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Exterior lightingPart report

2012 Hyundai Santa FE Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
14about this part
Share
4%of 355 total for the year
Median mileage
45,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE, 4% of the 355 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“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 complaint #11011187, filed 2017-07, 28,699 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10721192, filed 2015-05, 16,130 miles

“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 complaint #11196094, filed 2019-04, 50,000 miles

“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 complaint #11061000, filed 2018-01, 45,000 miles

“This car is made to have water go into the rear tail lights,then keeps shorting out my brake lights. I have to drive with 0 brake lights, except for the top bar one. When I replaced them, it shorted them out again and has been this way the entire time I have had this car. The car should not be made to have water go directly into the tail light when the trunk door is lifted, you can see it and goes into the right rear taillight but then shorted both of them out. I cannot keep replacing my tail lights nor should I have to! It is dangerous for me to have to drive with 0 brake/tail lights. …”

NHTSA complaint #11772847, filed 2026-10

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202421%
202331%
202121%
202031%
201921%
201822%
201740%
201621%
201594%
2014112%
2013163%
2012144%
2011148%
201073%
200993%
2008112%
2007436%
200698%
200552%
200410%
200321%
200221%
200131%

Other parts of the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE

Engine
228 complaints
Electrical system
43 complaints
Vehicle speed control
40 complaints
Brakes
29 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
24 complaints
Other or unknown
17 complaints
Steering
16 complaints
Suspension
14 complaints
Fuel system
12 complaints
Body and structure
8 complaints
Wheels
7 complaints
Air bags
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Hyundai Santa FE

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology