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Is your Veloster a Lemon? (Problem that can't seem to be fixed)

42K views 88 replies 35 participants last post by  Ricky-D  
#1 ·
Members here may recall seeing some of my earlier posts dating back to early May shortly after my Veloster started having problems in late April. Those topic threads are located here:
http://www.veloster.org/forum/37-hy...ssues-tsbs-recalls/4761-problem-veloster-sensative-gas-you-use-please-help.html

and here:
http://www.veloster.org/forum/9-hyu...g/forum/9-hyundai-veloster-engine-transmission/6431-huge-problems-my-v-dct.html

Unfortunately, my saga continues and I have now asked Hyundai to Lemon Law my car. Why?

Because it has been in the shop 6 different times for the same problem and the problem still remains. (my state's law says 4 times for same problem affecting driveability/safety and you can lemon law it, your state may vary)

They have replaced the high pressure fuel pump and fuel regulator on two separate occassions. The problem has continued to come back. The problems include:

1) stalling at stop lights
2) bucking and chugging while driving as if not getting gas
3) inability to go above 3000 rpm

The combination makes the car undriveable whenever the problem arises. The problem arises at random. Sometimes it is after the car is first started, other times not until after it is driven for awhile, other times after being driven, shut off and driven again. Fuel has come from different gas stations, all reputable. Problem has happened whether car is full, 3/4 tank, 1/2 tank, 1/4 tank or near empty so amount of fuel in system doesn't seem to have a bearing. To date Hyundai has been unable to fix the problem, hence my asking for the car to be Lemon Law'd which would mean Hyundai would buy the car back from me minus a useage calculated amount from the AAA driving guide. Hyundai can also offer me a different vehicle but I don't have to accept it, I can choose the buy back.

The car had the same problem last week and I took a neighbor with me to confirm that the car would not go above 3000 rpm no matter what gear no matter how much gas it was given, I limped the car home, parked it and it was towed to the dealer. Once at the dealer they started it and it drove just fine, so they didn't think it had a problem.

My "best guess" is that there is a glitch or bug in the Hyundai ECU software and when this bug is encountered, the car will go into some sort of limp mode or fuel delivery is throttled back or something because of the buggy code. Then when the car is restarted, it is like rebooting the computer and the problem goes away. Unfortunately when the problem happened last week the dealership was already closed or I would have limped it over to them to show them yes this problem which has been happening for 4 months now is still happening and hasn't been fixed.

Has anyone else encountered such a problem with their Veloster? If so, was the problem ever fixed completely or has the issue continued to plague you? If it continued, did you lemon law your car?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses. Someone from Dallas has flown in to take a look at my car and try to figure out what the problem is but I have not heard back from them as of yet today. When I get an update I'll post the results.
 
#3 ·
I think this user had the same problem as you. Check out this thread: http://www.veloster.org/forum/37-hy...undai-veloster-issues-tsbs-recalls/7302-more-problems-im-starting-hate-car.html


The dealer ended up changing the fuel rail, and a few other things. I don't know if that did the trick for him, but you can talk to him and see what happened.
Thanks just read that topic and posted a link in it back here so we can keep all the same problems together. Probably too early to know whether or not his car is fixed for good since the last time they fixed his car it took 1.5 months for the problem to come back. I've had all the same things replaced on my car at the dealer and it bought me less than a month before the problem came back this time. In all at least 6 trips to the service department for this issue so yes I want to go the lemon law route and have told Hyundai as much. Waiting to hear back from their district rep about the issue.
 
#9 ·
Agreed, any car can be a lemon. I don't really know if I would stick with Hyundai or not. This is my first Hyundai so I don't really have a long-term impression of the brand, I guess I'd have to see what they'd offer. If they basically applied what I paid for my existing Veloster towards a turbo I would certainly consider it but the problem might be more of finding me one that isn't an automatic. :) :) Of course if they produced a yellow turbo then it might be a done deal. :)

Wow man, that really sucks. I suppose this will show how much Hyundai stands behind their products. Have you tried recording the incident on your phone? This could be used as further proof of your claim.
Good luck!
Actually our state does allow the driver to operate a phone and it's actually quite silly for these safety groups to suggest that 100% of my attention is needed 100% of the time while driving. Like a good computer I can effectively multi-task but that's a whole other issue. :) I could easily have a neighbor or someone else record it on a phone to show a video of it happening. I don't think it is that Hyundai doesn't believe me that it is happening but rather that they just don't know what the cause is. I did relay the information here about the car in Cincy that had the exact same problem so they asked to keep my car longer and research that car to see what was tried, the history of the cars, etc. They did say they were throwing in a free oil change, which while all well and good, if the car is a lemon I don't really care if the oil has been changed in it or not. :)
 
#10 ·
I'd suggest to have your dealer replace the fuel rail sensor - that was my last repair and so far so good. Of course I dont know if it's fully fixed either in my case, but so far I didnt have any issues since that last fix. If you look through the older threads - some other members here had this same sensor replaced and that seems to have fixed their issues similar to yours. Based on what my delar told me after the last fix/replacement of the fuel rail sensor, - they called Hyundai and were told that they have several documented cases that this sensor was the issue and thats why they replaced mine, since I didnt have any codes or obvious causes why it was stalling out. So, I'd try this as another option before going through with the Lemon law. Thats what I'm doing - waiting to see if problems come back. If not - it's all good. If yes - I'll seriously start looking into Lemon Law as even dealer doesnt know what else can be causing this problem. But like I said - so far so good since the new Rail fule sensor was put in it. Good luck!
 
#17 ·
Hyundai looked up what was done to your car in on my car just replaced the fuel rail sensor and the low pressure fuel pump as well so that now the entire fuel system has been replaced. I got the car back a couple of days ago and in the last 2 days it stuttered one time like it wasn't getting fuel as I got on the highway but it went away and continued to run ok after that. So far the problem of bucking, chugging, not being able to go above 3000 rpm or dying at stops has not happened yet, but last time it was over 3 weeks until it happened again so I'm just going to monitor it for now but the moment it happens again I am going the Lemon Law route full bore and I made them aware of this. Technically I could have demanded that this time but since they think they've finally fixed it we'll see what happens now....
 
#11 ·
i bought my veloster in oct 2011..since then i have had a window replaced,the video screen replaced,two tires replaced(waiting on 3rd) i went in for a tinging noise and was told it "was supposed to do that" and months laters it turned out to be the clutch motor,that was replaced and while replacing that i got a dent in my hood. when i picked up the car i had a huge scratch on the inside of my door,the hand brake and dash.i was getting 46 mpg(pre replacing clutch) now i average 28 mpg! their excuse was the computers reset and have to learn how you drive again?? the mpg and gas gages dont work now..i have to fill up myu car,drive a little go to the same gas station and pump..refill again,then deduct my mpg i get from that!? it's turning into a piece of crap...i paid 25,000 and trade in is 10,000??? i smell a lawyer call coming!!
 
#12 ·
Gooooood luck with the case! Hyundai did not stand behind my 2010 Elantra one bit! I ended up winning my case and was given another 2012 Elantra that was traded for my V. As far as recording the conversation....only ONE person has to know the conversation is being recorded in my state. I hired Krohn & Moss.
 
#16 ·
I know from working as a secretary in automotive manufacturing some cars just get a bad deal on the assembly line, and they are lemons. QC Engineers need to do so many checks and tests, and if something is missed, it can be a problem for that line and that car. I feel so blessed to have this car, even after being hit hard twice on the freeway, in the body shop 7 weeks, it is still one of the best cars I've ever had (a close tie to my Del Sol). My mileage just gets better and better too, last week I read 44.5 before fill up, and it is so fun to drive. I feel bad for anyone that gets a lemon, that is one reason I never ever buy used cars. There is usually a good reason a car is on the used car lot, if it was a great car the owner would have kept it.
 
#18 ·
it is still one of the best cars I've ever had (a close tie to my Del Sol).
OMG, that is so great to hear! I LOVED my Del Sol! It was the car on which I learned to drive manual transmission. My wife loved it so much, in fact, she ended up buying another one a few years later. Just sold it so she could get her V, and she will be happy to hear this as well :)
 
#20 ·
Well a couple of days ago I had a brief cut out while driving but chalked it up to an exception. Today as I was pulling into a parking lot and looking for a place to park the car once again starting chugging like it was starving for gas. I sped up to see if I could get above 3000 rpms and I could, and then the car quit chugging and I parked it. When I came back out from the store it drove home normally. So I'm not convinced the car is completely fixed yet, but unfortunately it hasn't gone into a "bad" state yet when I could immediately drive it to the dealership and show them. I'll continue to monitor but given today's occurrence I don't hold out a lot of hope that the car is fixed.
 
#22 ·
Hmmm, I dont know what to tell you . Maybe there is some other issue is still there. I would check some of the electrical connection to those fuel related sensors - I read that some people had them not fully snapped in and when driving they would get lose, causing problems. Other than that - I'm not sure. Good luck!.
PS. As for me - so far so good. No stalling yet. A couple of times I felt and saw on a tachometer that RPMs kinda jumped up and down a bit when it was really hot and I had AC on, but it could be fan kicking in/out. Still testing mine too, but so far nothing like it was before.
 
#24 ·
I had a Saturn SUV that went into a "fail safe" mode because of a trans mission issue. The ECU restricted engine power and held the transmission in 3rd gear. That could account for some of the issues you are getting, although you should get a trouble code for it. Might be something to check....
 
#25 ·
File a complaint with the BBB and go to arbitration with it, if BBB tells Hyundai to buy it back they will, had this happen a few years back with my sonata making a load thud noise when putting it in drive, the had an indepedent investigator come out and do a full inspection, and did a factory history of the car also, cuz sometimes they have accidents at the factry with them and its never disclosed as it hasn't made it to dealer yet, but in my case the dealer had the car more then 30 days total over the course of 4 months, BBB made them buy it back and refund my down payment and a portiton of my payments made also, best thing it didn't cost me a dime to file or go to arbitration.
 
#26 ·
As an update to this topic thread after the last attempted "fix" on my car I had 2 instances of the car bucking/chugging and 1 instance of it dying. Today on my way home from dropping off the kids at school the car started to buck and chug so I immediately drove to the dealership. Their chief mechanic got in and put equipment on the car and we drove around. The car bucked, chugged, would not go over 3000 rpm and died on us 3 times at a light and for awhile would not restart IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. Obviously a very dangerous proposition and obviously this car is NOT fixed. My next call is to Hyundai corporate to request that they buy back the car under the Lemon Law because this is now the 7th or 8th time the car has been in. No check engine light tripped which the mechanic could not believe, and his equipment gave him readouts that he said he'd never seen in his 18 years of working there. So what the root cause is I don't know but enough is enough!
 
#32 · (Edited)
As an update to this topic thread after the last attempted "fix" on my car I had 2 instances of the car bucking/chugging and 1 instance of it dying. Today on my way home from dropping off the kids at school the car started to buck and chug so I immediately drove to the dealership. Their chief mechanic got in and put equipment on the car and we drove around. The car bucked, chugged, would not go over 3000 rpm and died on us 3 times at a light and for awhile would not restart IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. Obviously a very dangerous proposition and obviously this car is NOT fixed. My next call is to Hyundai corporate to request that they buy back the car under the Lemon Law because this is now the 7th or 8th time the car has been in. No check engine light tripped which the mechanic could not believe, and his equipment gave him readouts that he said he'd never seen in his 18 years of working there. So what the root cause is I don't know but enough is enough!
By all means PLEASE each and everyone of you experiencing these problems report it to NHTSA. This is safety issue as well as a dangerous situation to have a car stalling intermintently while driving. NHTSA needs to hear from the owners. Enough complaints will warrant an investigation and potential recall. Hyundai corporate can't hide from or ignore NHTSA

I feel your pain as I went thru the N. Y. Lemon Law with a new Chevy truck back in 1987.
Fortunately I have had none of the drivability problems being reported here with my V.

Ray T:cool:
 
#27 ·
Thankfully the problem will be taken seriously from now on before something tragic occurred to you or you and your family. Hyundai must do something if they truly stand behind thier products.
The Veloster is the first Hyundai I've ever purchased believing they had finally "turned the corner" in the automotive world. My V has been great so far, but that is what I expected for my money......as should you.
C'mon Hyundai...........do the right thing!
 
#28 ·
I have called Hyundai corporate and opened up a case with someone named Tiffany who was very nice on the phone. She did ask me what my requested resolution was and I said for Hyundai to buy back the car under the lemon law statute and she said that seemed reasonable to her given all I had told her about the problems I've been having with the car. Now my case goes to a local case manager who talks to the dealer and at some point gets back in touch with me, but as Tiffany said the dealer and the case manager each have time frames that they operate in so I shouldn't expect a call today, it might take a few days. In the mean time I have a loaner Chrysler Town & Country minivan to drive around in. (who buys these things??) I'm hoping Hyundai will quickly recognize that they've not been able to fix this car and do the right thing and buy it back under the lemon law. I simply don't trust this car anymore.
 
#34 ·
Man, I'm so sorry to hear about this happening to you. I know how frustrating it was for me when I had my issue. Please keep us updated, because even though I'm not driving the particular V that gave me problems anymore, I'm still interested to hear what Hyundai has to say for themselves.

You can always go my route to get a replacement car... have your dealership wreck it while it's in service!
 
#30 ·
Probably very true--I haven't had so much as a hint of a problem with mine--sometimes a car comes off the line that's just bad. That car should be replaced by the manufacturer. KenDude, I hope it works out that Hyundai takes care of this to your satisfaction.
 
#36 ·
Here's an update, somewhat amusing, somewhat not. After being in a rental for a couple of weeks Hyundai was unable to determine the root cause of the Veloster's failures and agreed to buy back the car. Just last week the car was still sitting at the dealership waiting to be hauled back to California, still unable to be fixed AFAIK and according to one of the service people I asked at the dealer. He said Hyundai finally told them to quit working on the car and just ship it back.

I decided that the one shortcoming I had with the Veloster was passenger space, when my kids want to bring friends there just isn't enough space. When I needed to haul some larger items, again, not enough space. (Did a lot of pent up hauling with the rental mini-van I had for those 2 weeks! :) )

Anyway I decided to get a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. So far there have been no driving issues with the car, but within the first week I discovered that the gas gauge and reported MPG and reported distance to empty were not even remotely accurate. I took the car in, it spent a week plus in the shop being torn down and eventually put back together with the response from Hyundai that they couldn't fix it because they need to make/design/test some new part(s) in order to get it to work right. Evidently they were getting complaints from rental car companies that put these into their fleets, people would fill up, drive 5 miles back to the rental place and already be down one "block" on the fuel gauge (12 blocks total on gauge, similar to the lines/blocks on the Veloster but they go around a circle). People are getting scarcely over 300 miles range on a tank of gas and it should be around 400 miles (17.4 gallon tank, 25mpg avg =435 miles). So some fuel sending part and/or some programming to go with it is bad on all new Santa Fe's which means this will likely be a recall or major TSB at some point if they have to drop the fuel tanks on all new Santa Fe's and replace the sending units as part of the campaign.

I'm wondering if Hyundai might simply be cursed for me? For the most part I like the Santa Fe, I miss the 3D perspective view for the Navigation and I miss the Pandora client and of course the gas mileage. I was hoping to get the 25mpg or better that was advertised as the "average" for the Santa Fe, but I get more like 21-22 which is at the bottom range. Anyway, I'm giving it some time to see what Hyundai comes up with, but it is frustrating to have issues again with a brand new vehicle.

For those who have Velosters that are bucking, chugging, stalling, won't go over 3000 rpm, etc. you need to push back on Hyundai and tell them they've already bought one car back that they couldn't fix with this problem. (They replaced every part of my fueling system, some parts more than once and it still didnt' fix the problem).
 
#38 ·
Well, as I reported in the other thread - my Veloster is at the dealer now being checked again as it started doing same old thing - stalling, RPMs jumping up and down, etc. I too opened a case with the Hyundai and today I had a call from a local regional manager, who said that they got some info already and will continue to investigate and then decide what they will do. The not so good news - within 2 days that my car was at the dealer the were not able to replicate the problem so far, and since there are no codes - who knows what will happen. Since Hyundai Corp is involved now - they will do more testing. But I do hope that they will put me in a new car, as this one is pretty scary, dangerous and unreliable to drive. And I only have 3800 miles on it after about a year of ownership. Partly due to these issues. Good thing is - my dealer put me in a loaner, so at least I have a car to drive until this is resolved. Sad thing is - I really like the whole idea/design of the Veloster and it really saddens me that I got stuck with a lemon. At least my wife's 2012 Accent is running Ok. I'll keep things updated on the progress of my case. Hope Hyundai will do the right thing and put me in a reliable and safe car.
 
#39 ·
Same exact thing happened to me, man. Damn dealership couldn't get the car to replicate the problem and no codes were thrown.

My only advice is to keep on them, you did the right thing by opening it up with Hyundai corporate. Hopefully they'll be able to seat you in something new, without having to have the dealership wreck the car like what happened to me!