This TSB references the Op codes to use for claim submission and the Parts required based on the vehicle’s inspection results from TSB 22-01-023H (DTC P1326 – Engine Bearing Inspection/Engine Replacement) or the latest version.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 Hyundai Veloster engine problems
moderate 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 19 engine complaints filed for the 2017 Hyundai Veloster, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 39% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 4 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Hyundai is conducting a campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs. If abnormal engine bearing noise is detected, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Engine Protection Mode allowing the customer to drive to the nearest Hyundai dealer for diagnosis and repair. In addition, DTC P132600 will be recorded in the ECM. The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in Engine Protection Mode, but it will accelerate slower and have a reduced maximum speed. Engine RPMs will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America (âHMAâ) alleges that certain Hyundai vehicles (âClass Vehiclesâ) were manufactured, marketed, sold, and/or leased with an engine defect that can result in sudden engine seizure, stalling, engine failure, and in some circumstances, engine fire, and that some owners and lessees of Class Vehicles have been improperly denied repairs under warranty. Neither HMA nor Hyundai Motor Company have been found liable for any of the claims alleged in the lawsuit. The parties have instead reached a voluntary settlement (the âSettlementâ) to avoid lengthy litigation and to provide owners of Class Vehicles certain benefits.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗OP CODE/PART NUMBER (REFERENCE GUIDE FOR SERVICE CAMPAIGN T6G)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Engine failures in 2017 Velosters cluster around two primary mechanisms: connecting rod bearing wear and knock sensor malfunction. Rod bearing failures account for the bulk of catastrophic failures, with owners reporting sudden loss of power between 61,000 and 161,000 miles. Metal debris in the oil pan and oil control solenoid is the consistent diagnostic finding; in several cases dealerships confirmed bearing damage but refused repairs under warranty. One owner's bearing failure was severe enough to blow a hole through the engine block. The knock sensor recall campaign (KSDS) created a separate hazard: one owner reported immediate engine failure approximately 10 miles after the recall update was applied.
The failures typically occur without early warning. Owners were driving at highway speeds—55 to 70 mph—when power vanished suddenly. A flashing check engine light usually appears after the stall. One owner was on a busy three-lane highway during rush hour when the engine seized; another lost power while merging into heavy freeway traffic. One owner explicitly lost oil and engine compression simultaneously, which an independent mechanic flagged as a fire hazard.
Hyundai has approved engine replacements in some cases but frequently denies coverage, citing mileage or existing conditions, even when metal debris proves bearing failure. Dealers have cited salvage title status and low compression as disqualifying factors. The knock sensor recall has created additional liability—one owner was told the update caused the failure and approved for a replacement engine, then denied when the salvage title was reviewed.
Same Hyundai Veloster engine reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Rod bearing failure / connecting rod bearing wear
Crankshaft connecting rod bearings wear out or fail, causing loss of engine compression, metal debris in the oil pan and oil control solenoid, and subsequent complete engine seizure or stall. Owners report the bearing failure occurs without early warning, often resulting in sudden loss of power while driving at highway speeds. Some owners note metal shavings found in the oil pan. One owner reported a hole blown through the engine block due to bearing failure.
When: Mileage range 61,000–161,000 miles; appears independent of specific operating conditions
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of power while driving; engine stall without warning or with flashing check engine light; knocking or loud banging noises from engine; metal debris in oil pan or oil control solenoid; loss of compression; bearing test failure; hole in engine block or short block
Codes mentioned: P1326
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement quoted at $12,322.45 for one owner; another owner told short block replacement needed. Dealer diagnosis confirmed via metal debris discovery during inspection; independent mechanic confirmed rod bearing failure consistent with known defects.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V746000 (engine-related) mentioned by one owner. Hyundai corporate and dealers have denied Goodwill Assistance claims even when metal debris evidence was found. One owner reported Hyundai acknowledged the knock sensor update caused engine failure and initiated new engine approval, but later denied repair due to salvage title status. Dealers have approved engine replacements in some cases but approval delays reported; one case awaiting engine shipment and gasket backorder since September 2021.
Knock sensor failure and subsequent knock sensor recall-related stall
Knock sensor malfunction or failure of the knock sensor recall update itself causes limp mode activation, flashing check engine light, and loss of power. One owner explicitly reported that the KSDS knock sensor recall campaign update caused immediate engine failure approximately 10 miles after the update was applied. Multiple owners cite knock sensor diagnostics as the contributing factor to other engine failures, and one owner experienced stalling shortly after the knock sensor recall update.
When: Approximately 10 miles after knock sensor recall update was applied (one owner); limp mode events at approximately 100,000 miles (another owner); at various speeds for others
Symptoms owners cite: flashing check engine light; limp mode activation; loss of power / loss of motive power; inability to accelerate; engine stall; repeated limp mode events across multiple driving occasions
Codes mentioned: knock sensor related codes (specific codes not detailed by owners)
Repairs/costs cited: Combustion chamber cleaning and catalytic converter replacement performed in one case but did not resolve limp mode; issue persisted. One owner's vehicle required engine replacement after the recall update caused failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai sent out recall campaign letters (KSDS knock sensor recall). One owner reported dealership acknowledged the knock sensor update caused the failure and initiated new engine approval, though later refused repair due to salvage title. No transparency provided to owners about the risk of failure following the update, according to owner narratives.
Catalytic converter failure / melted catalyst
Catalytic converter material completely melted or converter failed without apparent root cause at the time of diagnosis. One owner's local repair shop found the catalyst had melted internally but could not determine why, since the engine showed no misfires, fuel issues, excessive oil consumption, or active engine codes at the time of failure. Another owner had the catalytic converter replaced at a dealer but the underlying knock sensor issue was not detected. In another case, secondary catalytic converter damage occurred as a result of progressive rod bearing failure.
When: Occurred during highway driving at 55–60 mph for one owner; at approximately 122,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of power while accelerating; loss of power with no initial warning lights; inability to accelerate or maintain speed above 30 mph; check engine light appearing after vehicle restart; inefficient emissions control readings
Codes mentioned: 02 sensor codes indicating inefficient emissions control
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's independent repair shop diagnosed failed catalytic converter with completely melted material but could not explain the cause. Owner states the engine had no misfires, fuel issues, or excessive oil consumption at that time, and no active engine codes were stored.
Low compression in cylinder / cylinder failure
One or more cylinders develop low compression, requiring engine replacement or major repair. Owners report low compression diagnosed at 130,000 miles and in another case, low compression in cylinder #1 cited as reason for denial of warranty coverage.
When: Approximately 130,000 miles; another case denied warranty due to low compression after approximately 122,000 miles of driving
Symptoms owners cite: check engine warning light illumination; loss of motive power; vehicle deceleration before stalling; low compression in cylinder #1 or other cylinders
Codes mentioned: low compression fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement or repair required. One owner's warranty claim was denied, citing low compression in cylinder #1 caused by a hole in the engine block and mileage on the vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty denial issued by dealer; manufacturer did not pursue coverage.
Excessive oil consumption and related engine degradation
Engine consumes oil at an abnormal rate, potentially leading to oil starvation and subsequent bearing or internal engine damage. One owner attributes the engine failure to excessive oil consumption leading to undetected engine damage, compounded by a failed knock sensor that prevented early warning. Another owner purchased a used vehicle in October 2023 with a history of oil changes and found the engine had failed by May due to oil consumption issues.
When: Detected at approximately 100,000 miles in one case; another case manifested by May after October 2023 purchase
Symptoms owners cite: excessive oil consumption over time; loss of power; engine stall; metal shavings in oil pan
Repairs/costs cited: One owner was quoted a new engine requirement; another was told oil consumption caused engine failure requiring a new engine.
Engine hesitation / stumble under light acceleration
Engine hesitates or fails to respond smoothly when accelerator is depressed at low speeds, with a delay of several seconds before responding.
When: When traveling at speeds under 30 mph
Symptoms owners cite: engine hesitation; delayed acceleration response (several seconds)
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power and decelerated before stalling. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that cylinder #1 experienced low compression. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced or repaired.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Hyundai veloster. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to mcgrath city Hyundai (6750 w. Grand avenue, chicago, il 60707 (773) 889-9090) where it was diagnosed and determined that the connecting rod bearing was bent and the engine needed…
Engine rob has blow out the engine. Car has been at dealership since September 2021. First had to await to see if Hyundai would approve replacement. Second had to wait for engine to get to dealership. Third waiting for gaskets that are on back order to get to delership.
Oil leak lead to engine knocking which lead to the complete failure of the engine. Piston rods are destroyed engine failure happened while I was driving on the road engine lost power would not accelerate. My car has been parked since.
I was driving home from work my car stalled out going thru an intersection. I went about another half mile and pressed the accelerator to climb the hill by my apartment and I herd a loud bang lost all power and oil at the same time I was able to coast into my apartment where it is still sitting I had recently had the catalytic converter replaced at voss Hyundai where nothing was said about the…
I was leaving work and the car lost power and it would barely move. I was able to get it to the side of the road. After that, then engine light came on and the car would not start. The engine was shaking very bad. I had to have my Veloster towed while my daughter and I were stuck on the side of the road.
After knock sensor recall update engine has lost all power and has a knocking and clicking sound.
I own a 2017 hyundai veloster with roughly 122,000 miles on it, recently I got in my car to go to work, started the vehicle and exited my apartment complex onto a local road drove roughly a half mile to the on ramp for the highway, the car was just about up to its usual operating temperature when I accelerated down the on ramp and merged into traffic, at this time there were no warning lights,…
Had engine trouble with your 2017 Hyundai Veloster?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2017 Hyundai Veloster?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 19 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 64,700 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 80,371. A quarter of owners report trouble before 64,700; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Hyundai/Veloster.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.