2018 Hyundai Tucson · symptom sheet
Engine knocking or ticking
- 53owner reports
- 74,000median miles
- $6,000median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 14, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
53 of the 116 reports of engine failure on the 2018 Tucson describe engine knock.
Part of Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing (116 reports)
Tick what matches of 53 reports
Engine knock on other Tucson 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: 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the knock sensor (21 reports), the rod bearing (8 reports) and the engine (7 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 Tucson
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 53 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,500 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 60,000 and 95,000 miles, from the 30 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Hyundai Tucson 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 campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.
Hyundai is conducting a service campaign to enhance the knock sensor software to detect abnormal engine bearing noise before potentially severe engine damage occurs.
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
“My knock sensor came on and Hyundai is saying issue is not part of recall or covered under warranty and I have had all scheduled oil changes”
Filed Apr 18, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 53 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 80 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 63 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 62 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 42 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 40 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 27 reports