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2012 Hyundai Veloster problems

The most common problem on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster is windows, wipers and visibility, typically around 22,000 miles. It has 3.5 times the complaints of a typical Veloster model year.

Year to avoid3.5x the typical complaints
Year score
24/100
Owner complaints
296
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
1274 warranty
Worst area
Visibility
Fuel economy
30-31mpg

The worst 2012 Hyundai Veloster problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Sunroof shattered 69Check engine light 25Knocking 25Fire or smoke 14Stalling 14Steering noise 12Engine failure 11Jerking 9Loss of power 9Won't shift 8ABS 6No deployment 6Harsh shifting 6Tire blowout 5Won't start 5

Recalls 6

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/moduleReported September 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 23V651000 · Recall details

Electrical systemReported February 28, 2023 · 25,715 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 23V132000 · Recall details

Equipment: electricalReported July 2, 2020 · 272,126 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 20V393000 · Recall details

Visibility: sun/moon roof assemblyReported February 19, 2013 · 6,071 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 13V051000 · Recall details

Parking brake: conventional: mechanical: linkage and cableReported December 7, 2012 · 4,490 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 12V567000 · Recall details

Visibility: sun/moon roof assemblyReported December 7, 2012 · 13,500 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.

Recall number 12V568000 · Recall details

See all 6 recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Defect investigations

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpened November 17, 2023, still open

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.

AQ23002

Panoramic Sunroof BreakageOpened October 2, 2012, closed February 21, 2013

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.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference 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

PE12027

Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster 127

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 127 bulletins for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster

2012 Hyundai Veloster fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.6L 4‑cylFWD2735-3730-31

What 2012 Hyundai Veloster owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 10, 2026 · Engine · IL

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving 37 - 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle made knocking sounds. Additionally, while parking the vehicle, there was a fuel odor and smoke coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by a mobile independent mechanic, who determined that the vehicle needed an oil change and that there was engine failure with the vehicle.

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · TN · 1 injury

While driving on the interstate, at approximately 70mph, the sunroof glass shattered causing glass to fall into the vehicle and into the face of the driver. This was not caused by any outside object or force, but simply shattered. Upon searching the web, I discovered NHSTA campaign #12V592000 and 12V56800 and Hyundai recall #108. While I was notified by Hyundai about other vehicle recalls, I was not notified about this one.

Filed Mar 3, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · 100,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local dealer for an unknown recall repair. Upon retrieving the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The reverse and drive gears were inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was provided. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the transmission was inoperable, the starter, the engine light were blinking, and the vehicle was slow to move. There was smoke coming from the vehicle. There was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Jan 23, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · MI · crash · 1 injury

On January 15, 2026, at approximately 7:51 a.m., my son was involved in a motor vehicle collision that disabled three vehicles. His vehicle sustained significant damage and was declared a total loss. During the collision, the driver-side airbag did not deploy, and the seat belt failed to engage. As a result of the restraint system failures, my son sustained head trauma and required medical evaluation. There were no prior warnings or indicator lights suggesting a malfunction of the airbag or seat belt systems prior to the crash. The failure of these safety systems raises concern about a potential defect that could pose a risk to other drivers. This complaint is submitted to document the incident and to request that it be reviewed for potential investigation or recall action in the interest of public safety.

Filed Aug 29, 2025 · Acceleration, Engine · TN

After an update for a recall for brake issues, the dealership updated the knock sensor update without my consent. After the knock sensor software was installed, my 2012 Hyundai veloster will not operate without going into protection mode. Hyundai states that they can not reverse the software update to make my vehicle operable again. This has already come up as a safety concern as my wife was on the interstate when the vehicle shut down in 70+ mph traffic.

Filed Aug 13, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · AR · crash · 1 injury

I stood my [XXX] nephew up in the front passengers side floorboard of the 2012 hyundia voloster manual transmission with push start . I stepped out of the car on the passage side of the car the car was parked in first gear no one was on the driver's side . I bent over to get my shoes on and baby reached over and pushed the start button on the car the car should not have started since the clutch was not pressed in but unfortunately the car started and lunged forward being on a incline it was as if someone smashed on the gas pedal I ran with the car as far as I could but it was going so fast I could not get into the car to stop it I was drug trying to stop the car the car flew thru a fence , into the woods, down a steep hill then crossed a one lane road traveled up a hill thru another patch of woods before going up hill and hitting a tree all the while our nephew was not in a car seat the car was bouncing side to side when it went off road to cross a creek so I know the baby was thrown around in the car he had to of been that car was going so fast I was screaming in fear that he would not be alive when I made it to the car now the key was in my purse located in the passenger side floorboard where I stood the baby up at so when I reached the car the doors had automatically locked the car was still running and the baby was screaming I could not leave the baby to go get help so I tried to tell him to open the door but like I said he is [XXX] old he didn't know what I was telling him to do and since the car went thru the fence it knocked the wiper blades off and the metal was going back and forth on the glass and it was so loud screeching back and forth and baby is screaming and I could not get to him and I know the screeching is scaring him even more so I reached up the pull the wipers away from the windshield and when I did baby leans on the door to see what I was doing and he hits the windows button and the windows came down just far enough to get it unlock INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMAT

Filed Jun 28, 2025 · TX

On [XXX] I was driving when I heard a sudden explosion followed by shattering glass. There was glass in my car and chunks flew off onto the road. It was the panoramic sunroof on my 2012 Hyundai Veloster that had a recall #108 the federal safety agency campaign # 12V568000. Hyundai Humble is not acknowledging my VIN # [XXX] although the car was produced within the time frame and IS a safety issue created by the manufacturer. I researched and saw that recalls were supposed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. I previously filed a complaint O/L on 6/19/25. Case# [XXX] and never received a call back. Please help. Thank you. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 19, 2025 · Body · TX

On Tue 6/17 I was driving my 2012 Hyundai Veloster home when the sunroof glass spontaneously exploded (no notifications)then the sound of shattering glass. There were no cars ahead of me and none behind so it was doubtful there was damage done to other people. I did have small chunks of glass fall on me and in the car. Humble Hyundai dealership can't find the recall. I called the main office it's recall campaign # is 108. The dealership said the recall had to be opened back up so they can see it. Otherwise I will be hit with a bill too high for me to handle. Please help asap. Thank you

Filed May 12, 2025 · Visibility · 58,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the sunroof suddenly shattered, raining glass down into the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to provide the contact with a cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 58,000.

Filed Feb 8, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · PR

Subject: Issue After ABS Recall Service on My 2012 Hyundai Veloster Dear [Hyundai Customer Service/Dealer Name], I recently took my 2012 Hyundai Veloster to the dealer for the ABS recall service, where they performed an ECM and ECU upgrade as part of the fix. However, immediately after the recall service, my car began experiencing a serious issue. The Check Engine light turned on, and now the car won’t accelerate past 4,000 RPM. This problem did not exist before the recall, and I believe it may be related to the update or service performed. I would appreciate it if you could look into this matter, as the issue started right after the recall work. Please advise on the next steps and whether this can be inspected and fixed at no cost. Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your prompt response. Regard, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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Other model years

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Questions about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Is the 2012 Hyundai Veloster reliable?

Owners have filed 296 complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, 3.5 times a typical Veloster model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.

What is the 2012 Hyundai Veloster year score?

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster scores 24 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Veloster: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2012 Hyundai Veloster?

Windows, wipers and visibility, with 67 complaints, typically around 22,000 miles. Next is engine (65).

How many recalls does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster have?

6 recalls, covering service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system and equipment.

Was there a recall on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster visibility?

Yes, 2 recalls: 13V051000, 12V568000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Hyundai Veloster have the most visibility problems?

The Hyundai Veloster model years with the most visibility complaints are 2012 (67 complaints) and 2013 (36 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster get?

Official estimates for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster range from 30 to 31 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 27 city and 35-37 highway.

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