2021 Hyundai Veloster Problems And Complaints

2021 Hyundai Veloster User Complaints and Problems

The 2021 Veloster has come a long way in terms of build quality and customer satisfaction levels compared to the previous generations. The latest iteration of the Hyundai Veloster has considerably fewer complaints and grievances registered by the owners as per the NHTSA. Transmission problems, check engine lights randomly coming on and engine recalls have been common issues for the Hyundai Veloster in its preceding model years for which it has been heavily criticized and condemned by owners. The current fleet of cars seems to have a fully sorted drivetrain but the issues with the powertrain are still persistent.

Listed below are the most common problems of the Hyundai Veloster and their implications on the ownership experience.

Mechanical Complaints

•  Engine- The engine recall/reliability is one thing that held down the appeal of the Veloster and is one issue that plagued the 2015, 2016, and 2017 model years. Multiple instances of power loss and random engine stalls have been listed in forums which in some cases have resulted in minor accidents. Faulty oil rings on the pistons have been traced as a primary issue that is actively being fixed under a factory recall. Prematurely worn-out connecting rod bearings have also been said to damage the engines.
•  Transmission- Transmission problems/slip is yet another issue that multiple Veloster owners complained about in the past with the Veloster. The unit fails to engage a specific gear which leads to the engine over-revving as if it was slotted into neutral. A TCM software glitch was said to be the root cause and a software update released by the carmaker is said to have resolved the issue. Stuck shift lever and clunky shift sounds are also concerns raised by some owners.
• Service brakes- A potentially life-threatening issue that a select number of Veloster owners had to come across. The brake pedal suddenly loses feel and gets depressed more than usual with serious compromise in stopping force. Causes have been traced to leaking reservoirs to faulty ABS modules. No crashes or injuries have been recorded against this specific issue though.
• Steering issue- Steering issues on the Veloster are not as widespread as other faults but a couple of owners have complained about steering unexpectedly locking itself which has even led to a crash in one case.

Electric System Complaints

• A/C control buttons melting- Even though it is not as alarming as the rest of the troubles, owners have noticed the controls heads/ switches of the air-conditioning system melting which could result in a potential fire. No damage or injuries were reported in this case though.

Structural Complaints

• Driver side door latch- The external handle on the driver side door does not unlatch the door. This problem was noticed by multiple Veloster owners, especially in winter when the temperatures are low. Owners are forced to climb through the passenger side and unlock the doors from the inside.
• Shattered Sunroof- Not as common as the aforementioned door issue, but certainly not one that can be left unnoticed. Even though no injuries are said to have occurred, the shattering sunroof issue certainly affects the occupants and is said to have damaged the antenna, water seal, and paint on certain cars.

Safety Complaints

• Airbag issues- Some Velosters that have been involved in crashes have been scrutinized for airbags not deploying, especially at the passenger side. A faulty sensor situated inside the passenger side seat is said to be the reason for this issue. Multiple injuries have been tagged with this issue.
• Faulty blind-spot detection system- The blind-spot detection is said to be turning itself on unanimously without any approaching traffic in the car’s vicinity. Some owners complain of the system not working altogether, mostly so when the stock tires are replaced with aftermarket units.

As of now, the faulty blind-spot warning system in the advanced driver-assist suite has only been registered as the major complaint on the 2021 Hyundai Veloster apart from a single recorded frozen-steering issue. That said, we cannot rule out the possibility of engine issues as the previous model years, which share the same powertrain, are known for random stalling issues. 

Category	Number of complaints
Fuel and Propulsion System	15
Engine/ Powertrain	101
Safety	18
Service brakes	10
Electrical	2
Structural	11

2021 Hyundai Veloster Recalls

Even though the Hyundai Veloster is in no shortage of complaints, the recalls on this specific model by the carmaker have been surprisingly low. The final iteration of the regular Veloster, the 2021 model years has undergone only one recall as to this day. That said, we cannot rule out the possibility of something popping up in the near future, given the track record of the car so far. Listed below are all the recalls that have been started by the brand for the 3-door hatchback since 2015. 

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks
1.	28th April 2021	21V301000	Improperly heat-treated piston oil rings.	Engine oil may leak into the hot combustion chamber which may cause the engine to stall and even increase the risk of a potential fire.
2.	1st December 2020	20V746000	Engine damage may cause fire or stall	The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which over time can result in engine damage.
3.	17th April 2019	19V311000	Driver’s door may open during a side-impact crash	The driver's door latch housing and locking cable can become damaged, allowing the driver's side door to open.

Compared to competing cars like the 2021 Honda Civic hatchback, 2021 Toyota Corolla hatchback, and the 2021 Mini Cooper hardtop, the 2021 Hyundai Veloster is the only one with a registered recall as of now. That said, when you compile all records for the past five years, the Veloster does stand head and shoulders tall when it comes to boasting a cleaner complaint and recall record. This can be attributed to the lower sales volume compared to the competition, but then again proves how strong Hyundai has grown when it comes to build quality and reliability. Also, they are the only brand offering up to a 10-year powertrain warranty on their products.

Component Affected	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
Safety	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Exterior	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
Electric	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Interior	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Drive System	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine	1	1	1	0	0	1	1

Which Hyundai Veloster model year should you avoid?

A 2017 or newer model will be your best bet when getting a Hyundai Veloster. The 2016 is what we would categorize as the worst model year with more than 125 complaints registered while the 2015 model follows close by with over 65 complaints. Even though the newer model years do come with their own set of drawbacks, it shouldn’t be as intrusive as it was with the previous iterations when it comes to ownership experiences. Also, since the recalls have rolled out in the previous years, it would be safe to assume that majority of the faults with older batches would have been resolved or would be easy to trace on cars with proper service records.

Should you buy a used Hyundai Veloster?

You can’t deny the fact that the Veloster was and is one of the coolest offerings from the house of Hyundai and certainly has got what it takes to stand out of the crowd. Hyundai has also made sure that they haven’t skimp out on equipment, staying true to their ethos and making it more desirable than competitors to a prospective buyer. If you are out probing for a fun driving city car, that’s both easy to live with and not so hard on your pockets, the Hyundai Veloster certainly deserves a look at. That said, some model years are to be skipped and the rules here are simple, the newer iteration is, the better the ownership gets. Also, with complaint and recall instances similar or comparable to the best-in-class competitors, this little hatch has gotten more desirable than ever.