RoadVitals

2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest May 3, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 352 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EngineExterior lighting
Filed May 3, 2024

I have complained about this previously to recall, and it's doing it again. My engine shut off while driving its happened on the Fred harrman bridge twice now. All the dashboard lights come on and the engine shuts off I had to put it in neutral and restart it. It very dangerous and scarey experience. Also one of my passerger head light doesn't come on sometimes and the back driver side tail light. I can get out and hit it then it will come on. I have been pulled over by the police for it once before I told them it works just hit it. He did told me to get that fixed and gave me a warning. I can't afford to eletbeledtrical done little alone an engine please help. Call should have the first report as well.

NHTSA ID
11586717
Incident
Apr 29, 2024
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 18, 2023

Per the mandated law in September of 2001 all vehicles sold in the United States are required to have a trunk release on the inside. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe does not. The 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe small SUV are very known for the lights to go out due to condensation in the tail lights. So needless to say it was built poorly as an owner like myself has to constantly change the tail lights or be rear-ended because I have NO brake lights. To me this is a serious issue. One that Hyundai has failed to correct. However, I recently took my vehicle in to be serviced and to have the tails lights changed. The dealership Lithia Hyundai of Alaska informed me they could not do them because I had to much water in the tail light cover and that they couldn't get into the trunk due to my junction box having failure. Well I suggested they fix the light cover and change the bulbs so I wouldn't get hit from the back. Service advise there was NO way to open the trunk from the inside. That I had to pay 5000.00 to fix one part to be able to open the trunk. I advised that was illegal per NHTSA and they stated they never heard of that. I would like to make this complaint because even though I cannot get one thing fix I should still be able to get my trunk open from the inside, to fix my brake light bulbs.

NHTSA ID
11550541
Incident
Aug 4, 2023
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2023

Brake lights keep failing. Have replaced wiring harness, bulbs and brake switch twice now. Super unsafe to not have brake lights on your vehical

NHTSA ID
11529887
Incident
Jun 28, 2023
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 22, 2019

RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY LEAKS WATER SHORTING OUT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHT, THIS SHOULD BE A PRODUCT RECALL

NHTSA ID
11221930
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 14, 2019

ADD MY REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FILLING WITH WATER AND CONDENSATION TO THE LIST OF COMPLAINTS. BACK UP AND BRAKE LIGHT BULBS MUST BE REPLACED AFTER ANY HEAVY RAIN EVENT.

NHTSA ID
11196094
Incident
Jan 14, 2019
Mileage
50,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 7, 2018

DRIVER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS COLLECTING CONDENSATION IN IT, CAUSING TAIL LIGHT BULBS TO CRACK AND BLOW OUT. SEVERAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS SHOW FIXES, SO THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11061000
Incident
Nov 1, 2017
Mileage
45,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 15, 2017

DRIVER TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS COLLECTING CONDENSATION IN IT.

NHTSA ID
11046375
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 28, 2017

A SAFETY ACCIDENT HAS NOT HAPPEN WITH MY VEHICLE BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING SOMEWHERE AT NIGHT SINCE MY FRONT DOME LIGHTS HAVE QUIT WORKING WHEN I OPEN MY DOOR. I DON'T HAVE ANY WARRANTY BECAUSE Y'ALL TOOK AWAY THE GOOD WARRANTY SINCE THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY MY MOTHER'S.PLEASE RECALL

NHTSA ID
11011187
Incident
Apr 2, 2017
Mileage
28,699 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 1, 2017

MOISTURE INSIDE BOTH TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES

NHTSA ID
10992602
Incident
May 18, 2017
Mileage
140,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2017

REAR DRIVERS TAIL LIGHT FILLING UP WITH WATER.

NHTSA ID
10969239
Incident
Feb 2, 2017
Mileage
38,000 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed May 24, 2015

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, IT GOT DARK, SO I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS ( THE LOW BEAMS) I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, THEY SEEMED FINE BUT WHEN I EXITED THE FREEWAY ONTO A DARK SURFACE ROAD, I WAS UNABLE TO SEE MORE THAN 30 FEET AHEAD OF ME . THERE WAS TOTAL BLACKNESS ABOVE THE LIGHTS. THEY ARE NOT SET PROPERLY.I LOOKED ONLINE TO RESEARCH IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT THAT IT IS COMMON AND PEOPLE ARE JUST DRIVING WITH THEIR HIGHBEAMS ON TO CORRECT THIS THE LOW BEAMS ARE SET AT A TERRIBLE ANGLE, IT'S CRAZY HOW BAD THEY ARE. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND CAN NOT USE THE LOW BEAMS AT ALL. THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH INTO THE DISTANCE TO MAKE DRIVING AT NIGHT , SAFE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALER 11 DAYS AGO. I DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT, HAD I DONE SO I WOULD HAVE ASKED TO HAVE THE LIGHTS ADJUSTED.I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS, AS I BELIEVE THIS MODEL VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED TO HAVE THE HEAD LIGHT ADJUSTMENT FIXED IN ORDER TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT AND AS NOT TO BLIND OTHER DRIVERS BY DRIVING WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON.

NHTSA ID
10721192
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
16,130 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY. WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE DOWN A HILL, SHE STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROVIDED LIMITED VIEW. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE ILLUMINATED IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO SPECIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 08/23/12*LJ UPDATED 08/23/12

NHTSA ID
10463140
Incident
Feb 27, 2012
Mileage
5 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .