2013 HYUNDAI VELOSTER Recalls, Complaints & Safety

As my [XXX] son was driving, his car, out of nowhere, stopped working and the steering wheel became incredibly hard to turn. It put him and other vehicles around him at risk as he was doing 50mph and his car suddenly stalled. No warning. No dash lights. It was hard for him to pull over to safety. We replaced the battery and tried to restart the car, then the engine started smoking. We immediately called for a tow. Our local shop said his engine seized. We then towed it to Hyundai and they confirmed the same thing, "it definitely locked right up." The car has been well taken care of, no warning signs prior to engine failure, no warning lights, etc. His car is also under 100k miles. There is literally no reason for an engine failure. In 2019 there was a NHTSA Recall 19V204, Hyundai Recall #182 ECU Software update; this was supposed to fix the issue but here we are... the engine STILL BLEW. Hyundai is refusing to help. They won't do anything. There's known issues with Hyundai's 1.6 GDI turbo engine. They should be held responsible. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am writing regarding a serious safety issue with my 2013 Hyundai Veloster, purchased new. Over the life of the vehicle, I have replaced the manual AC/heat control head three times due to repeated failure. During the most recent installation, I left the trim panel off to monitor the wiring harness and found it becomes extremely hot while operating. A local repair technician examined it and immediately advised me not to use the heating system due to potential fire risk. Research specific to my vehicle shows documented issues including blower control overheating, burning smell/smoke, burned internal contacts, wiring harness heat damage, and repeat control failure. These match exactly what is occurring with my car. I previously spoke with my dealership’s parts department and was told there may be known concerns involving the wiring harness and blower resistor. I also contacted Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs but did not receive assistance. After inspection, the dealership informed me the wiring harness and resistor must be replaced at a cost of approximately $2,450. Given the repeated failures and overheating electrical components, I do not believe I should be responsible for this expense, especially considering the potential safety hazard. The vehicle has been carefully maintained, stored properly, and rarely driven in winter. I had planned to use it for travel after retirement but now feel unsafe operating it. I respectfully request a formal safety review and goodwill repair assistance, as this appears to be a defect rather than normal wear. I am also filing a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration due to the documented fire risk. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. I am respectfully requesting: A formal safety review of this issue. Goodwill repair assistance or full coverage of the repair costs. Clarification as to whether this issue has been evaluated for recall consideration. [XXX] , [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

"CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE & INEFFECTIVE RECALL REMEDY (NHTSA 19V-204): While traveling at highway speeds, with my two children and boyfriend, the vehicle went completely black. Car loss complete power, going into a limp mode( 'Loss of Motive Power') The Check Engine Light began flashing before going solid. When I was able to pull to the shoulder, I tried to start the car and noticed the radio screen was black and stayed black(before this time, the screen would some times go blank or completely black and then turn back on). Car would start and shake really hard with noise coming from engine, and then car would die. Since then I have been going back and forth with Hyundai Motors and Hyundai dealer, telling them that this is not a warranty issue, but a safety issue and they both have ignored and didn't enology this at all. This happened October 4th, 2025 Recall of 182 was completed but it failed. The vehicle is at the Dalton Hyundai dealer in Nation City. Dealer confirmed zero compression in engine and want $5000 to tare engine to see if it would be under warranty but I keep telling them this is a safety issue that is still accruing and under the 573 Recall/19v-204 I tried to get help throw the BBB and got denied because of age and being the second owner and they told me to contact NHTSA I am a single mother of two young kids, I bought car on 01/26/25 and still owe money on car. Since 10/4/25 I have had to pay out of pocket for a car rental just get to work. My car is up for repo due to me not able to pay for a rental and my monthly car payment. I am lost and don't know what else I can do to get this matter seen. When buying this car the sale person said it is a good car, it will save money on gas, and it has been a nightmare.

2013 Hyundai Veloster 2013 turbo had 69000 miles when the engine stalled on the highway and promptly slowed to 40 mph. Midas stated engine blew due to a recall so I had it towed to the closest dealership in Oct 2022. They denied the repair and sent it to corporate for authorization and it was denied. Dealership attempted to charge 150 for checking the recall. They then told me to talk to Corporate hyundai. I have went back and forth with them trying to get an explanation for the denial to fix the recall. They wouldn't send the explanation. I refiled the claim again sending them recall laws as well. Recently I received a call from the dealership stating they had the car towed and destroyed. Help

Electrical wiring harness and connector melting and blower transistor overheating with know Hyundai internal documentation, all causing a smoke smell and fire hazard. I'm on my 3rd manual Heater / HVAC Control Unit. Fire risk acknowledged by Hyundai dealership and customer affairs. Forced to pay diagnostics fees despite know safety issues, Cost for repairs out the door around 2,450 out the door. Car sitting at the Hyundai dealership waiting for me to repair or not. I cant be driving a fire hazard vehical.

Purchased car from Premier Auto in Kansas City, KS in January of 2023. The car had 70,000 miles on it. In July of 2023 I was driving on a 4 lane HWY with a speedlimit of 65. The car suddenly jerked to and slowed to 35 MPH. The car behind me nearly hit me. I had it towed to Midas to have it checked out. They informed me the engine had failed and it was because of a manufacturer recall. I then had it towed to a Hyundai dealership in October 2023. They stated to me that it was engine failure due to a recall but they would not fix it. They stated not under recall. The dealership then sent me a notice saying that I owed them 150 dollars and they would keep the car. I filed a claim with Hyundai corporate and they denied repairs stating not under warranty. I appealed that which was a denied response with the reason as not under warranty. I then filed a claim with BBB warranty department and their response was "we only assist with new car warranty issues. I then filed another claim with Hyundai corporate and the dealership and both denied it because of the warrant expiration. While that was happening I lost my spouse of 23 years. The car has been at the dealership for 2.5 years now and I continue to submit requests that are continuously denied.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the highest dial setting of the A/C unit had failed to operate as needed. Upon repairing the dial setting on his own, the contact discovered that the dial had burned out. The contact stated that after the repair, the failure recurred nearly a week later. The contact discovered that the dial had burned out again. The dealer was notified of the failure, and the contact was given an estimate for a diagnostic test. The contact stated that failure had caused the defrost system to function poorly, which reduced the road's visibility while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle stopped and failed to accelerate. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer informed the contact that there was no special warranty coverage on the vehicle for the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

On or about May 1, 2025, I was operating my 2013 Hyundai Veloster when flames were observed emanating from under the hood. I immediately pulled into the median and, upon opening the hood, observed an active fire beneath the plastic engine cover. I contacted 911. Before the fire department arrived, a passerby extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher. Firefighters from a nearby station arrived shortly thereafter and fully doused the engine compartment. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a Hyundai dealership. At that time, I was aware of an active recall related to potential brake line issues that could result in an engine compartment fire. After the vehicle remained at the dealership for an extended period, I was informed that Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) would send an inspector. Approximately 30 days later, I was contacted by HMA’s corporate office and asked to provide documentation, including a copy of the title and insurance information. During this call, I was advised that while repair or replacement of the vehicle was unlikely, HMA would “make me whole.” Shortly thereafter, I received written correspondence from HMA stating that, following its review of the inspection results, documents, and other information, no product defect was identified as the cause of the incident. The letter concluded that HMA would not accept responsibility and denied my request for assistance or compensation.

Fire

On or about May 1, 2025, I was operating my 2013 Hyundai Veloster when flames were observed emanating from under the hood. I immediately pulled into the median and, upon opening the hood, observed an active fire beneath the plastic engine cover. I contacted 911. Before the fire department arrived, a passerby extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher. Firefighters from a nearby station arrived shortly thereafter and fully doused the engine compartment. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a Hyundai dealership. At that time, I was aware of an active recall related to potential brake line issues that could result in an engine compartment fire. After the vehicle remained at the dealership for an extended period, I was informed that Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) would send an inspector. Approximately 30 days later, I was contacted by HMA’s corporate office and asked to provide documentation, including a copy of the title and insurance information. During this call, I was advised that while repair or replacement of the vehicle was unlikely, HMA would “make me whole.” Shortly thereafter, I received written correspondence from HMA stating that, following its review of the inspection results, documents, and other information, no product defect was identified as the cause of the incident. The letter concluded that HMA would not accept responsibility and denied my request for assistance or compensation.

Fire

On or about May 1, 2025, I was operating my 2013 Hyundai Veloster when flames were observed emanating from under the hood. I immediately pulled into the median and, upon opening the hood, observed an active fire beneath the plastic engine cover. I contacted 911. Before the fire department arrived, a passerby extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher. Firefighters from a nearby station arrived shortly thereafter and fully doused the engine compartment. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a Hyundai dealership. At that time, I was aware of an active recall related to potential brake line issues that could result in an engine compartment fire. After the vehicle remained at the dealership for an extended period, I was informed that Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) would send an inspector. Approximately 30 days later, I was contacted by HMA’s corporate office and asked to provide documentation, including a copy of the title and insurance information. During this call, I was advised that while repair or replacement of the vehicle was unlikely, HMA would “make me whole.” Shortly thereafter, I received written correspondence from HMA stating that, following its review of the inspection results, documents, and other information, no product defect was identified as the cause of the incident. The letter concluded that HMA would not accept responsibility and denied my request for assistance or compensation.

Fire

Smoke, burning smell came from ac control unit. Ac wiring unit, knob completely burned/melted. Reported to Hyundai local and corporate office no resolution other then I just have to replace the unit. Please note this happened in 2022 (40,000 miles today vehicle had 58,000miles) and I paid in full for the replacement the 1st time.

Fire

While driving under normal conditions at approximately 65 mph, the engine emitted a sudden “bang” and severe knock. Over the following week, the vehicle stalled several times. Inspection revealed one piston crown was chipped, which then scored the cylinder wall and caused an oil leak. No other pistons or bearings showed wear. This failure pattern is consistent with low‐speed pre-ignition events documented in numerous online owner reports—many describing identical piston or rod breakage in 2013–2015 Veloster Turbos under Recall 19V204000, which addresses exactly this defect. The vehicle was partially disassembled for inspection, and Hyundai dealers have refused to perform the federally mandated Recall 19V204000 remedy. Instead, they deceptively insist on treating this as a warranty work request—despite me having told them more than five times (on multiple recorded calls), in two portal updates, and via certified letters, that this is a safety recall issue, not a warranty claim. Their refusal has forced me to incur several thousand dollars worth of expenses and spend dozens of hours pursuing a remedy. Hyundai representatives have repeatedly argued that this engine malfunction may stem from previous accident damage. However, the vehicle’s only collisions occurred in June 2014, when it sustained moderate to severe front-end damage at approximately 1,000 miles and was subsequently repaired at a certified dealer, and in 2019, when it incurred rear-end damage under 30,000 miles. The piston-crown failure I experienced in 2024—at 90,000–95,000 miles—cannot be attributed to either of those incidents. Its nature and timing are fully consistent with low-speed pre-ignition, the exact defect addressed by Recall 19V204000. An 11-page CARFAX report and full call‐recordings are available upon request.

Vehicle Info: 2013 Hyundai Veloster VIN: [XXX] Odometer: 75,000 miles Problem Description: My check engine light began flashing and the vehicle entered limp mode. Diagnostic codes showed P1326 and U1103, which are linked to a known Theta II engine defect involving rod bearing failure. Hyundai issued a 15-year / 150,000-mile warranty extension and settled a class-action lawsuit to cover these failures. However, my request for coverage was denied due to “time in service” despite being well below the mileage limit (only 75k miles). This is a serious safety concern that may result in sudden engine failure. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate Hyundai's denial and handling of such cases INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My 2013 Hyundai Veloster (VIN: [XXX] ) has the known P1326 fault related to the Theta II engine defect. Despite a rod bearing test that passed, the engine now requires replacement, confirmed by the dealer, who quoted me $8,494. Hyundai refuses to assist, even though I am under the 150,000-mile extended warranty. This is a safety risk and fits the class-action defect criteria. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

See attached document for complaint.

The knob for the A/C can not handle the amperage when in the 4 position, it gets too hot, melts, and shuts off the system. It is available for inspection. Hyundai is acutely aware of this problem and recalled it in other years, the same as their junk engines, but once again the owners of the 2013 are left out in the dark. This is a fire hazard that the manufacturer is trying to sweep under the rug, there are service bulletins out on it for other years.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the braking system malfunctioned, and the brake pedal extended to the floorboard while being depressed. The contact stated that upon inspection, it was discovered that brake fluid was leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); which was linked to the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 73,000.

See attached document for complaint.

I was driving my vehicle and it began severely misfiring and stalled on me. I took it to the dealer and found there was damage to cylinder number 2 engine balance. After research I found there are many claims and complaints due to this type of issue. The likely cause is preignition caused by what Hyundai calls bad software. I recently purchase the vehicle and they say it was updated in July of 2024 and will not repair my vehicle as they say because of its age and mileage. That being said I’m at 120k mileage and work in the auto industry…. They is nothing that could cause valve burn outside of the known ignition issue with these cars. I have no problem paying for repairs due to my cause issues or normal wear and tear but a melted valve is caused by the know issues on these cars. I am looking for help working with Hyundai to get this issue fixed.

Car started smoking on cabin while driving. Risk of hazard dueto bad A/C control switch. Wiring harness and plug melted too. Several Hyundai Veloster are suffering same issue. Started to think blower wiring is to small for load too. Pleaae see attached pictures. Time and miles provided is an approximate. Do not remember when exactly happened but was reported previously. In the pictures you are going to be able to see the faulty part P/N for your review.

Fire

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle started to shake. The contact stated that after shifting into gear the vehicle became difficult to drive. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed with a passenger’s air bag fault. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000.

The air conditioner knob doesn't work when I put it at 4. Took it apart and the wires are burn including the pigtail that holds the wires into the knob.

On October 17, 2024, owner was leaving Denver, CO on the highway and had to stop for traffic and vehicle wouldn't move. Was in drive but vehicle would not drive and pulled to side of road. Had insurance tow to nearest Hyundai dealership. Check engine light was on and dealership checked vehicle and needed to have the crankshaft position sensor replaced. Fixed the problem thank God and I was on my road shortly there after. My Veloster is 2013 with 47,000 miles at time of incident.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal clicking sound emanating from the front of the vehicle, after which she became aware that there was excessive left and right play in the steering wheel. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 67,000.

The contact's god-daughter owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the ABS warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000(Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle at the residence, the contact noticed that the ABS fuse was blown. The contact replaced the ABS fuse; however, the ABS motor made an abnormal whining and humming sound. The ABS motor then blew up and caught on fire. The contact stated that he was able to extinguish the 12 inch high flames with a bottle of water. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the ABS unit and the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the recall remedy failed to fix the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, the manufacturer later sent a letter to the contact advising that the claim was denied. The failure mileage was approximately 87,700.

Fire

A connecting rod bearing failed in the engine leading to catastrophic engine failure with the connecting rod breaking through the wall of the engine block causing a hole and undriveable vehicle. According to my research, this issue has been recalled in adjacent model years (2015-2016) but not in my model year (2013) that has the same engine. This issue has already been confirmed in these engines, but Hyundai states my car is not included in the recall. This was a safety risk because the engine failure breached the engine wall which could have ignited engine oil and caused a fire. The engine may have also failed at a critical driving moment when acceleration was needed and stranded the car in an unsafe position. Yes, the problem was reproduced at the dealer's service center because the failure occurred while they were test driving my vehicle. Since the service center tech was the one driving the car when the incident occured, I do not know if there was a fire or not and the speed they were traveling, etc. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer service center and confirmed that this is the issue that caused the problem. The dealer even suspected this was going to happen as they had foreknowledge of the issue occurring on other vehicles that had already been recalled for this issue. The only prior warning of this issue is that I had some misfires on the engine a few days before which is what prompted me to bring it in for service. The misfires temporarily illuminated the "check engine" light but then the light went back out again. I had no idea this minor issue would result in such a severe, catastrophic failure.

On going issue since 2016 with the failure of the rubber coupling in the motor driven power steering (MDPS) assembly. Loose steering, knocking noise, worsening overtime. Known issue with the Hyundai Elantra and recall issued for the same part and issue on the Elantra. But not for the Veloster, service department acknowledged identical part usage in Veloster and MDPS assembly is failing in the Veloster with same safety issues. But since no recall have been issued full cost of replacement passed to consumer. $5 dollar rubber coupler, +$500 labor.

One night I was driving on the highway and my check engine light came on. At first I thought it was weird because I had just gotten the car from a dealership three weeks prior. I pulled into a gas station and checked my oil which was low so I added some oil that I had bought. As I was driving home the car suddenly developed a tick and started to lose power. The turbo stopped working. I was pretty concerned about this so the next morning I decided to top off the oil and I decided to take the car into a shop. The first shop heard the engine knock and told me that my crankshaft might be going bad but I wanted a second opinion so I took it to a trusted shop who heard the engine knock and told me the engine would need to be replaced. I called the warranty company and they inspected it at the shop and said the engine would need to be torn down for diagnosis. I had to agree to pay for the shop to tear down the engine if it would not be covered. The shop found metal shavings in the oil pan. Once the engine was apart, they said that the rod bearing was bad. The car and engine are available for inspection.

Car hit 100k miles engine is knocking and mechanic says engine is blown. Researched the issue and found many other people having same issue. Hyundai issued a recall for this year's veloster but is saying my car does not fall under the category even though it is one of the issued problems with vehicle

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact then received a second recall notice that stated that parts for the recall repair were available. The local dealer was contacted about the recall and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change and the recall repair; however, the contact was later informed that the dealer was out parts for the recall repair and was not able to service the recall. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact scheduled and confirmed an appointment and upon arriving, was informed that the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The HVAC control knob overheated and burned out in my car. It scorched/charred and melted the plastic switch it was plugged into in the dash. It caused a strong burnt plastic, Smokey smell inside the car while I was driving. I thought the car was on fire at first. Thank goodness it wasn’t but it really could have started a fire in the dash of the car under the right conditions. I’ve read numerous accounts online of this same exact issue on this year/model, but no action has been taken by Hyundai to rectify this dangerous design flaw. I’ve also read that it can and usually happens again to the replacement control knob and plug. It’s absolute insanity to replace it with the exact same part knowing full well that it’s most likely going to do the same exact thing again. What if it does cause a fire in the dash the next time while I’m driving? It could possibly severely injure or kill me and any passenger in the car in addition to putting other drivers at risk from a mobile flaming inferno.

Vehicle is burning through oil without having oil light engaged. Vehicle is going through two quart + of oil every 3 weeks. Just added 2 quarts of oil 3 weeks ago when the car would not accelerate past 5mph and rough idled (this turned out to be caused by a different issue still being diagnosed), I added the oil as dip stick showed no oil on the stick. Light did not come on. Took to independent mechanic this week who stated I had no oil in the vehicle. Can not go 3 month/3000 miles for an oil change or the engine would be damaged. Have taken the vehicle several times to Valvoline who indicate no oil with no oil pressure light on, each time. This has been constant for 2 years. Each mechanic shop states the GDI engines are burning through oil. No oil leaks have been detected. This issue could result in serious engine damage.

First the turbo stopped working n smoking. Took it to the dealer n they had it for a month.. Get it back one day later had to have it towed . Vehicle was there for another 2 weeks got it back and it started to smoke. I pressed on the gas pedal n the car wouldn’t move! The first time the turbo was supposed to be replaced I believe ever since it was sent there to be replaced it was never the same. I still have the car and it will not start. The turbo n engine are filled with oils .

Abs component and or fuse is causing pre ignition in the motor thus causing abnormal rpm’s when idling or driving thus further causing damage to the vehicle itself

The Plug that connects to the AC control Unit is burned and damaged. In fact, When I replaced it its smells like smoke. It is the third time since 2018 that I changed the unit. I decided to officially make a complaint because I saw that this vehicles and exact models from 2014-2016 where included but My year not ( 2013). I called the Hyundai and they told me that I needed to buy the unit and go fix it in a dealer. I found it unfair because is a defect of the car not something People can make to the car. The campaing nunber is: 16-01-070 from december 2016 ( and my car where not included) The problem is not the unit is the plug that cames from the car that connects to the unit that melts and gets burned.( but the unit is damaged due to this)

The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming 3 quarts of oil every 3,500 miles. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound and pulled to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon inspecting the engine oil level, there was no oil on the dipstick. The contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light failed to illuminate. The contact then pulled into the nearest gas station, where oil was added to the engine. The contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light had failed to illuminate while the engine oil level was low on several occasions. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the low oil pressure warning was designed to illuminate when the oil level was 2 quarts low; however, the contact stated that the warning light had failed to illuminate. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for an oil consumption test. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.