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2016 Hyundai Veloster problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
80% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Hyundai Veloster are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 77%).
Does the 2016 Hyundai Veloster have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 170 of 213 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Veloster concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (80%), and the largest group is filed under engine (132). For comparison, the 2015 scores 67% and the 2017 scores 72%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Hyundai Veloster years
Of the 10 Hyundai Veloster years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (80%). The best is the 2021 (18%). By volume, the 2016 drew 222 complaints (170 drivetrain), against 137 for the 2015 and 50 for the 2017.
Hyundai Veloster years to avoid and best years →
2012 Veloster problems · 2013 Veloster problems · 2014 Veloster problems · 2015 Veloster problems · 2016 · 2017 Veloster problems · 2019 Veloster problems · 2020 Veloster problems · 2021 Veloster problems · 2022 Veloster problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Hyundai Veloster
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Hyundai Veloster said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 170 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Hyundai Veloster engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Hyundai Veloster involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
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…
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Hyundai Veloster? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Hyundai Veloster have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 170 of 213 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Veloster concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (80%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Veloster?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Hyundai Veloster is engine: 132 of 222 complaints (59%) name it, followed by power train (43) and fuel/propulsion system (20). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Hyundai Veloster reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 80% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Hyundai Veloster years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Hyundai Veloster?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Hyundai Veloster involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 1 in total: 20V746000 (engine). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Hyundai Veloster years are better?
Among the Hyundai Veloster years we track, the 2021 (18%), the 2022 (22%) and the 2012 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (80%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/hyundai-veloster
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.