Showing the 2012 Veloster L. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 18, 2026.
About every 2012 Veloster
The 2012 Hyundai Veloster is a gasoline compact car rated 30 to 31 mpg combined, with a 5-year fuel cost of $10,480 to $10,830 at U.S. average prices, based on 15,000 miles a year. Owner complaints total 296, most often for engine (61 complaints). There are 6 recall campaigns, covering brakes, electrical system, accessories, and others; they may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
30–31 mpgcombined; city 27, highway 35–37; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,480–$10,830U.S. average; Ohio $9,360–$9,680 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2012 Veloster. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 296 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Veloster. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
61
1
4
1
Visibility
55
1
0
12
Steering
42
0
1
0
Unknown or other
39
3
5
6
Electrical system
38
1
4
1
Power train
31
2
2
2
Structure
25
1
1
6
Service brakes
19
2
0
0
Vehicle speed control
15
1
0
0
Visibility/wiper
15
0
0
0
Air bags
12
6
0
7
Wheels
12
0
0
0
13 more parts
Service brakes, hydraulic
8
0
0
0
Seat belts
7
2
0
3
Tires
5
1
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
4
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
4
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
1
0
0
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
0
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
0
0
0
Parking brake
2
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
What the columns count
Complaints: complaints that name that part. One complaint can name several parts, so the rows overlap and don't add up to the total.
Crashes and Fires: complaints that report one. Two owners can file about the same event, and NHTSA doesn't link them, so these count reports, not events.
Injuries: the number of people the complaints say were injured.
None of these columns shows that a part caused a crash, fire or injury: they're what owners reported, unverified.
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2012 Veloster over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
NHTSA campaign 23V651000 · reported Sep 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
Park outside
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.
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.
NHTSA campaign 23V132000 · reported Feb 28, 2023 · 25,715 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
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.
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.
NHTSA campaign 20V393000 · reported Jul 2, 2020 · 272,126 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
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.
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.
NHTSA campaign 13V051000 · reported Feb 19, 2013 · 6,071 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
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.
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.
NHTSA campaign 12V567000 · reported Dec 7, 2012 · 4,490 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
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.
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.
NHTSA campaign 12V568000 · reported Dec 7, 2012 · 13,500 vehicles potentially affected across the whole campaign
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.
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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 125 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 Veloster, the latest on Oct 8, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (51), engine and engine cooling (31), equipment (26), engine (8), equipment adaptive/mobility (8).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Audit query AQ23002 Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 Veloster.
See used 2012 Hyundai Velosters for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax
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Specs
EPA class: compact cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Veloster Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
27 / 37 / 31
Veloster Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 35 / 30
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 18, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data