🔧 Tucson - Rear Window Regulator Replacement

Replacing a rear window regulator on your Tucson means removing the rear door panel, supporting the door glass, and replacing the lift mechanism inside the door. The regulator is the track-and-cable assembly that moves the glass up and down; many replacements include the motor already attached.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 1.5-2.5 hours per rear door

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Support the rear door glass before loosening the regulator bolts. The glass can drop suddenly.
• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before unplugging door wiring connectors.
• ⚠️ Wear gloves and safety glasses. The inside of the door has sharp metal edges.
• ⚠️ Keep fingers out from under the glass while loosening or aligning the regulator.
• ⚠️ Do not rely on tape alone for long periods. Tape is temporary support only.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 10mm socket
• Ratchet wrench
• 10mm wrench
• Phillips #2 screwdriver
• Flat-blade trim tool
• Plastic door panel removal tool
• Needle-nose pliers
• Pick tool
• Painter’s tape
• Suction cup glass holder (specialty)
• Magnetic parts tray
• Work light
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear window regulator assembly - Qty: 1 per rear door
• Rear window regulator motor - Qty: 1 if not included with regulator
• Rear door panel retaining clips - Qty: 6-10 per rear door
• Butyl sealing tape - Qty: 1 roll

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📋 Before You Begin

• 🚗 Park your Tucson on level ground, shift to Park, and set the parking brake.
• 🪟 If the rear window still moves, lower it until the glass mounting bolts are visible through the rear door access openings.
• 🔋 Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the negative battery cable after positioning the glass.
• 🧰 A regulator is the lifting mechanism inside the door. A trim tool is a plastic pry tool that helps remove panels without scratching them.
• 📝 Rear regulators are side-specific. Left rear and right rear regulators are different.
• 🧲 Use a magnetic parts tray so screws do not fall into the door or onto the ground.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Position the Rear Window Glass

• If the window still operates, use the rear window switch to lower the glass about halfway.
• Look through the door access openings and stop when the glass-to-regulator bolts are reachable.
• If the window is stuck, continue carefully and support the glass before removing any regulator hardware.

Step 2: Disconnect the Battery

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to loosen the negative battery terminal nut.
• Remove the negative cable from the battery post.
• Move the cable aside so it cannot touch the battery post while you work.

Step 3: Remove Rear Door Screw Covers

• Use a flat-blade trim tool to open the screw cover behind the inside rear door handle.
• Use a flat-blade trim tool to open the screw cover inside the rear door pull handle pocket.
• Tip: Pry at the small notch.

Step 4: Remove Rear Door Panel Screws

• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the screw behind the inside rear door handle.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to remove the screw inside the rear door pull handle pocket.
• Place both screws in a magnetic parts tray.

Step 5: Release the Rear Door Panel Clips

• Use a plastic door panel removal tool at the lower edge of the rear door panel.
• Pry outward gently until the first clip pops loose.
• Continue around the bottom, rear, and front edges with the plastic door panel removal tool.
• Tip: Work slowly to avoid breaking clips.

Step 6: Lift Off the Rear Door Panel

• Use both hands to lift the rear door panel upward off the window ledge.
• Hold the panel close to the door so the wiring is not stretched.
• Use a pick tool to release the lock tab on the rear window switch connector.
• Unplug the electrical connector by hand.
• Use needle-nose pliers to release the inside handle cable if it remains attached to the panel.

Step 7: Peel Back the Moisture Barrier

• The moisture barrier is the plastic sheet sealed to the door that keeps rainwater out of the cabin.
• Use a flat-blade trim tool to slowly lift the black butyl adhesive from the rear door.
• Peel the barrier back only as far as needed to access the regulator and glass bolts.
• Use painter’s tape to hold the plastic barrier out of the way.
• Tip: Keep the sticky seal clean.

Step 8: Support the Rear Door Glass

• Use painter’s tape to tape the glass to the upper rear door frame with several long strips over the top of the door.
• Use a suction cup glass holder on the outside of the glass for extra support if available.
• Press the painter’s tape firmly so it holds well.
• Keep one hand on the glass when loosening the glass clamp bolts.

Step 9: Loosen the Glass-to-Regulator Bolts

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to loosen the two rear glass clamp bolts through the door access openings.
• Do not fully remove the bolts unless the replacement regulator requires it.
• Slide the glass upward by hand to the fully closed position.
• Add more painter’s tape over the top of the door to hold the glass up.
• Reinstall torque for the glass bolts is Torque to 7-9 Nm (62-80 in-lbs).

Step 10: Disconnect the Rear Window Motor Connector

• Use a pick tool to press the lock tab on the rear window motor connector.
• Pull the connector straight off by hand.
• Do not pull on the wires.

Step 11: Remove the Rear Regulator Mounting Bolts

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to remove the regulator rail mounting bolts.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to remove the motor mounting bolts if the motor is attached to the regulator.
• Support the regulator with one hand while removing the final bolt.
• Factory-style reinstall torque for regulator bolts is Torque to 8-10 Nm (71-89 in-lbs).

Step 12: Remove the Old Rear Regulator

• Use a work light to see the wiring and edges inside the rear door.
• Guide the regulator assembly out through the large door access opening.
• Rotate the assembly by hand as needed so the motor and tracks clear the opening.
• Do not bend the door metal or force the regulator out.

Step 13: Transfer the Motor if Needed

• If the replacement regulator does not include a motor, use a Phillips #2 screwdriver or 10mm socket, depending on fastener style, to remove the motor from the old regulator.
• Install the motor onto the new regulator in the same orientation.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver or 10mm socket to tighten the motor fasteners evenly.
• Torque to 4-6 Nm (35-53 in-lbs).

Step 14: Install the New Rear Regulator

• Guide the new regulator assembly into the rear door through the large access opening.
• Line up the regulator rail and motor mounting holes with the door holes.
• Start all bolts by hand first so the threads do not cross.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to tighten the regulator and motor mounting bolts.
• Torque to 8-10 Nm (71-89 in-lbs).

Step 15: Line Up the Regulator Clamps

• Plug the rear window motor connector in by hand until it clicks.
• Use a 10mm socket to temporarily reconnect the negative battery cable.
• Temporarily plug in the rear window switch connector by hand.
• Use the rear window switch to move the regulator clamps until they align with the glass mounting points.
• Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the negative battery cable again before tightening the glass bolts.

Step 16: Attach the Rear Door Glass

• Remove enough painter’s tape to carefully lower the glass by hand into the regulator clamps.
• Make sure the glass sits squarely and evenly in both clamps.
• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to tighten both rear glass clamp bolts.
• Torque to 7-9 Nm (62-80 in-lbs).

Step 17: Test the Rear Window Before Reassembly

• Use a 10mm socket to temporarily reconnect the negative battery cable.
• Plug the rear window switch connector in by hand.
• Run the rear window fully down and up while watching the glass movement.
• If the glass binds, stops crooked, or makes noise, stop and loosen the glass bolts with a 10mm socket, realign the glass, and retighten.
• Confirm the glass fully seats into the upper weatherstrip.

Step 18: Reinstall the Moisture Barrier

• Use a 10mm socket to disconnect the negative battery cable again before final panel installation.
• Press the moisture barrier back onto the rear door by hand.
• Use fresh butyl sealing tape by hand anywhere the original adhesive is missing, dirty, or torn.
• Seal the lower edge carefully to prevent water leaks into the cabin.

Step 19: Reconnect Rear Door Panel Wiring and Cable

• Reconnect the rear window switch connector by hand until it clicks.
• Reconnect any lock switch connector by hand until it clicks.
• Reconnect the inside door handle cable by hand.
• Use needle-nose pliers only to guide the cable end if needed.

Step 20: Reinstall the Rear Door Panel

• Set the top edge of the rear door panel over the window ledge by hand.
• Align the plastic clips with the holes in the rear door.
• Press around the panel edges by hand until every clip snaps into place.
• Replace any broken rear door panel retaining clips.

Step 21: Reinstall Rear Door Screws and Covers

• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to reinstall the screw behind the inside rear door handle.
• Use a Phillips #2 screwdriver to reinstall the screw inside the rear door pull handle pocket.
• Snap both screw covers closed by hand.
• Do not overtighten because the screws thread into plastic.

Step 22: Reconnect the Battery

• Use a 10mm socket and ratchet wrench to reconnect the negative battery cable.
• Tighten the terminal until it cannot rotate by hand.
• Torque to 4-6 Nm (35-53 in-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• ✅ Test the repaired rear window from the rear door switch.
• ✅ Test the same rear window from the driver master switch.
• ✅ Make sure the rear window lock switch does not prevent normal testing by accident.
• ✅ Listen for grinding, popping, or cable noises.
• ✅ Check the bottom of the door panel after a rain or wash for signs of water leakage.
• ✅ Reset the clock and radio presets if they changed after battery disconnect.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $300-$525 per rear door (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $65-$210 per rear door (parts only)

You Save: $235-$315 per rear door by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 1.0-1.5 hours per rear door.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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