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2016 Hyundai Veloster Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2016 Hyundai Veloster carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering engine. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Soft or unresponsive brake pedal.” 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.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2016 Hyundai Veloster.

Reported to NHTSA

Soft or unresponsive brake pedal

SERVICE BRAKES

3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2021-07

“Brakes intermittently malfunction - when issue occurs, brake pedal will loosely sink to floor without slowing the car down and will only engage suddenly when the pedal is pressed all the way to the bottom”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11423220
“BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES TO BOTTOM AND DOES NOT STOP THE CAR WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11325249
“AT APPROXIMATELY 37,000 MILES CURRENTLY AND PROPER DOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE AND CHECK REQUESTS ON VEHICLE, THIS CAR APPEARS TO NOT STOP AS IT SHOULD WHILE IN MOTION WHETHER AT HIGH SPEEDS OR LOW SPEEDS AND "SURGES"”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11111112

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Connecting rod bearing wear, knocking, and stall

ENGINE

132 NHTSA complaints · 2019-03 → 2026-06

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11694568
“While driving down the highway the engine began to knock loudly. When the engine stalled. The vehicle stalled while traveling on a congested highway at a speed of approximately 70MPH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11503986

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dual-clutch transmission hesitation and stall

POWER TRAIN

25 NHTSA complaints · 2017-10 → 2026-04

“VELOSTER HYUNDAI'S 7-SPEED DCT CONTAINS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) THAT CAUSES, AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS, FAILURE TO SHIFT, STALLING, DELAYED ACCELERATION, OR LOSS OF POWER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11290737
“PROBLEMS BEGAN APRIL 2017 WHEN I PLACED MY CAR IN GEAR AND IT DIDN'T MOVE. I PUT IT IN PARK AND THEN BACK IN GEAR AND THE PROBLEM RESOLVED ITSELF. I DIDN'T THINK OF REPORTING IT AT THE TIME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11142641
“VELOSTER TURBO DCT MODEL. WHEN THE CAR ISN'T FULLY WARMED UP, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER UPON MEDIUM TO HARD ACCELERATION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11097331

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

HVAC control module electrical short and melting

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

8 NHTSA complaints · 2018-06 → 2026-01

“THE METAL COMPONENTS OF THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER BLOWER SWITCH MELTS ON THE INSIDE CREATING A FIRE HAZARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11353581
“The climate control knob and AC system failed due to an apparent wiring defect. This is a known issue affecting hundreds or thousands of Hyundai Veloster owners”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11709321
“I HAVE HAD 4 HVAC CONTROL HEADS BURN OUT BETWEEN A 2012 VELOSTER AND MY CURRENT 2016 VELOSTER I PURCHASED AFTER THE 2012 WAS TOTALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11319659

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment and sensor malfunction

AIR BAGS

9 NHTSA complaints · 2017-11 → 2025-10

“TAKATA AIRBAG IN STEERING WHEEL DIDN'T WORK. SUFFERED BRAIN INJURY. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING OVER 50 MPH ON JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA I95, HIT MEDIAN HEAD ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11083531
“Vehicle in service and has none functioning air bag. Not covered under warranty nor the extended warranty that I purchased This is a safety and risk issue for myself and others that would drive the vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11446445
“AIR BAG SENSOR IN CUSHION ON PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES. VEHICLE IS EITHER IN MOTION OR STATIONARY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11344174

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering

VISIBILITY

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-10 → 2025-06

“MY SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE DOWN THE INTERSTATE. NOTHING HIT MY CAR OR SUNROOF. IT JUST EXPLODED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11039976
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY SHATTERED AND GLASS FELL INTO THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11166541
“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the sunroof glass shattered. The contact was unaware of what caused the glass to shatter”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11669039

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

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.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

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.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

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.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

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.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

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.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

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.

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

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.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

37 crashes 1990–2024

How the 37 occupant deaths break down

30

driver deaths

7

passenger deaths

37

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2016 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.

Why we show driver deaths too

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.

15

complaints mentioning a crash

4

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 2016 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.

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