine Fires
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.
Engine complaints in other Veloster years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2015 Hyundai Veloster?
NHTSA has 79 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2015 Hyundai Veloster, 58% of the model year's 137 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system › emission control › catalytic convertor (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Hyundai Veloster engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 20V-746 (engine, Dec 1, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Hyundai Veloster engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 4 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.