2019 Hyundai Veloster: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
42 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. 2019 specifically: a year the record favours — 42 complaints, score 91/100. 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 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 42 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 6.0
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 2019 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH with his two-year-old daughter in the vehicle, the automatic emergency braking system erroneously engaged and caused the vehicle to come to a stop, which almost caused a crash. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, and the message "Collision Avoidance - Stop" was displayed while there was no obstacle or vehicle in f…
I started to hear a grinding sound when breaking and I took it into a Meineke dealer to see about getting it fixed. During a general diagnostic they discovered that 3 of the four brakes were not working and the calipers needed replaced. I was told this was due to a manufacturer issue and that there will be a recall on these parts soon but no ETA. They informed me that they have seen this similar issue on many 2019 Hy…
Engine locked on me during driving almost caused a car rear ending me during rush hour. Called AAA and they printed out a recall form for over heated piston that may cause engine damage. Towed to Tito Auto care and then printed out the same information for recall details NHTSA Campaign Number 21V301000. Advised me to take to Hyundai dealership to repair for free. Hyundai states the vendor number is not pulling up…
Recalls: 2 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 19V311000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019 Veloster vehicles. In certain side impact crashes, the driver's door latch housing and locking cable can become damaged, allowing the driver's side door to open. |
| 21V301000 | Engine | Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could 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 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.
- Engine18 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Structure8 complaints · typical job: Body, subframe or corrosion repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,070–$2,920
- Unknown Or Other7 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System6 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Engine And Engine Cooling3 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
- Vehicle Speed Control3 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
Other Hyundai Veloster years
Hyundai Veloster years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Hyundai Veloster?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (18 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Hyundai Veloster a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 91/100, computed from 42 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Hyundai Veloster's most common problem?
18 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 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 2019 Hyundai Veloster cost to run per year?
About $3,814 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $19,070 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 2019 Hyundai Veloster have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Hyundai Veloster, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 17/04/2019. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2019 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.
Thin evidence — 42 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 42 NHTSA complaints on record (6.0/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (9.8/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality