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2013 Hyundai Veloster problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
49%
196 of 404 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

49% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2013 Hyundai Veloster are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 62% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 20 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 46%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2013 Hyundai Veloster have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 196 of 404 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Veloster concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%), and the largest group is filed under engine (171). For comparison, the 2012 scores 29% and the 2014 scores 48%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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
196
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
424
this model year
Fires reported
33
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
6 crashes · 9 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE171 · 40%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM98 · 23%
STEERING58 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER52 · 12%
POWER TRAIN35 · 8%
SERVICE BRAKES29 · 7%

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.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other compact cars with no elevated signal in 2013

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE08/31/2026
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Veloster. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, abnormal sounds emanated from the engine compartment, and the check oil light illuminated while making left turns. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that an engine cleaning was…
ENGINE04/22/2026
The car goes into limp mode in the middle of driving on the interstate or usually at higher speeds and loses speed quickly. This has put me at high risk for accidents when traveling between cities and has left me stranded on dangerous parts of the interstate at times. I have taken it to my Hyundai dealer I bought the c…
ENGINE03/18/2026
As my [XXX] son was driving, his car, out of nowhere, stopped working and the steering wheel became incredibly hard to turn. It put him and other vehicles around him at risk as he was doing 50mph and his car suddenly stalled. No warning. No dash lights. It was hard for him to pull over to safety. We replaced the batte…

Three of 196 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2013 Hyundai Veloster (3)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013 Veloster vehicles that are equipped with 1.6 liter turbo engines. The engine management software may cause prem…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 resu…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
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…

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

Before you buy a 2013 Hyundai Veloster

Questions people ask about the 2013 Hyundai Veloster

Does the 2013 Hyundai Veloster have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 196 of 404 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Hyundai Veloster concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Hyundai Veloster?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2013 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%), the 2022 (22%) and the 2012 (29%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (49%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2013 Hyundai Veloster?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Hyundai Veloster has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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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.