I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about the location of the rear lights, but I’m wondering if there’s a potential safety issue. Specifically with the turn signals and how low they are—could there be situations where a vehicle behind you won’t see your signal? Thoughts?
I’ve also heard the lights are low to accommodate the taller tailgate opening, but I’m not sure of the technical reason. Can anyone explain?
There are hundreds of millions of cars on the road with similar or lower taillights.
It’s not lower than the turn signals on the 2020 Santa Fe.
Don’t overthink this—signals are bright and visible. Nothing to worry about.
No safety issue here. The signals are only about an inch lower than those on the Ford Flex. Plus, there’s the high-mount third brake light above the rear window.
You’re correct about the design reasoning. The lower placement allowed for wider liftgate struts and a larger opening. It wouldn’t make sense to have all that space and a small entry point.
Hyundai designers treated the tailgate as a gateway for activities like tailgating, picnics, and stargazing. As a result, the opening is significantly larger, with 57 inches more space than the previous generation.
@Monroe
A good comparison is the Ioniq 9, which uses similar lift struts, but the vertical taillights mean the lift struts are mounted inboard, making the liftgate opening much narrower than the Santa Fe’s.
A Santa Fe driver next to me probably thought I was being rude for not letting her over, but the truth is I didn’t even see her turn signal until she got farther ahead. Horrible placement for the turn signals.
@Marlon
Maybe it’s not the signal placement. Maybe it’s people following too closely. In real life, people don’t leave enough space, but if they’re tailgating, they can’t blame the signal placement.
Derry said:
@Marlon
Maybe it’s not the signal placement. Maybe it’s people following too closely. In real life, people don’t leave enough space, but if they’re tailgating, they can’t blame the signal placement.
She was in the lane next to me trying to merge ahead, but I didn’t notice her signal because it was below my line of sight. She eventually squeezed in, and that’s when I realized she’d been signaling.
This reminds me of the 2024 Nissan Rogue I rented—it has tiny front lights. The Santa Fe’s lights are obvious by comparison. When dealing with clueless pedestrians, I use the hazards because they’re super bright on the Santa Fe. 
The lights are at the same height as my spouse’s Civic. They only seem low because the Santa Fe is a tall vehicle.
I was initially concerned about trucks tailgating me not seeing them, but then I figured—if they’re tailgating, that’s their problem.