2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · symptom sheet
Engine knocking or ticking
- 31owner reports
- 75,314median miles
- $800median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
31 of the 84 reports of engine failure on the 2018 Santa Fe Sport describe engine knock.
Part of Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (84 reports)
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Engine knock on other Santa Fe Sport years
No other Santa Fe Sport model year has enough reports of engine knock for a sheet of its own. See every Santa Fe Sport year.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the knock sensor (14 reports), the engine (3 reports) and the rod bearing (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Santa Fe Sport
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
What owners paid
8 of the 31 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $330 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 14,500 and 122,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Hyundai is conducting a product improvement campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.
Hyundai has developed a new engine monitoring technology called a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). The technology uses software innovations and leverages existing engine sensors to continuously monitor for symptoms that may precede an engine failure.
What owners wrote
“- KSDS (Knock Sensor) Engine Light - Had to have Car towed - Nonactive recall for KSDS system for my vehicle, in spite of the Campaign 966 for Hyundai vehicles within the range of years for the class action lawsuit”
Filed Jun 26, 2023
“Driving home from work, engine suddenly make loud knocking noise, then the car was unable to accelerate. All lights on dashboard lit up, car turned off, unable to start again in neutral. Had to coast off the highway onto side of road with no power. Car never would restart.”
Filed Apr 3, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 31 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Burns oil or oil level rises 84 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 63 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 54 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 49 reports