Which Years Of Used Hyundai Velosters Are Most Reliable?
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The Hyundai Veloster is a throwback to when numerous automakers sold a sporty hatchback. While many car buyers now prefer SUVs and trucks, that’s not the case for everyone. Enter the Veloster. It offers an ideal blend of practicality and affordability in a cute (some would say quirky) package. If this is your kind of car, knowing the most reliable years of the Hyundai Veloster is essential.
Let’s highlight which Veloster model years are worth buying. We’ll dive into the details shortly, but here’s a quick overview of both Veloster generations.
First-Generation Hyundai Veloster: 2012-2017
Launched to take on small hatchbacks from Toyota, Honda, and others, Hyundai put its own spin on the Veloster by employing an asymmetrical door design. A three-door configuration gives the driver an elongated door (for rear-passenger access), while the other side has two entrances. It’s a setup more typical of commercial vehicles, although General Motors’ now-defunct Saturn division offered a three-door coupe at the turn of the century.
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Second-Generation Hyundai Veloster: 2019-2022
To keep its odd hatchback alive, Hyundai introduced a redesigned Veloster for the 2019 model year (Hyundai didn’t produce a 2018 version). The redesign gave this hatchback a more stylish look while maintaining the three-door configuration. Most significantly, the automaker added the Veloster N, a performance-focused variant with more power and improved suspension. Hyundai axed the Veloster after 2022.
Most Reliable Years of the Hyundai Veloster
Our list of the most reliable years of the Hyundai Veloster is divided by generation. Those with tight budgets will want to concentrate on the first-generation Veloster, while the second generation offers more advanced features (at a higher price).
It’s easy to find faults with almost any car and declare it undependable. However, we based our reliability findings on a review of available data about engine and transmission issues for each Hyundai Veloster model year. Fewer powertrain problems mean a more reliable car.
THE HYUNDAI VELOSTER YEARS TO AVOID
If you are interested in a Hyundai Veloster, it’s critical to know the Hyundai Veloster years to avoid. CoPilot can help you determine the options that are not worth the investment and those that will serve you well on the road.
Here’s an overview of the most reliable years of the Hyundai Veloster.
Hyundai Veloster (first generation)
- 2014
- 2015
- 2017
Hyundai Veloster (second generation)
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022 (Veloster N)
Most Reliable Years of the Hyundai Veloster: The Breakdown
Let’s explore the factors that make these Hyundai Veloster model years the most reliable. This data comes from carcomplaints.com, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), and repairpal.com.
2014 Hyundai Veloster (first generation)
Although the Hyundai Veloster first hit the streets for the 2012 model year, it’s best to avoid examples from 2012 and 2013. They are plagued with engine troubles. However, things quieted down for 2014.
Let’s be clear; no decade-old car is perfect. But by starting with a 2014 Veloster, you’re more likely to escape a problematic powertrain. Steering and electrical issues are known issues with this Hyundai, but a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a professional mechanic should uncover these troubles (and others) before signing the paperwork.
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2015 Hyundai Veloster
We’re giving the 2015 Veloster a thumbs up but with a caveat. There is a major recall affecting this Hyundai’s engine, so you should investigate it before purchasing. You can confirm if the car under consideration is affected via the NHTSA recall checker. Assuming the necessary repairs have been taken care of (which involved an engine replacement), you should be good to go.
Otherwise, complaints about the 2015 Veloster are minimal and spread over multiple systems, indicating a lack of a pattern or focused trouble areas.
2017 Hyundai Veloster
We’re skipping the 2016 model year because of a significant increase in engine-related complaints. In particular, the number of reports to NHTSA on this matter more than doubled over the previous year. However, the 2017 Veloster has mostly escaped this problem.
A few owners cited issues with their cars’ transmissions, but six filings (and none with NHTSA) pale against the more than 12,000 units the company sold in the U.S. 2017 is the last year of the first-generation Veloster.
2019 Hyundai Veloster (second generation)
Ordinarily, we suggest passing on the first year of an all-new vehicle, but the data doesn’t support this assumption for the 2019 Hyundai Veloster. There are few complaints about the engine and transmission, which offers reassurance.
However, the automaker issued a recall for a faulty engine component. But Hyundai will replace the engine if the car is determined to have this issue. A second recall covers a defective door latch. Assuming both these recalls have been addressed, reliability concerns aren’t an issue with the 2019 Veloster.
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2020 Hyundai Veloster
Complaints about the 2020 edition of the Veloster continue to decline to near-negligible levels. Carcomplaints.com has only two owner reports, and NHTSA received only 14 complaints about the entire model year. And fortunately, none of these point to a pattern. The 2019 Veloster is subject to the same engine recall as the 2018 model year, but there’s nothing else negative to cover.
Admittedly, sales for this car fell into a steep decline (meaning there are fewer owners around to complain), but the company still managed to sell more than 6,000 examples in 2020.
2021 Hyundai Veloster
Given the thumbs up the 2020 edition received, we’ll continue this recommendation for the 2021 Hyundai Veloster. Owner complaints amount to a grand total of 11 reports with NHTSA, with two owners citing the high-pressure fuel pump as a trouble source. Otherwise, the final year of the standard Hyundai Veloster( only the performance-oriented Veloster N continued for 2022) is free of worrisome reliability issues.
2022 Hyundai Veloster N
The 2022 model year marked the swan song of the Hyundai Veloster in the U.S., and then only with the “N” variant. With the company selling less than 2,000 examples, it will be challenging to find a used one. However, there’s not much to worry about if you’re successful.
NHTSA recorded only four complaints about the 2022 Hyundai Veloster N, all involving the blind-spot monitoring system failure following a tire swap. So, investigate this issue if you come across a 2022 Veloster N you want to buy.
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