Verdict
2012 Hyundai Veloster: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most hatchback.
Owners filed 295 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 73% of 2012 hatchbacks. Visibility leads the reports (18%). 6 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2012 hatchbacks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
295
Reports to NHTSA, 2012
Safety recalls
6
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
30.5
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 73% of 2012 hatchbacks
The bar is this car's percentile among 2012 hatchbacks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Visibility issues lead owner complaints (18% of 295 reports), followed by steering (14%).
+ 12 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 295 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 10606045, ODI 11660521, ODI 11497645, ODI 11185900, ODI 11113017.
Recalls(6)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
EquipmentFeb 2020 · 20V393000Details +Close −
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
Risk: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.
Parking BrakeJul 2012 · 12V567000Details +Close −
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012 Veloster vehicles manufactured from July 2, 2011, through February 27, 2012 and equipped with manual transmissions. Moisture and road grime may cause the parking brake components to bind.
Risk: If the parking brake components bind, the parking brake may not operate properly, and the parking brake may drag while driving or may not fully engage when the vehicle is parked. If the parking brake is not fully engaged when parked, a manual transmission may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear brake caliper assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began January 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
VisibilityJul 2012 · 12V568000Details +Close −
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012 Veloster vehicles manufactured from November 1, 2011, through April 17, 2012 and equipped with panoramic sunroofs. The panoramic sunroof assembly may been weakened during installation at the factory.
Risk: If the assembly was weakend at the factory, the panoramic glass panel may break while the vehicle is in motion leading to personal injury or a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sunroof's integrity and replace the sunroof glass assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began January 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Visibility · 13V051000Details +Close −
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012 Veloster vehicles manufactured from July 4, 2011, through October 31, 2011 and equipped with panoramic sunroofs. The panoramic sunroof assembly may have been weakened during installation at the factory.
Risk: If the assembly was weakend at the factory, the panoramic glass panel may break while the vehicle is in motion leading to personal injury or a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sunroof's integrity and replace the sunroof glass assembly, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began during March 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Electrical System · 23V132000Details +Close −
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Veloster vehicles. High conductive liquid may leak into the Reverse Park Aid Sensor (RPAS), which can result in an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the RPAS fuse and sensor, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 242.
Service Brakes · 23V651000Details +Close −
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
2 NHTSA investigations on record
Investigations are agency reviews, not findings that a vehicle is defective.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE12-027 on October 2, 2012 to investigate allegations of spontaneous sunroof shatter on model year (MY) 2012 Hyundai Veloster vehicles. The MY2012 platform was the first to introduce the panoramic sunroof option. ODI received 26 consumer complaints of sunroof shatter, 15 occurring while the vehicle was being driven. The injury incidents noted were due to complainants who alleged minor cuts or abrasions from fallen glass. Sunroof glass shattering while operating the vehicle poses a risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.In response to ODI's information request (IR), Hyundai provided 23 consumer complaints related to the alleged problem and 46 warranty claims for sunroof shatter and/or replacement.On December 6, 2012 Hyundai notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall on model year 2012 Veloster vehicles equipped with panoramic sunroofs manufactured from November 1, 2011 through April 17, 2012. The panoramic sunroof assembly may have weakened during installation at the factory. An intermittent malfunction of a limit switch for the panoramic sunroof assembly's unloading station robot may have occurred, allowing forced contact between the mechanism and the sunroof glass. This contact could have caused damage to the sunroof glass, and lead to subsequent shattering of the glass in the field. The loading station robot was repaired in April 2012. The initial point in time for the malfunction of the station robot was not clearly defined through technical reasoning, therefore ODI challenged the proposed production scope for the safety recall. On February 14, 2013 Hyundai responded that they will conduct safety recall 13V-051 which expands the covered vehicles to those produced from the start of MY2012 production (July 4, 2011) through April 17, 2012. This investigation is closed on the basis of Hyundai's announcement of safety recalls 12V-568 and 13V-051.The reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10462857, 10463570, 10465757, 10468816, 10468854, 10469144, 10471972, 10472742, 10473062, 10473640, 10477212, 10478075, 10478735, 10479487, 10479931, 10482027, 10482056, 10482561, 10482760, 10482933, 10483765, 10483770, 10484048, 10485802, 10487399, 10490171
Crash-test ratings
2012 Hyundai Veloster 2 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
- Not rated
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veloster | 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 6-spd | 27 | 37 | 31 |
| Veloster | 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM6) | 27 | 35 | 30 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2012 Hyundai Veloster: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster?
Owners filed 295 NHTSA complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster — more complaints than 73% of comparable 2012 hatchbacks, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster?
The most-reported problem areas are Visibility (18% of complaints) and steering (14%).
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster have?
6 recalls have been issued that affect the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, covering components such as equipment. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Hyundai Veloster between 30 and 31 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.