Hyundai Santa Fe Tailgate Garnish Contacts Tailgate

Dan Espersen
ALLDATA® Collision^SM
Senior Program Manager

A few weeks ago, your shop replaced a tailgate on a Hyundai Santa Fe. Everything looked great and the fit and finish was to OEM standards. You took all the right steps and your customer was happy when she picked up the vehicle. Now your customer comes in with the vehicle stating that the paint is wearing in the area of the tailgate where the rear tailgate garnish panel and the tailgate meet.

Without hesitation, you apologize to your valued customer, explain to them that you may need to perform some adjustments and will have to repaint the tailgate. Being the savvy and conscientious person that you are, you provide them with a rental vehicle at no charge and explain to them that the vehicle should be repaired by tomorrow. Under normal circumstances this could mean de-trimming and refinishing the tailgate. Ever Happen? Maybe. Could this have been prevented? Possibly This condition is NOT a fault of the repairs you performed, and you could have prevented it, if you and your team had known about this Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin. This bulletin provides the procedure to repair the tailgate if contact has occurred between the tailgate and the tailgate garnish.

Service Information
Always refer to ALLDATA Collision for safety procedures, identification of material types, recommended refinish materials, removal and installation procedures. Always refer to Hyundai for questions relating to applicable or non applicable warranty repair information.

CAUTION: Read and follow all of the instructions from the manufacturers line of painting materials, equipment, and protective gear.

Vehicle Production Date Range - All

Part: Pad-Anti-noise, #84175-26000

Repair Procedure

Inspect the Tailgate Garnish for paint blemishes where it contacts the tailgate.

NOTE: If adjustment or repair is required, use the following procedure.

Open the Tailgate:

• A. Remove the pull strap and four screws securing the trim panel.



• B. Release clips from trim panel by pulling down.



• CAUTION: Do not remove the access panels. Removing them could cause unnecessary damage.

• CAUTION: Start where the side upper trim panel and main trim panel meet then proceed releasing clips around the perimeter until you reach the opposite side.

• C. Remove trim panel by pushing panel in the direction of the glass (This will allow proper clearance of the rear wiper motor).

• D. Remove the four nuts from inside of tailgate.



• E. Release three clips from inside of tailgate.



• NOTE: Clips must be released from the inside. Do not attempt to pry the garnish from the outside. Remove the speaker from the tailgate if the vehicle is equipped with the Infinity sound system in order to access the mounting nuts and clips.

• F. Unseat the wiring grommet and unclip the wire harness.



• G. Remove garnish.



• H. Apply touch up paint and clear coat to rear hatch.



• WARNING: Allow time for paint and clear coat to dry.

• I. To ensure a sufficient gap between the garnish and tailgate panel apply foam tape to outside tabs.



• J. Check all clips on garnish and trim panel before installation and replace any broken clips.



• K. Install garnish and trim panel in reverse order of removal procedures.



• L. Verify gap is present between garnish and tailgate.

Written by Dan Espersen, ALLDATA Collision Program Manager. Dan is a Gold Pin Member of the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) and holds an AA Degree in Automotive Technology. He has 17 years of experience in the collision industry and 17 years of experience in the automotive industry.

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