2015 Hyundai Veloster: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
136 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2012 and 2013 Hyundai Veloster, which have 295 and 421 complaints and scores of 43 and 39, and treat the 2016 car (221 complaints, score 54) with caution. Buy a 2014 or 2015 car, which score 86 and 76, or a 2017, 2019 or 2020 car, scoring 94, 91 and 94 on small counts. Read the full note on the model page. 2015 specifically: a year the record favours — 136 complaints, score 76/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Kia Forte and Hyundai Veloster: the years to avoid, including 2015 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 136 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 12.36
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The climate control fan knob suddenly stopped working. I smelled a burning smell on the interior of the car. I pulled the panel off and noticed that the plug to the climate control harness was burnt. I can no longer utilize the climate control system.
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 fi…
The contact owns a 2015 Hyundai Veloster. The contact reported that oil was leaking out of the exhaust. The vehicle was sputtering and running rough while driving at various speeds, and hesitated while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The dealer informed the contact that metal shavings were found in the oil pan d…
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 20V746000 | Engine | 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. |
| 23V651000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 30 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,050
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine76 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System25 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other21 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train18 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Service Brakes11 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Fuel/Propulsion System6 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Hyundai Veloster years
Hyundai Veloster years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Hyundai Veloster?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (76 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2015 Hyundai Veloster a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 76/100, computed from 136 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2015 Hyundai Veloster's most common problem?
76 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2015 Hyundai Veloster sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2015 Hyundai Veloster cost to run per year?
About $4,494 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,472 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2015 Hyundai Veloster have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2015 Hyundai Veloster, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/12/2020. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2015 Hyundai Veloster really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 136 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 136 NHTSA complaints on record (12.4/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (9.8/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems