Hyundai Venue Common Problems

The Hyundai Venue is Hyundai's smallest SUV, sold here since 2019 and built in Ulsan, South Korea. Every Australian Venue so far is the first generation (QX), with one engine: a 1.6-litre Gamma MPi four-cylinder petrol (G4FG, 90 kW and 151 Nm) driving the front wheels through a six-speed manual or a six-speed torque-converter automatic. Early trims were Go, Active and Elite; later cars are badged Venue, Active and Elite. There is no turbo, no dual-clutch and no CVT in local cars, which keeps the mechanical risk low. Its record is short and fairly clean: the main known issue is a seatbelt recall, and most other complaints are about electronics and the way the automatic behaves on hills.

Seatbelt pretensioner inflator defect (all models, 2019 to 2022 builds)

Hyundai recalled more than 15,000 Venues, covering every variant built from July 2019 to June 2022. The inflator in a seatbelt pretensioner may fracture when it fires in a crash, which can throw metal fragments toward the occupants. Hyundai said it was not aware of any incidents in Australia.

You will not notice anything in normal driving, so the only way to know is the paperwork. The repair is free at a Hyundai dealer. One owner reported a long wait for the work, so on a car built in this window ask for proof it was done, and if it was not, book it before you rely on the car for family use.

Six-speed automatic hunting on hills and cruise control (1.6 automatic, 2019 to 2026)

A recurring complaint in owner reviews is the automatic. With a full load or on long climbs, the 1.6 runs out of torque and the gearbox shifts back and forth to hold speed. Some owners also report cruise control dropping gears over small crests and letting the car run over the set speed downhill.

This is mostly the engine's modest torque rather than a broken gearbox, and we found no pattern of automatic failures. Still, a harsh or slipping shift, or a flare in revs between gears, is not normal. Ask a dealer whether any transmission software updates apply, and on a high-kilometre car budget a few hundred dollars for a fluid change. A rebuilt or replaced automatic would cost thousands, so test it properly.

Battery drain and central locking faults (body electronics, reported on 2019 cars)

At least one early owner has reported the central locking misbehaving and the 12-volt battery going flat, and in that case a motoring expert suspected a faulty body control module, the computer that runs the locks, lights and alarm. This is not a widely reported fault. Some other owners mention door and light warning chimes that will not settle.

A weak battery is the cheap first suspect, at roughly $200 to $350 fitted. If a new battery does not fix it, the car needs a proper diagnosis for a parasitic drain or a faulty module. Out of warranty, a body control module replacement could cost several hundred dollars or more. Under Hyundai's five-year warranty, a dealer should fix it.

Driver-assist and sensor glitches (all models, 2019 to 2026)

Some owners report a lane-keeping system that tugs hard on winding roads, a tyre pressure warning that appears with correct pressures, and a reversing camera whose guide lines sat off-centre until a dealer realigned it. These are irritations more than safety faults, but they cost money to chase out of warranty.

A tyre pressure sensor costs roughly $100 to $200 fitted, and a camera realignment is a short dealer job. Check that the lane-keeping, forward collision warning and camera all work on the test drive, since a fault light on these can also point to past front-end crash repairs.

Recalls and safety

The two Venue recall themes we know of are the seatbelt pretensioner inflator (2019 to 2022 builds) and a small batch of the very first cars, delivered to dealers in mid 2019, whose wheel nuts may not have been tightened correctly at the factory. Have a Hyundai dealer check the VIN for open recalls, and see our recalls page.

Buying a used Hyundai Venue? What to check

• Seatbelt recall: On a car built up to June 2022, ask for proof the pretensioner work was done, or confirm it with a dealer.
• Automatic on a hill: Drive up a long climb with the cruise set. Some hunting between gears is normal, but harsh shifts, slipping or flaring revs are not.
• Manual clutch: On a manual, check the clutch bites cleanly and does not slip in third gear under load.
• Battery and locks: Lock and unlock several times with the fob and the door button, and ask whether the battery has been replaced or gone flat.
• Warning lights: Make sure no tyre pressure, lane-keeping or collision-warning lights stay on after start-up.
• Reversing camera: Check the guide lines sit centred and the image is clear at night.
• Elite tyres: The Elite runs 17-inch tyres that are dearer to replace than the 15-inch tyres on other trims, so check the tread.
• Service record: Look for servicing every 12 months or 15,000 km and check how much of the five-year warranty is left.

Before you buy, run a PPSR check to make sure there is no money owing or write-off record, and work through our Hyundai Venue buying checklist.

The verdict

The Venue is one of the simpler used SUVs to buy, because every local car has the same non-turbo engine and a conventional gearbox. Any year can be a good buy if the seatbelt recall is done on 2019 to 2022 cars and the electronics all work. Later cars, from 2023 on, avoid the recall window and most still have factory warranty left. The automatic suits town driving best: if you tow, carry a full load or do a lot of hill work, a larger SUV with more torque will be less frustrating.