2016 Hyundai Veloster Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor
  2

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  915%
• 25k–50k
  712%
• 50k–75k
  712%
• 75k–100k
  1423%
• 100k–150k
  2033%
• 150k+
  35%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Hyundai Veloster owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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.

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at 40 mph, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and check the oil and noticed the oil was low. The driver placed oil in the vehicle to continue to drive to their residence. After few days the contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have an oil change done on the vehicle but the failure persisted several times. The contact then received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 20V746000 (Engine) which took their vehicle to a local dealer to have the vehicle inspected due to the contact concerns that the failure on the vehicle was related to the recall. The dealer inspected the vehicle and stated the vehicle was fine but they did not place the Knock sensor detection system software on the vehicle as part of the recall repair remedy. …

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. …

Incident Description: I purchased a 2016 Hyundai Veloster (VIN: [VIN]) in May 2025. Shortly after purchase, the vehicle began exhibiting serious mechanical issues, including engine knocking, excessive oil consumption, stalling, misfiring, and loss of power. Despite these ongoing issues, the vehicle is listed as having Recall 198 completed. However, the symptoms associated with that recall continued and progressively worsened. The vehicle ultimately stalled in traffic while I was making a turn, resulting in an accident. In a separate incident, after exiting the vehicle and believing it to be in PARK, the vehicle moved unexpectedly and ran over me, causing serious physical injuries including fractures. Prior to these incidents, the vehicle had ongoing mechanical issues that were not properly resolved. The vehicle also required repeated jump-starts and became unreliable to operate. …

The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated his daughter was driving and was at a stoplight. The driver was making a right turn when the vehicle lost motive power and the vehicle stalled lost power. The driver was able to restart the vehicle and slowly pulled the vehicle into a parking lot and parked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had to pick up the vehicle the next day and have it towed to their residence and then towed to an independent mechanic to inspect the vehicle and failure was related to an internal issue with the engine making abnormal noise. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer who diagnosed the failure as related to the catalytic converter and damage to the engine where it would need to be replaced. …

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 owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that she had initially received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000 (Engine). The contact took the vehicle to a dealer where they inspected the vehicle and found no damage related to the recall, the recall was then removed and the vehicle returned to the contact. Recently, the contact stated that on two separate occasions, once while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified and provided a diagnostic fee for an inspection. The contact then took the vehicle to Hyundai of Yakima (3204 Fruitvale Blvd, Yakima, WA 98902) where they confirmed that the connecting rod bearing was defective which was linked to the recall. …

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 NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V746000(Engine); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. …

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 NHTSA 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 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.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other Veloster years