Paul's Travel Pictures

Hyundai Santa Fe Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a brake, rear turn signal, parking or reverse light bulb in a 3rd generation 2013-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-001
2014 Santa Fe Tail Light
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-002
Open Tailgate Door
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-003
Two Phillips Head Screws
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and perhaps also the face lifted 2017 model year) Hyundai Santa Fe in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, parking or reverse light bulb in the tail light assemblies.

Owners of other Hyundai or Kia vehicles such as the Optima, Cadenza, K900, Sorento, Sportage, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Forte, Genesis, Cerato, Spectra, Accent, Sephia, i20, i30, ix35, i40 and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are as follows: Brake # 2357, Rear Turn Signal # 1156 (or PY27W), Parking Light # 2357 and Reverse Light # 921.

The the tools needed to access and replace the tail light bulbs include a Phillips head screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver and possibly also a plastic automotive panel pry bar tool.



 
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-004
Loosen Counterclockwise
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-005
2 Screws Removed
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-006
Pull Off Tail Light Housing
The first two steps are to open the cargo tailgate door and move to the side of the SUV with the burnt out light bulb.

Remove the two screws located along the inner edge of the tail light housing by turning them counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver.

Set the two screws aside in a safe place.

The housing is still held in place to the rear corner of the vehicle by two metal pegs or "spikes" inserted in to plastic grommets and also a slot attached to the plastic button head of a pop rivet.

If you have trouble removing the tail light housing, use a plastic pry bar tool or a screwdriver covered with a thin micro fiber cloth to gently pry in between the front outer corner of the housing and the metal body panel.

Only exert force in the rearward direction (straight back) to avoid cracking the light housing.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-007
Two Pegs & Slot / Rivet
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-008
Turn Over - Bulb Sockets
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-009
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Slide the tail light housing straight off the rear corner of the SUV and turn it over to access the bulb sockets.

The orange plastic Brake light bulb socket is located at the top of the housing.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-010
Brake Light Bulb Socket
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-011
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-012
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new number 2357 dual filament bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-013
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-014
Rear Turn Signal Bulb
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-015
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
The grey plastic Rear Turn Signal bulb socket is located at the bottom of the assembly.

Rotate the base of the socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-016
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-017
Line Up Pegs & Slot / Button
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-018
Push On Tail Light Assembly
Push a new # 1156 (or PY27W) bulb straight in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

Line up the two metal pegs on the back side of the housing with their black plastic grommets and also the slot near the front corner with the white plastic pop rivet button head on the car.

Slide the tail light housing back in to place.



 

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-019
Replace Phillips Head Screws
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-020
Tighten Clockwise
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-021
Test Brake & Turn Signal
Re-insert the two screws and tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips head screwdriver.

Test the new bulbs by having someone step on the brake pedal and activate the hazard signals.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-022
Reverse & Parking Light
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-023
Plastic Access Panel
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-024
Flathead Screwdriver
The reverse and parking light bulbs are located in a separate housing attached to the tailgate door.

Locate the rectangular shaped access panel on the underside of the tailgate door.

Insert a flathead screwdriver in to the notch and gently pry out the access cover.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-025
Access Cover Removed
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-026
Two Bulb Sockets Exposed
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-027
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Set the access cover aside in a safe place.

The white plastic Reverse bulb socket is located at the bottom of the housing.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-028
Reverse Bulb Socket
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-029
Old # 921 Light Bulb
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-030
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new number 921 or W16W bulb.

If you'd like to have brighter reverse lights for extra safety, there are 921 LED bulbs available.

Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-031
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-032
Parking Light Bulb
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-033
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
The grey plastic Parking light bulb socket is located at the top of the housing.

Rotate the base of the socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-034
Re-Insert Bulb Socket
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-035
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-036
Re-Insert Plastic Tabs
Push a new # 2357 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise.

Re-insert the two tabs on the bottom edge of the access cover.

2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-037
Snap In Access Cover
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-038
Plastic Cover Replaced
2013-2016-Hyundai-Santa-Fe-Tail-Light-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-039
Test Tail Light Bulbs
Gently pop in the top edge of the access panel in to the underside of the tailgate door.

Test the new tail light bulbs by having someone step on the brake pedal, turn on the hazard signals and place the transmission in reverse.

For more, check out all of my 2013-2016 Hyundai Santa Fe DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info