Tailgate Hardware and Rear Wiper Passthrough on the Santa Fe
The rear liftgate on this Santa Fe uses a curved, deep-tinted stationary back glass that houses a dedicated pass-through hole near the bottom edge. Unlike vehicles where the wiper arm mounts to the steel below the window, this setup requires the rear wiper motor spindle and its protective rubber grommet to penetrate directly through the tempered glass pane. When this rear window shatters, the wiper assembly is left suspended by the motor shaft, meaning the mechanical drive inside the inner tailgate door must be unbolted and freed to clear broken fragments before fresh aftermarket glass can sit flush.
Because the tailgate itself is a single-piece stamped steel shell, the fit of the back window governs how the exterior plastic garnishes sit along the edges. The glass aligns beneath an overhanging upper roof spoiler that conceals the center high-mount stop lamp, while the vertical side garnishes frame the perimeter. If you drive an SE, SEL, rugged XRT, Limited, or Calligraphy trim, the glass perimeter profile remains consistent, whether your tailgate operates manually or utilizes the motorized Smart Power Liftgate struts that exert continuous mechanical tension along the hinges.
Electrical Terminals and Liftgate Clearances on TM Models
Fourth-generation Santa Fe TM models rely on an embedded horizontal grid pattern across the glass viewing area to melt frost and ice, powered by heavy-gauge wiring harness tabs soldered at the outer edges. These terminals are notoriously vulnerable when rear cargo shifts inside the trunk space, as a single hard knock from luggage or sports gear can shear the connector right off the printed ceramic base. Once a connection tab breaks from the glass substrate, the rear defroster circuit fails entirely, requiring a total window replacement to restore visibility in cold weather.
When you contact me with a blown rear window, I aim to be at your vehicle roughly an hour after we confirm the booking so the open trunk space is not exposed to bad weather. Once on-site, I detach the interior tailgate trim panels to access the defroster wiring leads and clear glass fragments that fall down into the bottom latch cavity. The backup camera—which has seen separate dealer recalls on these model years due to moisture intrusion—sits on the lower exterior liftgate garnish rather than the glass, so all factory camera wiring remains untouched inside the exterior handle pocket while the heating grid connects back to the main body harness.
Replacing OEM 87110-S1000 and 87110-S1100 Variants
Hyundai produced multiple factory variations for this tailgate window under OEM part numbers 87110-S1000 and 87110-S1100, though both share the same exterior dimensions, dark privacy frit border, and pre-cut wiper opening. While the front windshield on the 2019 to 2023 models was subject to a broad factory safety recall regarding improper adhesion, the rear glass was never included in that campaign; instead, back glass failures on this platform almost always stem from direct physical impact to the tempered edge, severe cold-weather thermal stress on the defroster lines, or cargo strike damage.
Installing quality aftermarket replacement glass restores the acoustic barrier and the structural rigidity of the rear hatch. The replacement unit matches the deep factory solar privacy tint of the rear quarter windows, concealing rear luggage from outside view without needing additional films. Securing the lower wiper pivot grommet during the replacement ensures moisture cannot seep through the glass bore into the wiper motor gear housing, keeping the rear window defroster and clearing systems operating smoothly through heavy road spray and freezing temperatures.
