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2012 Hyundai Veloster problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
29%
81 of 296 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.

Better than 72% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 81 of 296 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2013 scores 49%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
81
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
296
this model year
Fires reported
8
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
15 crashes · 29 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE61 · 21%
VISIBILITY55 · 19%
STEERING42 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER39 · 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM38 · 13%
POWER TRAIN31 · 10%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
29%
81 of 296
2013
49%
196 of 424
2014
48%
38 of 86
2015
67%
90 of 137
2016
80%
170 of 222
2017
72%
33 of 50
2018
no data
2019
51%
23 of 46
2020
46%
12 of 27
2021
18%
5 of 29
2022
22%
8 of 37
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE08/13/2025CRASH1 INJURED
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 pushe…
POWER TRAIN04/03/20211 INJURED
. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT HAD 98,000 KM ON IT. STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD ALL THE RECALLS FROM A FEW YEARS AGO DONE TO BRING IT ALL UP TO DATE. I RELIGIOUSLY CHANGED THE OIL, ROTATED TIRES, FLUIDS UPDATED, NEW BATTERY, ETC. IN 6 YEARS I HAVE PUT 8000KM ON THE CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MY DAUGHTE…
POWER TRAIN10/02/2018CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI VELOSTER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND, WHILE PROCEEDING TO EXIT, THE VEHICLE MOVED AND PINNED THE CONTACT UNDER T…

Three of 81 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster (6)

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012 Veloster vehicles manufactured from November 1, 2011, through April 17, 2012 and equipped with panoramic sunroofs. The panor…
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012 Veloster vehicles manufactured from July 2, 2011, through February 27, 2012 and equipped with manual transmissions. Moisture…
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Hyundai is recalling certain model year 2012 Veloster vehicles manufactured from July 4, 2011, through October 31, 2011 and equipped with panoramic sunroofs. The panoram…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Questions people ask about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Does the 2012 Hyundai Veloster have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 81 of 296 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Veloster concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2012 Hyundai Veloster. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Hyundai Veloster years are better?

Among the Hyundai Veloster years we track, the 2021 (18%) and the 2022 (22%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2012 Hyundai Veloster?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2012 Hyundai Veloster shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.