MODELYEARINDEX

Which Hyundai Veloster years to avoid

Across 9 scored model years, the 2012, 2013 and 2016 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Hyundai Veloster Full report
F
Grade 2012–2021
2012 vs model median 5.2×
Model median3× median
Lights & Visibility 56
Body & Interior 17
Airbags & Restraints 13
Avoid

2012 · 2013

Best

2020 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2012
5.17× 170 F
2013
3.72× 116 F
2014
0.34× 16 B
2015
0.64× 26 B
2016
3.38× 96 F
2017
1.27× 28 C
2019
1.00× 36 B
2020
0.55× 24 B
2021
0.44× 15 A

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2012 F 170 reports · median 14,000 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 56

    There is one serious safety defect with this car, the side mirror adjustments (in particular the passenger's side). owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 17

    New vehicle was parked on the street. At 8:00 AM I was informed by a fellow worker that it appeared my vehicle was damaged and there was glass all over it. I found that the skylight had burst upward and outward. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Airbags & Restraints 13

    Rear seatbelts may become stuck under seatbelt guide. Occurs more often in rear passenger seat on drivers side. If rear seat occupants lean forward, their belt may become stuck. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

13 crash · 25 injuries

2013 F 116 reports · median 19,677 mi

  1. Lights & Visibility 25

    Vehicle in park, drivers side window and passenger rear does not engage to bring down window. Also 2nd incident on 10/6/2012, passenger door and window does not unlock to open from inside when vehicle placed in park. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 14

    It started as some small shocks from door and steering wheel. The vehicle now shocks you from just about anywhere you stand. I did bring it to the dealer and after having for over 3 days only a oil change had been done. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Engine 11

    While traveling down the road at approximately 50 MPH the crank pulley fell off the motor. This prevents the alternator, water pump and AC compressor from functioning as they are belt driven. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

5 crash · 7 fire · 7 injuries

The best year for the Veloster

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring Veloster model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 86.6 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations. On complaint rate alone the lowest is 2014 at 0.34× this model’s median, against 0.44× for 2021.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.44× 15 A
2020 0.55× 24 B
2014 0.34× 16 B

Recalls

10 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
23V651000 Park it SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2012–2015 1,649,478
20V393000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL 2012 272,126
21V301000 ENGINE 2019–2021 158,493
20V746000 ENGINE 2015, 2016 128,948
23V132000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2012–2014 25,715
19V204000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2013 16,487
12V568000 VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY 2012 13,500
19V311000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH 2019 12,438
13V051000 VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY 2012 6,071
12V567000 PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE 2012 4,490

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 14,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Hyundai Veloster years should you avoid?
2012, 2013, 2016 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Hyundai Veloster model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Hyundai Veloster?
2021 is the best-scoring Hyundai Veloster model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 86.6 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Veloster have?
10 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Hyundai Veloster model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 Veloster
Complaints in window
170
Severity-weighted
266
Model median (weighted)
52
vs model median
5.17×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
8
Open investigations
1
Score 6.7 F