The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 69 of 296 complaints (23%) mention it.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 296
- Recall campaigns
- 6
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,000–$2,100
- Combined MPG
- 30–31
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Compact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,000–2,100 | 2,000–2,300 | 2,100–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 30–31 | 27–31 | 26–30 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 27 / 35–37 | 24–28 / 31–37 | 24–27 / 31–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 287–296 | 288–318 | 288–333 | |
| Complaints filed | 296 | 427 | 85 | |
| Recalls issued | 6 | 3 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 6 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 8 | 34 | 5 | |
| Injuries reported | 29 | 10 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster?
Visibility & Lighting: 69 of 296 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster get?
EPA rates it 30–31 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Hyundai Veloster?
EPA estimates $2,000–$2,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 6-spd | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 27 mpg | 37 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | $2,000 (low) | 287 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Compact Cars | 27 mpg | 35 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | $2,100 (high) | 296 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 65 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 31 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 38 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 42 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 17 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 26 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 69 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Other | 40 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.