The 2015 Hyundai Veloster carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering engine and control unit/module. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Tire sidewall bubbling on Kumho Solus KH25.” Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.
ENGINE
Campaign #20V746000 · Jan 12, 2020
Issue: 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.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 198.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Campaign #23V651000 · Sep 22, 2023
Issue: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2015 Hyundai Veloster.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
Action #AQ23002 · opened Nov 17, 2023
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electron…
TIRES
3 NHTSA complaints · 2015-03 → 2018-03
“I HAVE HAD 3 VELOSTERS BRAND NEW, THEY COME WITH KUMHO SOLUS KH25 AND THEY ALL DEVELOPED SIDEWALL BUBBLES, EACH TIME I CANN FOR A WARRANTY THEY DENY ME SAYING ITS MY FAULT, YET MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUES”
“KUMHO KH TIRES ARE DANGEROUS. THE TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE DO NOT QUALIFY FOR TAMY CURRENT RECALL. THEY DESPERATELY NEED TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED DUE TO POOR QUALITY, SEPARATION AND LOOSING AIR”
ENGINE
74 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2026-07
“Excessive engine oil consumption causing fouled spark plugs engine stalling. Engine was replace due to defective rod bearings at 98 000 mile under warranty and recall. Engine now ha 130,000 miles piston rings have failed. Stalled on busy freeway almost causing mutual crash”
“Engine failure outside of normal warranty period. However oil consumption is the cause. Hyundai allows for 1quart of oil loss every 1000 miles. There should be no oil loss. Before I could get an oil consumption test my motor started knocking”
“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”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15 NHTSA complaints · 2019-03 → 2026-06
“The climate control switch melted. Available for inspection I was getting smoked out by plastic fumes. Researched this issues with all data No No lights”
“AC Fan control switch has melted and filled car with smoke. Fan control switch has overheated. The switch has melted and will not work at all”
“A/C FAN SPEED CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 YRS. 75000 MILES. PULLED HVAC UNIT FROM THE DASH TO FIND MELTED CONNECTORS ON THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE BACK OF THE FAN SPEED CONTROLLER”
VISIBILITY
8 NHTSA complaints · 2015-12 → 2022-12
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2015 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION”
“Driver entered the car and closed the driver side door. Car was in park in driveway. Driver tried to vent the moon roof and the glass of the moon roof shattered. Glass rained down upon driver and flew all over the driveway and the lawn”
“I WAS DRIVING THE 2015 VELOSTER TURBO ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF THE FREEWAY BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MILES PER HOUR WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN. THE SUNROOF SHATTERED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND GLASS FLEW BOTH INTO THE CAR, AND OUT BEHIND THE CAR”
POWER TRAIN
13 NHTSA complaints · 2015-11 → 2026-06
“DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION FAILING. INTERMITTENTLY BOOT OT ENGAGING INTO R OR D GEAR AND SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON STREET OR HIGHWAY”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE, IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND DID NOT IMMEDIATELY GO BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS BY ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING”
“THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT. THE RPM'S WILL INCREASE BUT THE SPEED WILL NOT. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED”
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
8 NHTSA complaints · 2019-05 → 2025-06
“I was on the highway and looked at my speedometer and the mph was at 0. The abs and the brake light warnings came on and I couldn't accelerate and hardly brake. I pulled to the shoulder immediately”
“The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at slower speeds and depressing the brake pedal, it seemed the ABS engaged, and the vehicle slowed down significantly. Additionally, the brakes were dragging”
“The safety recall on my vehicle has been open for nearly 7 months with a risk of fire. There is still no status as to when my vehicle can be serviced to prevent this risk of fire. I find this lack of urgency completely unacceptable considering the risk”
Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
14 crashes 1990–2024
How the 14 occupant deaths break down
12
driver deaths
2
passenger deaths
14
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2017 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
0
complaints mentioning a crash
7
complaints mentioning a fire
Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2015 Hyundai Veloster reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.