YearToAvoid

2021 Hyundai Veloster Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#9 most-complained of 9 Veloster years

The 2021 Hyundai Veloster ranks best among 9 model years tracked, with 11 complaints, a complaint index of 0, and one recall. Its main issue is blind-spot/lane-departure false alerts, but no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.

Complaints
11
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29.5
26.5 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2021 Hyundai Veloster problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Lane Departure7 (64%)
  2. Engine3 (27%)
  3. Fuel System2 (18%)
  4. Steering2 (18%)
  5. Other1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Blind spot warning falsely detects vehicles or stays on constantly after switching to non-OEM wheels or tires.
  • Blind spot system reportedly stops working correctly when all-season or winter tires replace the stock summer tires.
  • Steering wheel reportedly locked up briefly on a highway trip and pulled toward other lanes before returning to normal after a restart.
  • Engine reportedly stalled with no warning lights, in one case shortly after purchase and low mileage.
  • Owners report oil missing after scheduled oil changes, followed later by stalling and complete loss of power.
  • High-pressure fuel pump reportedly failed twice and needed replacement before higher mileage was reached.
2021 Hyundai Veloster complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2021Feb 2022Mar 2022Apr 2022May 2022Jun 2022Aug 2022
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to Aug 2022; peak Dec 2021 (3).

2021 Hyundai Veloster recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V301000Apr 28, 2021Engine158,493 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

2021 Hyundai Veloster fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26.5 MPG
Highway
33.5 MPG
Combined
29.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,200
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2021 compared with other Veloster years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201220132014201520162017201920202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Good3842229.5
2020Best1324129.5
2021Best011129.5

All Hyundai Veloster years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Hyundai Veloster reliable?
Among the 9 Veloster model years tracked, 2021 has the lowest complaint index (0) and ranks 9th worst, meaning it performs the best relative to other years. It has 11 complaints and 1 recall.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Hyundai Veloster?
Lane Departure/blind spot warning issues make up 64% of complaints (7 of 11), often tied to non-stock wheels or tires.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Veloster have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 21V301000) covers the 2.0L Nu MPI engine's piston oil rings, which may not have been properly heat-treated.
How does the 2021 Veloster compare to other years?
2021 has a complaint index of 0, better than 2012 (88), 2013 (100), 2016 (75), 2014 (50), 2015 (63), 2017 (25), and 2019 (38); only 2020, at 13, is close in performance.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Hyundai Veloster?
EPA rates it at 29.5 mpg combined (26.5 city, 33.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,200.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.