When you’re in the market for a reliable hatchback, you can’t go wrong with a Hyundai Veloster. Its powerful engine, superb handling, and excellent performance make it a great pick. It also boasts user-friendly technology and an intuitive infotainment system, perfect for people looking for a dependable daily driver. The Veloster’s resale value is also good, only depreciating by 30% in five years, according to CarEdge.com.
Are Hyundai Velosters Reliable?
The Hyundai Veloster enjoys above-average reliability, with some of its model years scoring better than others. RepairPal gave it a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, ranking it 19th out of 36 for all car brands.
US News & World Report also ranked the 2021 Hyundai Veloster fifth out of the 12 vehicles in the compact cars market rated that year. With these figures, it’s apparent that the Hyundai Veloster can easily enjoy a long service life with proper handling and regular maintenance.
Top Hyundai Veloster Problems
Although the Hyundai Veloster is one dependable compact car, it has its fair share of problems. Here are the most commonly reported issues for different model years:
Transmission Problems
Transmission issues are among the most reported 2017 Hyundai Veloster problems. According to some owners, their car would work normally most days then malfunction the next.
Some say their Hyundai would go up to 5500 RPM but not accelerate, while others heard odd noises during start-up and when shutting down. Several drivers have also complained that their vehicle occasionally slips out of drive when it snows.
Malfunctioning Speakers
Many owners of the 2012 to 2016 Hyundai Veloster have had problems with their car’s speakers. This problem was reportedly most observed in Velosters with the optional navigation unit.
According to some owners, their speakers would suddenly stop playing randomly. Telephone calls and sounds from the CD players, radio, navigation, and satellite radio may suddenly cut off or not play at all.
In most cases, this issue is caused by a software glitch that can be fixed by a hard reset. To perform the hard reset, the owners of the affected units had to disconnect their vehicle’s negative battery terminal, wait 15 minutes, and reconnect the terminal.
However, the hard reset solution does not always work. Some owners complained that a hard reset did nothing but worsen the audio output coming from their speakers.
Engine Problems
According to owners of the 2016 Hyundai Veloster, problems with its engine are common for some units of this model year. Some of its reported issues include going into limp mode, hesitating at acceleration, and excessive oil consumption.
Several drivers have complained that their car goes into limp mode intermittently. Many owners reported a complete engine failure, while others noticed that their Veloster burned through around 2.5 quarts of oil per 2,000 miles. Some also observed that their vehicle felt like it was going to stall whenever they accelerated from a stopped position.
Loss of Power
Many owners of the 2015 Hyundai Veloster have complained about a loss of power, reporting that their cars would suddenly lose power without warning. In most cases, this lasts for approximately 10 seconds before their Veloster goes back to normal.
While most owners had no way of knowing when their vehicle was going to lose power, some noticed their check engine light flashing on and off before their vehicle shut off.
Several owners reported that replacing the engine helped solve the problem, but most of them never found a solution that worked.
Connecting Rod Failure
According to some owners of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster, problems with its connecting rod are common for this model year, resulting in expensive repairs.
The connecting rod reportedly stuck out of the engine block, resulting in heavy smoke and excessive shaking. In some cases, the failure of a connecting rod blew a hole in the bottom of the engine block. Replacing the entire engine should fix this problem. Because of the severity of this issue and the number of complaints, Hyundai has released a safety recall to address this problem. Check with your local dealer to make sure your Veloster’s connecting rod won’t fail without warning.
Bluetooth Connectivity and Syncing
Many owners of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster have complained about their vehicle’s intermittent Bluetooth connectivity and syncing issues. Some reported experiencing their entire entertainment system freezing because of a faulty Bluetooth connection.
Pinging Noise
Odd pinging noises are among the most reported 2012 Hyundai Veloster problems. Many drivers have reported hearing a pinging sound coming from their engine. For some, the noise was accompanied by smoke coming out of the exhaust. In some cases, the engine shook while emitting the odd noise before completely breaking down.
If you’re in the market for a Hyundai Veloster, be prepared to embrace the good and the potential bad. But don’t worry. As long as you know the issues that the specific model year you’re planning to get may have, buying it should come with little risk. Knowing what to watch out for will also help you avoid costly repairs through preventive maintenance, so you can maximize the service life of your compact car.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
