Vehicle structure and powertrain issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
This vehicle is subject to a recall. Find out if your Hyundai Veloster is included in the recall.
When it comes to sports cars, nothing quite looks like the 2019 Hyundai Veloster. The automaker claims that “every side is its bold side,” on the newest lineup. However, looking at all sides of the equation actually reveals a defective powertrain, faulty air bags, a poorly-built structure and terrible visibility.
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The powertrain consists of all of the components that transfer the energy into power. When these systems break down, the vehicle simply won’t run right.
That’s what is seen with this Cars.com review. “Since buying my Veloster 2.0 in November 2018, I’ve had to brave through quirks, unpredictable throttle response, excessive road noise and now my car is in the shop “indefinitely” because the clutch slave cylinder has already gone bad and Hyundai doesn’t produce the part for dealerships to repair yet.”
According to Service Bulletin #20-AT-018H, there are many transmission-related problems that could be experienced. Customers might see the Check Engine Light, have a transmission that is stuck in fourth gear or deal with a harsh shift into Drive or Reverse. Maybe the reason that Hyundai has drawn attention to the design is to keep people from seeing all the lemon-related aspects of the mechanical features, such as the transmission.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Structure:body | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Air Bags | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger |
To keep occupants safe, customers want a reliable air bag system. This is a system that has been around for many years and should be perfected by now, but doesn’t seem to be working with the Veloster.
Another Cars.com review states, “I would not put my family in this car again. I was in a head on collision that totaled my car and the air bags did not deploy.”
With this particular problem, Hyundai chose not to respond with any service bulletins. Instead, the automaker is ignoring any air bag troubles. Instead, just look at the bold side and forget about the safety features.
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While talking about the design and boldness, it’s vital to look at the structure. The car might look good, but it wasn’t built with any integrity.
Just look at this NHTSA review. “In temperatures below 35 degrees, the driver’s door does not open. It clearly makes an unlocking sound when unlock is activated, but the handle acts as if it is locked. I have to crawl through another door to open it from the inside. Only the driver’s side door is affected, and it opens as normal from the inside. Happens regardless of whether the vehicle is on or off. Obviously stationary.”
What’s more worrisome is a recall that shows a lot of lives are in danger. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V311000 states that over 12,000 vehicles have a driver’s door latch housing and locking cable that could be damaged, which allows the side door to open. If this occurs, the driver could be ejected from the vehicle during an accident. So, whether the car door won’t open or opens on its own, it poses a real threat to consumers. Malfunctioning doors must now be part of a “bold” vehicle design.
Additionally, there are visibility concerns that could pose problems on the road.
Here is another NHTSA complaint worth reading. “The rear hatch window shattered suddenly when closing the driver’s door. Vehicle was stationary in driveway. There was no previous damage to the rear hatch window.”
Additionally, Service Bulletin #19-BE-004H states that there could be further issues with the outside mirror assembly that requires replacement. From an impartial standpoint, it’s obvious that the Veloster doesn’t have a good side at all. Whether it is looked at from the left, right, top or bottom, defects are rampant. The only thing “bold” about this model is the way it claims to be one thing but is truly another entirely.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Hyundai pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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