Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Veloster - part 1

As my [xxx] son was driving, his car, out of nowhere, stopped working and the steering wheel became incredibly hard to turn. It put him and other vehicles around him at risk as he was doing 50mph and his car suddenly stalled. No warning. No dash lights. It was hard for him to pull over to safety. We replaced the battery and tried to restart the car, then the engine started smoking. We immediately called for a tow. Our local shop said his engine seized. We then towed it to Hyundai and they confirmed the same thing, "it definitely locked right up. " the car has been well taken care of, no warning signs prior to engine failure, no warning lights, etc. His car is also under 100k miles. There is literally no reason for an engine failure. In 2019 there was a NHTSA recall 19v204, Hyundai recall #182 ecu software update; this was supposed to fix the issue but here we are. . . The engine still blew. Hyundai is refusing to help. They won't do anything. There's known issues with Hyundai's 1. 6 gdi turbo engine. They should be held responsible. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

I was driving on 8 east freeway when all of a sudden my car lost complete power. Engine light flashing, and couldn't pick up any speed. The truck in back of me almost hit me cause my car wouldn't go. Prior to this incident, my car was and has been working perfectly. . My mom had it towed back home and got a mechanic to check the code and it gave a p1326 code which is exact code for a previous recall on these cars. I contacted Hyundai corporate and the rep told me to take it into a Hyundai dealership to get repaired but to mention that campaign 966 was performed on the car already. Which was to prevent the p1326 recall from happening. And clearly it didn't.

See all problems of the 2016 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

I took my car to gilroy Hyundai November 11, 2025 at 10:30 a. M. Because my engine was not running normal, it shook lightly while driving at an incline and the engine light would not shut off. They charged me $284. 99 to tell me what needed to be fixed, engine was not looked per ernesto garcia. Ernest told me they go by mileage, not actually checking the engine. He also stated that the mechanic drove it and it was fine. December 28, I was driving from chico, CA back home to morgan hill, CA and the car shook and just died and left me on the side of highway 505 winters/san francisco. I had it towed to moorehead automotive in fairfield, CA and they said this car needs a new engine. I still owe 7,000. 00 on this car and have had trouble with both Hyundai and power (the additional insurance I purchased when I bought this car. ).

See all problems of the 2015 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

The second cylinder is not firing. The car stalled when on highway.

See all problems of the 2014 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

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.

The engine failed due to suspected rod bearing failure related to Hyundai’s known rod bearing recall issue. The vehicle exhibited a flashing check engine light with diagnostic trouble code p1326, knocking noises, metal debris found in the oil control solenoid, and subsequent secondary damage to the catalytic converter. The engine has not been opened by the Hyundai dealership despite these indicators. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request. The engine condition poses a serious safety risk. An independent mechanic advised that the rod bearing issue presents a fire hazard and stated the vehicle should not be driven due to the risk of engine failure, fire, loss of life, loss of power while driving. A sudden engine failure or fire could endanger the driver, passengers, and other motorists. Yes. The Hyundai dealership documented secondary engine damage but failed to perform the required open-engine rod bearing clearance test despite recall-related symptoms. An independent mechanic confirmed the issue is consistent with rod bearing failure and advised that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealership and reviewed by Hyundai corporate. Hyundai corporate relied solely on the dealership’s incomplete inspection and denied further investigation or goodwill repair. The vehicle has also been inspected by an independent mechanic who identified the rod bearing issue as a safety hazard. Yes. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced a flashing check engine light and stored diagnostic code p1326. The engine produced knocking noises and showed signs of internal metal debris and secondary damages. The absence of early warning indicators prevented earlier detection. However, the extent of internal metal debris and secondary component damage demonstrates a progressive engine failure consistent with known rod bearing defects, rather than a sudden event after the warranty threshold.

See all problems of the 2017 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

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 2017 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while her sister was driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle stalled. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to be restarted, but made an abnormal knocking sound. The check engine warning light was flashing. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed to confirm whether it was covered under warranty. The dealer informed the contact that towing assistance would be provided; however, the dealer drove the vehicle to the repair center, where it was diagnosed, and metal debris was found in the oil control solenoid. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was driven back to the residence. A mobile independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and recommended either the rod bearings or engine replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and contacted the dealer. The manufacturer then informed the contact that the dealer advised that the vehicle could not be diagnosed or receive a free repair unless unrelated repairs were first performed. The manufacturer denied a goodwill assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000.

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).

Engine locked on me during driving almost caused a car rear ending me during rush hour. Called aaa and they printed out a recall form for over heated piston that may cause engine damage. Towed to tito auto care and then printed out the same information for recall details NHTSA campaign number 21v301000. Advised me to take to Hyundai dealership to repair for free. Hyundai states the vendor number is not pulling up for a recall. Both aaa and tito autocare stated they would fight this. I am requesting you order the Hyundai manufaturer to repair. I believe there were missed VIN numbers in the recall including my VIN number.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

My spark plugs misfired.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

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. I have an appointment at the Hyundai delership October 28th 2015. Hyundai replaced one defective engine with another.

Traumatic critical failure at [xxx] (xxx), in p/u spot, put car in p, got out, reached in to grab wallet when car lunged into r, as if being driven. Ran over & drug me until it hit another car to stop it. Serious pain in l ribs (previously broken & healed 5 yrs prior), felt like sternum re-broken from accident prior year, broken & healed. Back pain. Onlookers horrified & called 911. Taken by ambulance to baptist medical center3300 [xxx] . I told er dr about injuries. Ct scan performed, broken ribs, sternum broken & displaced & fracture in spine. Mri completed yr prior after accident & only break was sternum. I have CT scan & mri results. Two wks later, in severe pain w ribs, wondered if I had pneumonia (I'm 62),, went to urgent care [xxx] took x-rays & called ambulance to pick me up, went to [xxx] [xxx] . Treated for rib & back pain & had a pleural effusion, most likely related to accident. Lost so much income, finally drove & about a mth later, at window at jack in the box, put car in p as I waited, after about 1 min, car started going fast into r, wouldn't stop, I had to turn car off. Fixed at firestone. Broken shifter cable. About month later, still issues, car threw itself into d when trying to go in r while driving. I assumed car wouldn't go in r. Took to firestone next day. They said nothing wrong, went in all gears fine other serious car issues from day 1, currently at [xxx] Hyundai [xxx] issues w car from day one, issues w sm at dealership that did work-alternator, starter, battery, tried to commit fraud, kept car hostage for wk, wouldn't give paperwork when asked for recall 198 car engine knocking loud, kept running when turned off, consuming massive amts oil, began stalling, causing accident, further issues & my putting $ into car information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

When changing vehicle oil it has been noticed that there is contaminants appearing to be metal bits/glittery could possibly be rod bearing material. Also have noticed fluctuating idle.

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 NHTSA 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.

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 check engine light was occasionally illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle stopped and failed to accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that there was no special warranty coverage on the vehicle for the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

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 NHTSA 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.

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.

Knock sensor code p1326.

Attempted to pull out of our neighborhood and car check engine light as well as every other light came on on the dashboard. Car completely loss power and stalled in the middle of the road. Multiple attempts to re-start the car but would not start. Had mechanic check vehicle, originally pulled a code for fuel pump but when tested a few days later and at the fuel pump that code was gone. Checked everything could not find a reason it would not start. Called the Hyundai dealership and they said yeah your engine lost compression and probably has to be replaced but we can't tell you for sure until you bring it in and it will be $350 to tell you if that is the problem. I am having it taken in to see. The car VIN does not show as part of the 21v 301 recall on this site but is experiencing the exact issues listed in the recall. We will see. . .

I bought the vehicle 14 days ago and everything was going well until black smoke started to come out of the exhaust and it started to smell burnt. I brought a mechanic to my house and he told me that the engine had already died.

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 failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

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.

The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. After leaving the local dealer for a recall repair, the contact stated that after driving for five miles at 30-40 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to shift into gear. The vehicle sat for two hours, and when restarted, it was able to roll to her place of employment and drive to her residence. The contact was able to determine if there were warning lights illuminated. The contact called the dealer, who informed the contact about towing and diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

I stood my 17 month old nephew up in the front passengers side floorboard of the 2012 hyundia voloster manual transmission with push start . I stepped out of the car on the passage side of the car the car was parked in first gear no one was on the driver's side . I bent over to get my shoes on and baby reached over and pushed the start button on the car the car should not have started since the clutch was not pressed in but unfortunately the car started and lunged forward being on a incline it was as if someone smashed on the gas pedal I ran with the car as far as I could but it was going so fast I could not get into the car to stop it I was drug trying to stop the car the car flew thru a fence , into the woods, down a steep hill then crossed a one lane road traveled up a hill thru another patch of woods before going up hill and hitting a tree all the while our nephew was not in a car seat the car was bouncing side to side when it went off road to cross a creek so I know the baby was thrown around in the car he had to of been that car was going so fast I was screaming in fear that he would not be alive when I made it to the car now the key was in my purse located in the passenger side floorboard where I stood the baby up at so when I reached the car the doors had automatically locked the car was still running and the baby was screaming I could not leave the baby to go get help so I tried to tell him to open the door but like I said he is 17 months old he didn't know what I was telling him to do and since the car went thru the fence it knocked the wiper blades off and the metal was going back and forth on the glass and it was so loud screeching back and forth and baby is screaming and I could not get to him and I know the screeching is scaring him even more so I reached up the pull the wipers away from the windshield and when I did baby leans on the door to see what I was doing and he hits the windows button and the windows came down just far enough to get it unlock.

See all problems of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster 🔎.

After an update for a recall for brake issues, the dealership updated the knock sensor update without my consent. After the knock sensor software was installed, my 2012 Hyundai Veloster will not operate without going into protection mode. Hyundai states that they can not reverse the software update to make my vehicle operable again. This has already come up as a safety concern as my wife was on the interstate when the vehicle shut down in 70+ mph traffic.

My 2013 Hyundai Veloster (VIN: [xxx] ) has the known p1326 fault related to the theta ii engine defect. Despite a rod bearing test that passed, the engine now requires replacement, confirmed by the dealer, who quoted me $8,494. Hyundai refuses to assist, even though I am under the 150,000-mile extended warranty. This is a safety risk and fits the class-action defect criteria. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Abs, eps, check engine light appeared on dashboard then car’s steering wheel stiffed and car lost power. Vehicle’s hood smells burnt and has fumes come out after driving for 10-20minutes. My safety and my family’s was endangered as this happened while driving on the road. Not at a stop sign or a red traffic light but while driving. The dealer has refused to inspect/address the issue without having me paid close to $2,500. 00 for other repairs.

Vehicle info: 2013 Hyundai Veloster VIN: [xxx] odometer: 75,000 miles problem description: my check engine light began flashing and the vehicle entered limp mode. Diagnostic codes showed p1326 and u1103, which are linked to a known theta ii engine defect involving rod bearing failure. Hyundai issued a 15-year / 150,000-mile warranty extension and settled a class-action lawsuit to cover these failures. However, my request for coverage was denied due to “time in service” despite being well below the mileage limit (only 75k miles). This is a serious safety concern that may result in sudden engine failure. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Hyundai's denial and handling of such cases information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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 manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 79,700.

While driving under normal conditions at approximately 65 mph, the engine emitted a sudden “bang” and severe knock. Over the following week, the vehicle stalled several times. Inspection revealed one piston crown was chipped, which then scored the cylinder wall and caused an oil leak. No other pistons or bearings showed wear. This failure pattern is consistent with low?speed pre-ignition events documented in numerous online owner reports—many describing identical piston or rod breakage in 2013–2015 Veloster turbos under recall 19v204000, which addresses exactly this defect. The vehicle was partially disassembled for inspection, and Hyundai dealers have refused to perform the federally mandated recall 19v204000 remedy. Instead, they deceptively insist on treating this as a warranty work request—despite me having told them more than five times (on multiple recorded calls), in two portal updates, and via certified letters, that this is a safety recall issue, not a warranty claim. Their refusal has forced me to incur several thousand dollars worth of expenses and spend dozens of hours pursuing a remedy. Hyundai representatives have repeatedly argued that this engine malfunction may stem from previous accident damage. However, the vehicle’s only collisions occurred in June 2014, when it sustained moderate to severe front-end damage at approximately 1,000 miles and was subsequently repaired at a certified dealer, and in 2019, when it incurred rear-end damage under 30,000 miles. The piston-crown failure I experienced in 2024—at 90,000–95,000 miles—cannot be attributed to either of those incidents. Its nature and timing are fully consistent with low-speed pre-ignition, the exact defect addressed by recall 19v204000. An 11-page carfax report and full call?recordings are available upon request.

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.

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.

This car was recalled for a bad engine and because their computer would not throw off a code they refused to replace the bad engine. It has 60000 miles on it and has been well maintained. The rocker arms have gone bad and there are countless others who have the same issue that Hyundai refuses to address because now computer code was thrown off. They hide behind this to avoid replacing their bad engines.