AI Damage2020 Hyundai Veloster: common problems
Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Veloster filed 25 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 82 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 25
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 82
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 40% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 8% of all complaints
- 6 Wheels 4% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 4% of all complaints
- 8 Forward collision avoidance 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 10 complaints (40% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (12% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 40.
- Steering: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Structure: 2 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 25 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 0 | 3 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 40 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 20 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
No check engine light or oil pressure light appeared before the original catastrophic failure. Technician report confirmed there was no oil sludge sticking the valve. About 2 weeks ago I had received a P0016 and eventually a P0171 code.
The vehicle began repeatedly stalling and shutting off while I was driving and while stopped in traffic. The vehicle is now no longer able to start and run and will need to be towed to a Hyundai dealer. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
This puts me and others at risk of fire, explosion and toxic exposure. This problem has been reproduced. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer. A check engine light came on for a evap sensor but the next day it was gone.
Glass roof spontaneously shattered. Car was sitting in direct California sun. Nothing touched the roof but heat, the entire panel shattered and the car is undriveable.Thankfully my car was unoccupied at the time.
I have a 2020 Hyundai veloster 2.0L and their is a knocking noise coming for the engine for the piston haven’t been properly heated right and when I search the vin up on here it come up as a different car in the picture
ON 2/14/2024, my car started not to accelerate after the Crash Collision light came on. My car pulled off like it was a snail but picked up speed after I drove a bit.
While driving my steering wheel will lock up and I’ll get an error message for lane keep assist on the dash. I never use lane keep assist so even when it’s off it does this. I have to keep turning my car off and back on for my steering wheel to unlock and the error will disappear.
The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact's son pulled over and restarted the vehicle.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,162 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 45% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Veloster has 50 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 25, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather
This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
- A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided
Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Please see attached for details. Impacted vehicles are also noted below. For further information regarding settlement benefits and…
- A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided
Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Impacted vehicles are also noted below. For further information regarding settlement benefits and contacts, please review the…
- Hyundai has settled a class action lawsuit that alleges that certain Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles…
Hyundai has settled a class action lawsuit that alleges that certain Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles (defined below) contain defective ZF-TRW airbag control units (“ZF-TRW ACUs”) that are vulnerable to a condition…
- Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service…
Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front…
- In addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB 24-01-009H-1), a zinc…
In addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB 24-01-009H-1), a zinc reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade is being made available to customers upon request. This…
- This bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector…
This bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows.
- In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method…
In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized Hyundai dealers since early 2023…
NHTSA lists 82 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Veloster?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 25. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (32%), hesitation when accelerating (12%), stalls while driving (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2020 Hyundai Veloster?
NHTSA lists 82 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2020 Hyundai Veloster from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2020 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.