2015 Hyundai Veloster Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine problems: knocking noises, oil consumption or leaks, loss of power and stalls, with several complaints mentioning engine replacement. A second cluster covers the dual-clutch automatic transmission, where owners report delayed engagement, slipping out of gear and hesitation from a stop. Smaller groups of complaints involve a melting HVAC fan control connector, a shattering panoramic sunroof, and ABS or brake complaints.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, oil loss and stalling (rod bearing)

   • 66 complaints (48%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,350 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe a knocking or ticking sound from the engine, sometimes with a flashing check engine light, followed by loss of power or a stall. Several owners report oil consumption or leaks and metal debris found in the oil pan, and dealers in many cases diagnosed worn connecting rod bearings and recommended an engine replacement. Some owners say the repair was declined or attributed to sludge or maintenance, and a number mention recall 20V746000 was not applied to their vehicle. Spread from very low mileage up to roughly 190,000 miles, with most reports between about 50,000 and 135,000 miles, often at highway speed.

   Recall 20V7460004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell, listen for a knock at cold start and on revving, and ask whether the engine bearing inspection (DTC P1326) or knock sensor software work was done. Confirm whether recall 20V746000 was completed for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had problems with my engine. Found out the rod bearing was gone. Call Hyundai and power train warranty expire weeks before it happened. Had to swap engines on the car because it was bad. Always had problems with the engine burning oil really bad. I also had problems with the transmission gears dropping out of no were. Last time it happened when I when to make a right turn and shift it into 2nd gear and when it shift to 3rd it drop to 1. Thankfully there wasn't any other car behind me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11378128, filed 2020-12, 89,000 miles

   “I bought this vehicle from a used car lot in February 2023, not 2022, and drove it under 3k miles; when I took it, it had 86k miles, and the check engine light came on. I took it to FRANK HYUNDAI, where, to this day, have not been able to help me; all this time, I, the consumer, had to chase down the repair guy assigned to my car and, only to be vaguely told it was sludge and metal shedding. It might be my misuse or neglect when I had driven the damn thing before even recommended servicing or an oil change was needed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11555384, filed 2023-11
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission hesitation, delayed or slipping shifts

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the dual-clutch automatic failing to engage drive or reverse from a stop, hesitating when pulling away or on an incline, and slipping out of gear while accelerating so the engine revs without the car moving. Some say restarting the car restores normal operation. Dealers reportedly could not duplicate the fault, updated software or replaced a shift actuator, and in some cases the problem returned. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 80,000 miles, including some very early reports under 10,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Drive the car from a cold start and try repeated low-speed starts, reverse and a gentle hill start, watching for hesitation, revving without movement or delayed engagement. Ask whether any transmission software update or clutch/actuator work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dual clutch transmission failing. Intermittently boot ot engaging into r or d gear and slips out of gear while driving on street or highway. I've done research and it appears this is a very common concern from a high number of Hyundai Veloster owners. I concider it dangerous as how it happened to me while driving trying to accelerate, gear slipped out and vehicle only reved high and no acceleration. Luckily no fast traffic was behind me. This could have been worst. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11161039, filed 2018-12, 50,000 miles

   “The automatic transmission fails to shift. The RPM's will increase but the speed will not. The transmission will not re-engage until the vehicle is turned off and restarted. This happens when the vehicle is in motion and accelerating, usually while I am on and incline and after the trasmission has been through frequent shifts at high RPM's. I have video but it is too large to upload. The problem can be viewed on youtube with a vehicle experiencing the identical problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11079959, filed 2018-03, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Melted HVAC fan control and wiring connector

   • 17 complaints (12%)
   • median 81,298 mi at 5.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe the blower fan speed knob or switch working intermittently and then stopping, with the fan only working on one setting. On inspection, owners and mechanics found melted connectors and wiring at the fan control or behind the dash panel. Some also report fuses blowing when accessories are plugged in, and a few describe a burnt smell or smoke from the dash area. Mostly reported between about 49,000 and 105,000 miles, several after a few years of ownership.

   What to check: Run the blower through every speed setting and check for a burnt smell or a knob that feels loose or spins freely. Ask whether the fan control assembly, connector or harness has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Approximately 1 year after purchasing my vehicle (roughly 2017) while driving on the highway my fan control knob started spinning freely, it still worked but concerned I called my dealership who all but dismissed the complaint. A few months later the knob started working intermittently and would on occasion cut off the fan if I were to hit a bump. By the end of 2019 the knob had completely stopped working. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396575, filed 2021-02, 49,000 miles

   “The A/C knob, when air conditioning is turned on, lights up. This light burns up the inside of the knob and causes the connections to burn out which makes it impossible to change the air speed settings. Currently mine must sit at 3 or it doesnt work at all. I also have an issue with the head unit which blacked out and stopped working out of nowhere.”

   NHTSA complaint #11354640, filed 2020-09, 87,596 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Panoramic sunroof shattering

   • 6 complaints (4%)
   • median 32,707 mi at 5.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2021

   Owners report the panoramic sunroof glass breaking suddenly with a loud pop or bang and glass falling into the cabin, sometimes while driving at highway speed and in one case while the car was parked and running. Complaints describe glass on occupants and seats, and dealers were in some cases unable to determine a cause; one vehicle was repaired under the report. Reported from about 2,500 miles up to roughly 78,000 miles, at both low and highway speeds.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass and frame for chips, cracks or previous replacement, and ask whether the panel has ever been replaced or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Traveling from little rock arkansas to branson missouri my panoramic sun roof exploded out of nowhere on the inner state. Scared me and my family to death no reason for the breakage that I can see notice that there was a class action against this model and brand but I am outside the deadline my vehicle is a 2015 Veloster”

   NHTSA complaint #11394939, filed 2021-02, 78,000 miles

   “While driving with my sunroof closed, I started hearing a strange popping, cracking noise. A few seconds later, there was a loud boom noise followed being showered by broken glass shards. My sunroof exploded, out of the blue. No collision, impact, or fast speeds. It was there one minute and gone the next.”

   NHTSA complaint #11169877, filed 2019-01, 64,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   ABS and brake noise or dragging

   • 7 complaints (5%)
   • median 12,500 mi at 5.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Complaints describe squealing or whining brakes, premature pad wear, the brake pedal feeling stuck, and the ABS seeming to engage or the brakes dragging at low speed. Some owners say the noise returned after pad replacement, and one report notes a wheel speed sensor code alongside the brake behavior. Mostly reported under about 35,000 miles, including one car with very low mileage.

   Recall 23V651000

   What to check: Listen for squeal or grinding on a test drive, check pad thickness, and ask whether the ABS module recall 23V651000 has been completed and whether any wheel speed sensor codes have been stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This has happened on 4 different occasions. I'm on the highway and my speedometer slams to zero and everything involving the brakes lights up in my dash. The car continues to drive but it's pretty worrisome as I drive 70mph around alot of traffic. I have been able to pull over every time but it's still beyond unacceptable. I've had my Veloster a little under a year and I don't know if the other recall involving the motor being replaced was taken care of. It was a recall associated with my VIN. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11587568, filed 2024-05

   “Over the past 2 months squealing noises have become ver noticeable on the brakes. Supposedly it is moisture, but it should not happened when it is 98 degrees fahrenheit. I went to a local well known mechanic shop and replaced the brakes thinking it was the brake pads but it wasn't. The noise once again showed up. Another issue, the AC goes on and off intermittently while on the road.”

   NHTSA complaint #11353112, filed 2020-09, 56,690 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the engine, including oil level, oil consumption history and any knock, plus a transmission test from a cold start, since those two areas account for most of the complaints here. Ask for records showing whether the engine recall and any software updates were completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.