HyundaiVeloster2013Overview/hyundai/veloster/2013/base/

2013 Hyundai Veloster

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 Veloster.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM6)

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster is a passenger car powered by an engine requiring 4.8 quarts of 5W-30 or 5W-40 API oil, paired with an automatic (AM6) transmission that returns an EPA-rated 28/37/31 mpg. Despite its efficient packaging, this powertrain anchors the vehicle's primary reliability concerns, as the engine category dominates a total of 419 owner complaints alongside three separate recalls. Sitting as the highest-complaint year across the model's 2012-2022 history—a stark contrast to the 2022 low of just nine complaints—the 2013 Veloster serves as a critical case study for researchers evaluating the nameplate's early mechanical vulnerabilities.

Model year202120202019201820172016201520142013

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy28/37/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 550 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-45R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.1 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight2663 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined28 / 37 / 31 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Veloster of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.8–7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.80 sec — 2013 Turbo Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2013Turbo Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-46.80 sec15.40 sec201 hpFWD
2013Turbo Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-46.90 sec15.20 sec201 hpFWD
2013Turbo Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.20 sec201 hpFWD
2013Turbo Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.50 sec201 hpFWD
2013Turbo Hatchback 1.6L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.00 sec201 hpFWD
2012Hatchback 1.6L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec138 hpFWD
2012Hatchback 1.6L I-48.60 sec16.80 sec138 hpFWD
2012Hatchback 1.6L I-48.80 sec16.70 sec138 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.8 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.3-32.5 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-30 · 5W-40 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.8 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22-26 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.3-32.5 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub146-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Ignition Timing3 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance10 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.87-.98 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.71-4.38 oz
Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca
Standard BCI Group Number47

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)62.3-68.1 psi
Engine Compression156

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle47-54 ft-lbs / 58-72 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.0002 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0012 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.906 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9013–16 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Do not allow oil on cylinder head bolts. Apply Loctite 5900H or equivalent on the front edge of the cylinder head gasket. Both the upside and the down side. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Apply a 2.00-3.00 mm bead of Hyundai sealant or equivalent RTV to the front cylinder head corners of the upper and lower head gasket. Assembly of the cylinder head must be completed within five minutes of applying the liquid gasket compound.

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
114.5 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9014.5 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 3,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 3,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 6,200 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Intercooler (inspect)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 37,500 miTransmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2013 Hyundai Veloster stands out as the worst year in the model's federal record, with 419 complaints—the highest of any year in the dataset and a sharp increase from 295 in 2012. It also has the most technical service bulletins (169) and the second-highest recall count (3) after 2012, while later years like 2014 show a dramatic drop to 84 complaints and 2 recalls. The complaint trend peaks in 2013 then declines significantly, with engine issues (107 complaints), electrical problems (49), and steering faults (44) dominating the target year's top areas, alongside 32 fire complaints. The data does not specify root causes, but the high volume of complaints and TSBs relative to surrounding years indicates that 2013 is an outlier for reliability concerns. Given this pattern, the 2013 Veloster is a poor choice to buy; later model years, especially 2014 onward, offer far fewer reported issues and a more stable ownership experience.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
169
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
419
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 32 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 419 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine107
Electrical System49
Steering44
Unknown Or Other22
Visibility18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic14
Electrical System,Engine14
Power Train11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V204000Electrical System:SoftwareReported 14/03/2019

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 premature ignition (pre-ignition) of the air/fuel… Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. The recall began May 14, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at…

23V132000Electrical SystemReported 28/02/2023

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. 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 169 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Z01 Letter2026-05-22Electrical SystemCertain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model…
26-BE-011H DN2026-04-25Electrical SystemSome vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s)…
26-BE-011H TSB2026-04-25Electrical SystemSome vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s)…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Veloster. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2013 Veloster take?

4.8 qt of 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 Veloster have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Veloster get?

EPA figures are 28 city / 37 highway / 31 combined mpg.