2016 Hyundai Veloster: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
221 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 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. 2016 specifically: 221 complaints on record, score 54/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Kia Forte and Hyundai Veloster: the years to avoid, including 2016 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 221 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 22.1
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that gas fumes were entering inside the vehicle and exhaust fumes were present while driving the vehicle and while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic on several occasions and to several dealers; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The master cylinder was replaced, and the high-pressure fuel pump wa…
I was driving down the highway when I lost all power to my engine and had to coast off and exit. Prior to the incident there was no indication of a problem. White smoke began coming out of my exhaust. I brought the car to a dealership and they told me that I would need a timing job and a new turbo. They said that my car was starved for oil, regular maintenance had been kept up with on the vehicle.
I was driving on the highway when suddenly the car lost power and the engine light started flashing. I was able to coast into a gas station. The car would no longer start and I was stranded. The next day, we drove back to where the car was stranded and attempted to get it started again, but we were unsuccessful. We had the car towed to a mechanic shop where we were told that the entire engine was blown and needed…
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| 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. |
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 31 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,000
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.
- Engine132 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train43 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Unknown Or Other32 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Fuel/Propulsion System20 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Electrical System16 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Air Bags11 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Hyundai Veloster years
Hyundai Veloster years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Veloster?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (132 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2016 Hyundai Veloster a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 54/100, computed from 221 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2016 Hyundai Veloster's most common problem?
132 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2016 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 2016 Hyundai Veloster cost to run per year?
About $4,489 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,448 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 2016 Hyundai Veloster have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2016 Hyundai Veloster, 0 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 2016 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.
Strong evidence — 221 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 221 NHTSA complaints on record (22.1/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (9.8/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems