Hyundai Veloster
Problems & Worst Years

Rod bearing failure shows up by name in both model years of Veloster data here, making it the closest thing to a signature issue this car has. In 2015, which logged 108 complaints across 9 problems with none rated safety-critical, rod bearing failure causing engine knocking and oil consumption leads at 22 reports, with stalling tied to the stop-start system (18 reports) and stalling during driving (15 reports) following close behind. Engine overheating paired with catalytic converter damage adds 13 more reports, and electrical failures affecting climate control and fuses contribute another 12. A recall, 20V746, applies to this model year.

The 2016 model year sees complaint volume rise to 135 total, spread across a notably wider 27 distinct problems, with 1 rated safety-critical. Engine stalling and loss of power leads at 17 reports, followed directly by engine connecting rod bearing failure (10 reports) — the same underlying concern as 2015's top complaint, just worded differently — and plain oil consumption (9 reports). Smaller complaints of engine noise and smoke (6 reports) and knocking specifically attributed to rod bearing wear (6 reports) close out the top five, reinforcing just how consistently this component shows up across the car's complaint history. The same 20V746 recall carries into this model year as well.

Between the two years, rod bearing wear, the knocking noise it produces, and the oil consumption that tends to accompany it form a throughline that's hard to miss, and it's worth asking directly whether a specific car has had this recall's repair work completed. Complaint volume for both years is modest compared to some other Hyundai models in this comparison, but modest totals don't necessarily mean a cleaner car — they may simply reflect the Veloster's lower overall sales volume. As always, these numbers reflect what owners chose to report to NHTSA rather than a measured failure rate, and a pre-purchase inspection that includes a careful listen for engine knock, along with a review of recall and service history, remains the most reliable way to judge any individual car.