Diagsheet

2017 Hyundai Santa Fe · symptom sheet

Engine knocking or ticking

  • 113owner reports
  • 80,000median miles
  • $9,149median quote
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

113 of the 377 reports of engine failure on the 2017 Santa Fe describe engine knock.

Part of Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (377 reports) · also: engine seized, rod bearing failure

1 recall on this systemcovering the 2017 model year
No crash reportedin 113 reports
NHTSA investigations2 covering the 2017

Tick what matches of 113 reports

111
1
7
16
10
15

Engine knock on other Santa Fe years

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the rod bearing (16 reports), the engine (15 reports), the knock sensor (10 reports) and the timing chain (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the engine covers the 2017 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

17V-578Sep 20, 2017
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

The crankshaft assemblies may have been produced with surface irregularities in the crankshaft pin, causing engine bearing wear.

Risk, remedy and owner complaints on recall 17V-578

All 6 recalls on the 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Santa Fe

DP24-001opened Feb 8, 2024
Engine · model years 2017

3.3l engine loss of motive power (lomp). Closed may 16, 2024.

DP22-003opened Sep 12, 2022
Engine · model years 2010 to 2021

Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.

EA21-003opened Dec 22, 2021
Engine · model years 2012 to 2014

Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.

RQ17-004opened May 18, 2017
Engine · model years 2012 to 2014

Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-226.

PE02-012opened Jan 31, 2002
Engine · model years 2001

Engine seizure. Closed aug 12, 2002.

What owners paid

23 of the 113 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,100 to $11,000.

$1,100$9,149$11,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 48,000 and 101,000 miles, from the 47 reports that gave a mileage.

Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2018: 2, 2019: 3, 2020: 1, 2021: 4, 2022: 20, 2023: 42, 2024: 30, 2025: 5, 2026: 62'183'191'204'2120'2242'2330'245'256'26

What owners wrote

“Excessive oil leaks. When I fix an oil leak another pop up. Im fixing my 4th oil leak. You can smell the oil burning. Engine is making knocking sounds. Hood latch is not working. You have to hold the hood or it will come down.”

Filed Jan 3, 2026

“Engine went into limp mode and a knocking sound was heard. Had car inspected and oil changed but no improvements occurred. Took car to dealership and it failed engine test. Hyundai will not cover replacement under open extended warranty.”

Filed Dec 10, 2025

“I was driving my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe and suddenly I heard the knock sound from the engine and when I pulled over, I saw the oil came down from the engine. I towed my vehicle to Hyundai dealership and they diagnosed the issue is vertical square and potential rod bearing failure. My vehicle has only 91k miles. I want to find out if there is any recall on this issue that happened to my car. Please let me know.”

Filed Nov 24, 2024 · 91,000 miles

“Oct 31 the car was diagnosed with very low to no oil. Dealership added oil and all problem went away. 1 month/2000 miles later, the car began to have a knocking sound while driving on the highway. I pulled over and the oil was low so I added oil to get my home. Re-entered the highway and the engine just stopped. I was able to pull safely to the side of the road.”

Filed Dec 13, 2023 · 2,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 113 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works

Other problems on this car