Hyundai Terracan: Water getting into the rear lamp clusters — indicators failing and contacts corroding
Water getting into the rear lamp clusters — indicators failing and contacts corroding is a common electrical fault on the Hyundai Terracan on the 2001–2007 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $120 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 7 documented faults on the Hyundai Terracan.
- Vehicle
- Hyundai Terracan
- Years
- 2001–2007
- System
- Electrical
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The rear lamp units on these let water past their seals, and once moisture is sitting inside the housing the contacts corrode and the indicators start failing — sometimes from as little as 50,000 km. It shows up as a bulb that will not light, an indicator that flashes at double speed, or lamps that work intermittently depending on the weather. On a vehicle this size a dead indicator is a warrant failure and a genuine safety problem, and the corrosion does not stop at the bulb holder: it travels back into the loom connectors, which is a far more tedious repair than a lamp unit. Relays are the other common culprit.
What you would notice
- An indicator that flashes noticeably faster than the others
- A rear lamp that works sometimes and not others, often worse after rain
- Condensation or standing water visible inside a rear lamp lens
- Green or white corrosion around the bulb holders
- Rapid clicking from the indicator with no light at one corner
How to check it
Where to look. Rear lamp clusters and their bulb holders; indicator relay in the fuse area
Walk around the vehicle with the engine running and work every light in turn — indicators both sides, hazards, brake lights, reverse — and get somebody to stand outside while you operate them, because this is the check people skip and it is a warrant item. Watch the indicator repeater on the dashboard: flashing at double speed means a bulb is out somewhere, which is the fault telling on itself. Look closely into each rear lens for condensation, water sitting in the bottom, or a tide mark showing where water has been. If the lens comes away easily, look for green or white powder around the bulb holders. Do this after rain if you can, or ask whether the lights ever play up in the wet.
What it costs to put right
$120 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Do all the lights and indicators work every time?”
- “Has any rear lamp unit been replaced?”
- “Has it ever failed a WoF on lights?”
- “Do the lights ever play up in the wet?”
Now check the Hyundai Terracan you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- AUTODOC — 'Hyundai Terracan: common problems and faults'
- StartMyCar — Hyundai Terracan problems and issues
Hyundai Terracan buyer questions
Is water getting into the rear lamp clusters — indicators failing and contacts corroding serious on a Hyundai Terracan?
We rate it major and common on the Hyundai Terracan. The rear lamp units on these let water past their seals, and once moisture is sitting inside the housing the contacts corrode and the indicators start failing — sometimes from as little as 50,000 km. It shows up as a bulb that will not light, an indicator that flashes at double speed, or lamps that work intermittently depending on the weather. On a vehicle this size a dead indicator is a warrant failure and a genuine safety problem, and the corrosion does not stop at the bulb holder: it travels back into the loom connectors, which is a far more tedious repair than a lamp unit. Relays are the other common culprit.
How much does it cost to fix on a Hyundai Terracan?
$120 to $900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Hyundai Terracan years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2001–2007 Hyundai Terracan. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Walk around the vehicle with the engine running and work every light in turn — indicators both sides, hazards, brake lights, reverse — and get somebody to stand outside while you operate them, because this is the check people skip and it is a warrant item. Watch the indicator repeater on the dashboard: flashing at double speed means a bulb is out somewhere, which is the fault telling on itself. Look closely into each rear lens for condensation, water sitting in the bottom, or a tide mark showing where water has been. If the lens comes away easily, look for green or white powder around the bulb holders. Do this after rain if you can, or ask whether the lights ever play up in the wet. Look here: Rear lamp clusters and their bulb holders; indicator relay in the fuse area