Short answer
Among Hyundai Veloster model years through 2024, 2017 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2012 has the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Hyundai Veloster: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 10 (2012–2022)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 12
- Fewest recalls
- 2017 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2012 (6)
- Most recalled system
- Engine (6)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017
Hyundai Veloster Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2021 | 3 | Not rated | Engine, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train |
| 2020 | 2 | Not rated | Engine, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 3 | Not rated | Engine, Fuel system, gasoline, Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2017 | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2016 | 1 | 5 stars | Engine |
| 2015 | 2 | 5 stars | Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2014 | 2 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2012 | 6 | Not rated | Visibility, Electrical system, Equipment |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20222 recalls
- 20213 recalls
- 20202 recalls
- 20193 recalls
- 20170 recalls
- 20161 recall
- 20152 recalls
- 20142 recalls
- 20133 recalls
- 20126 recalls
Hyundai Veloster: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Hyundai Veloster recalls are engine (6), fuel system, gasoline (4), service brakes, hydraulic (4), electrical system (3) and power train (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 4 of these 10 model years, and 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Hyundai Veloster Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Hyundai Veloster?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2017 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Hyundai Veloster model years have the most recalls?
2012 has the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Veloster", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy