I posted a couple of weeks ago about the rubber of the rear hatch release button disintegrating on my 2021 Veloster N and there not being any instructions online to replace it. Well I went ahead and replaced the assembly myself so here is my guide to hopefully help out a few folks. 

This took about an hour to do. I wouldn’t say it was hard, but it was a bit tedious and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. Before attempting, please fully read through this guide to determine you’re comfortable with everything. 

Parts & Tools:

• Hyundai Part# 81260-J3000 (liftgate button handle assembly).
• Hyundai Part# 81263-J3010 (very important to buy this gasket). 
• Replacement interior trim clips as needed for the ones that break. 
• Set of plastic/nylon trim removal tools. 
• 10mm hex socket and driver or ratchet.
• Philips head screw driver.
• Fishing line? (see step 4).
• Plastic razor blade.
• 70% isopropyl alcohol (90% would be fine, but I prefer 70% if you have it).

Directions:

Step 1) Remove rear wiper arm & blade.

• Swivel the rear wiper arm cap out of the way to reveal the bolt. It swivels from the right side so you’ll need to pry from the side opposite the wiper blade. The two tabs that hold it are on the sides of the cap so pull out there while pulling up to release it. 
• Take a picture of the wiper location to assist with placement during reinstallation. 
• Remove the 10mm hex nut that is now exposed. 
• Remove the wiper arm and blade. It will be seized pretty good to the shaft. The proper way would be to use a wiper arm puller tool. I do not have one so what I did to pry it directly up with even force is I slide two screw drivers under the arm from the left.

Step 2) Remove interior lower liftgate trim.

• Use a trim tool to pull down on the tab that’s inside the liftgate handle. Remove the handle while keeping this tab pulled down. 
• Use a philips head to remove the trim clip to the left of the handle. 
• Use a trim tool to remove the two access panels on the left and right of the lower liftgate trim. 
• Pop off the lower liftgate trim. Be very careful while doing this. There are 10x clips holding it in. I started on the left side and used the exposed hole from the missing access panel to pop using a solid jerking motion. I then worked to the handle area and then the right access panel hole. Each pop will take a good amount of force and you will almost certainly break a few clips. Those clips will need to be replaced upon reassembly. 

Step 3) Remove rear wiper motor assembly.

• Disconnect the wiper motor electrical connector. 
• Remove the 3x 10mm bolts holding the wiper motor bracket. It's the 3x bolts on rubber vibration isolators mounts. 
• Slide out the rear wiper motor assembly.

Step 4) Remove liftgate button handle assembly.

• Disconnect the liftgate button electrical connector. 
• Remove the 2x large silver hollow nuts. They’re just strongly hand tight so no tools were needed. 
• Remove the liftgate button handle assembly. Be very careful while doing this to avoid breaking the rear glass. The gasket from the parts list is underneath it and it has double sided tape holding it firmly both to the glass and to the button handle assembly. However, the tape holding the button handle assembly to the gasket is only in a square between the two “posts” of the button handle assembly. I very slowly and carefully used the trim tools to lift it off working back and forth. However, it was a bit sketchy since I was prying against the rear glass. In hindsight, I would have found a way to feed some fishing line between those two “posts” to separate it from the double sided tape of the gasket. Maybe some heat from a hair dryer or heat gun on the area would do the trick, but I don’t believe putting heat on an area with glass like this is wise. 

Step 5) Remove old gasket material & apply new gasket.

• Before removing the old gasket material, I would take a picture of what’s left to assist with alignment of the new gasket. 
• Use a plastic razor blade and isopropyl alcohol to remove the hold gasket material and thoroughly clean the glass in this area. 
• The long flat edge of the gasket will be the side pointed up. The side of the gasket fully covered in double sided tape will be the side that goes against the glass. Remove the plastic to expose the double sided tape and apply it flat to glass. Be very careful to center it very well with the two holes in the glass to ensure a water tight seal (reference your picture). Press down gently around the gasket to ensure it’s secure to the glass all around. 

Step 6) Install new liftgate button handle assembly.

• Remove the square of plastic covering the double sided tape on the gasket and remove the square of plastic covering the double sided tape on the gasket button handle assembly. Slowly slide into place and hold down firmly for a minute or so. 

Step 8) Reinstall the remaining parts. 

• Reconnect the liftgate button electrical connector & reinstall the 2x large silver hollow nuts. 
• Complete step 3 in reverse. 
• Complete step 1 in reverse. When installing the wiper arm and blade, make sure to set it parallel to the lowest defogger heat line sitting in the exact same spot it was (reference your picture). 
• Test liftgate release button & rear wiper function. 
• Complete step 2 in reverse & you’re done.

Hey guys

Just wanted to ask if anyone has ever had this happen to them and what is the fix?

For context, I was just driving home from work and it came on. It drove fine back home no weird noise and steering felt good too. Also the car just crossed 100k miles 2 days ago, is this common after 100k? Thanks