NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 18 owner complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N. Most complaints involve lane departure (9) and steering (6). The EPA rates it 22–25 mpg combined.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Kona Electric vehicles. A software error in the air bag control unit (ACU) may improperly deactivate the air bag system and seat belt pretensioners.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“Lane keep assist was off, got an error message "check lane departure warning system" and seemed to lose power steering. I was on the interstate switching lanes. Any loss of power steering is a safety risk.”
“The power steering motor fails at random and without warning, creating an imminent wreck hazard. At any time, the wheel will lose all power steering and simultaneously illuminate a red steering wheel warning on your dashboard. It takes significant force to turn the wheel once this happens. Secondly, when turning, a normal cars steering wheel will naturally "unwind" after a turn and smoothly straighten back up while driving. During this motor failure, the steering wheel remains stiffly stationary, pulling you into a potentially unwanted or dangerous direction (ditch, oncoming traffic, etc) unless you fight to straighten it. As a middle aged adult male, I can fight it well enough to keep it under control until I can pull over and turn off/on the car to reset the system. I fear this would become incredibly dangerous if driven by somebody who is older, frail/injured or physically weak. This issue started with only a few thousand miles and has progressively become more and more common, now happening multiple times just this week. A large amount of owners have reported the same issue, with some even being steered into oncoming traffic lanes during a failure. The…”
“Upon swapping out the factory tires for winter tires of the same factory size, the blind spot detection system started showing something in my blind spot all the time. The light won’t go off. It is highly unsafe to have a feature like this that you should be able to trust that doesn’t work.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veloster N Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 28 | 25 | $3,100 | 363 |
| Veloster N Auto (AM-S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 22 | $3,500 | 400 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are lane departure (9), steering (6), electrical system (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Veloster N at 22–25 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).