Quick answer: Wiper Blade Replacement on a 2013–2018 Hyundai Santa Fe is rated Easy and takes about 10–15 minutes. You'll need 2 tools for this job, and parts cost about $81. This guide walks you through the full job step by step, including the mistakes to avoid.
| Part Name |
Part Number |
Price |
Buy |
| Driver wiper blade, 26" |
Bosch 26A |
$32.99 |
|
| Passenger wiper blade, 14" |
Bosch 14B |
$32.99 |
|
| Rear wiper blade, 12" |
— |
$14.99 |
|
About prices: shown prices are typical retail averages and change frequently; cheaper alternatives may be available. Confirm the current price before buying.
💡 Pro tip: Order all parts at once to save on shipping
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps carefully
1
Confirm your sizes
Don't shop by name and year alone: 2012-and-older used 24/18, and the 2019 redesign moved to 26/16. The rear blade is the fiddly one — charts split between 12 and 13 inches.
🔧 Mechanic's note — Tom Becker
Measure that rear blade. I trust my tape over any fitment chart for the DM Santa Fe — 12 and 13 both show up from reputable sources, and an inch of overhang on a short rear arm catches the glass edge and skips.
2
Park the wipers where you can reach them
In winter, confirm the blades aren't frozen down; run the defroster until they move freely rather than tearing them loose. The 26-inch driver blade is long and unwieldy — support the arm with one hand while handling the blade with the other.
3
Remove the old driver-side blade
Lift the driver-side arm off the glass until it holds itself upright. Find the locking tab on the blade's center saddle, press it, and slide the blade down off the J-hook. Keep a firm grip on the bare arm — if it snaps onto the glass it can crack the windshield.
🔧 Mechanic's note — Ray Delgado
I drape a folded towel on the windshield whenever an arm is up without a blade. One slip of that spring-loaded arm onto bare glass can crack it, and a towel is free insurance.
4
Prep the new blade
Unbox the new 26-inch blade and lay it next to the old one to verify length. Confirm the center connector is a 9x3 J-hook saddle; on multi-adapter blades, fit the J-hook adapter now per the box instructions.
5
Install the new driver blade and verify the lock
Feed the hook tip through the new blade's saddle and pull the blade back along the arm until the hook seats and the tab clicks home. Lower the arm to the glass slowly, hand-guiding it all the way down.
6
Do the passenger side, then the rear blade
Swap the passenger arm the same way with the 14-inch blade. Then move to the back: lift the rear arm off the liftgate glass. The DM Santa Fe's rear arm uses a rocker-style mount (listed as Roc Loc 4 in fitment charts) — release the old blade per its small locking tab or rocker clip, and fit the new one in whichever length you measured, 12 or 13 inches. Press until it seats positively, then set the arm back down. Don't force a 13 onto an arm that clearly took a 12 — the overhang will catch the glass edge and skip.
7
Test with washer fluid, front and rear
Spray washer fluid and run the fronts on low and high. Run the rear washer and wiper and confirm the short blade clears its arc without dragging or hopping.
All Done!
Test your repair before closing everything up. If something doesn't work right, double-check your steps.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- • Shopping without the year range — the 2012-earlier (24/18) and 2019-newer (26/16) Santa Fes take different blades.
- • Guessing 12 vs 13 inches on the rear blade instead of measuring.
- • Letting the strong driver-side arm snap back bare onto the glass.
