2020 Hyundai Tucson: engine knocking or ticking

Filed Sep 25, 2026 · Engine · CA

On XXX, while driving at freeway speed in [XXX] with my [XXX] son in the back seat, the engine of my 2020 Hyundai Tucson (2.4L Theta II GDI, approx. 99,108 miles) seized suddenly and without warning. I lost all motive power in moving traffic and coasted to the shoulder, where my son and I sat stranded for 30 minutes with smoke and a burning smell coming from the engine while waiting for a tow. No warning lamps or messages appeared before the failure. COMPONENT FAILED: Engine. Tustin Hyundai ([XXX]) diagnosed the failure on RO XXX: engine seized; connecting rod pierced through the bottom of the engine block due to internal catastrophic failure at the crankshaft/bearings; starter had a burnt smell. The dealer recommends full long block replacement. The vehicle remains at Tustin Hyundai and is available for inspection upon request. CONFIRMED BY: Hyundai dealership technician (diagnosis on RO XXX) and an insurance adjuster (National General/Allstate claim XXX, Estimate of Record on file). A goodwill request was submitted to Hyundai Motor America and denied. RELEVANT DEFECT HISTORY: This is the same connecting rod bearing failure mode for which Hyundai extended a Limited Lifetime Warranty on 2018-2019 Tucson vehicles with the same Theta II 2.4L GDI engine (TSB 22-EM-001H-1/TXXI). Hyundai Service Campaign 9C2 (Theta II ECU software update, issued XXX) was open and incomplete on my VIN at the time of failure and was performed only at the post-failure service visit. Oil consumption without external leaks, a documented characteristic of this engine defect, was present before the failure. SAFETY RISK: Sudden total loss of motive power at highway speed in traffic with a child aboard created a serious risk of collision, and the 30-minute roadside wait exposed us to passing traffic. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 28, 2026 · Engine · UT

The engine lost power while driving, and the vehicle entered a reduced-power mode. The check engine light began flashing, and the engine made a loud knocking noise during acceleration. A diagnostic scan showed code P1326 (Knock Sensor Signal Range/Performance). The knock sensor was replaced, and the engine oil was refilled after discovering an oil leak. The vehicle operated normally for a short time, but the same symptoms returned. The vehicle is available for inspection. The vehicle suddenly lost power while traveling approximately 70 mph on the highway, making it difficult to maintain speed and safely keep up with traffic. This created a risk of being struck by other vehicles or causing an accident. The problem has since recurred during normal driving. The problem has been reproduced multiple times. A diagnostic scanner consistently identified code P1326. The knock sensor was replaced and the engine oil was replenished, but the same symptoms returned after several trips. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a Hyundai dealership. The vehicle has been inspected by the owner and a family mechanic who replaced the knock sensor and identified an engine oil leak. It has not yet been inspected by Hyundai, law enforcement, or an insurance representative. There were no warning lights or messages indicating low engine oil or an oil leak before the failure occurred. I had the engine oil changed approximately one month before the incident. While driving on the highway at approximately 70 mph, the vehicle suddenly lost power, the check engine light began flashing, and the engine started making a loud knocking noise. After inspecting the vehicle, we discovered it had an engine oil leak and the oil level was low. Before the loss of power, there were no warning signs that the engine was losing oil or that there was an oil leak.

Filed Jul 18, 2026 · Engine · NY

Tried passing someone on the thruway, as I was about to the car jerked a bit then started decelerating. The check engine light started flashing and so did the oil light. Read the code as cylinder 3 misfire and a knock sensor. Changed the spark plugs and coil packs then checked the oil and saw there was no oil in the engine. Was told by my mechanic it’s a common problem with these Hyundai engines, it seems the rings are getting fried in the engine and that’s why it consumes oil so quickly.

Filed Jun 29, 2026 · Engine · MN

Vehicle is a 2020 Hyundai Tucson with a 2.4 liter engine: Theta II GDI. Vehicle was purchased new and maintained properly. Excessive oil consumption began at about 50,000 miles. Vehicle was purchased in early 2020 and therefore has an engine manufactured in 2019. Tucson vehicles with this engine from 2011 through 2019 were recalled for engine problems including excessive oil consumption and rod bearing failure possibly resulting in engine fires. If engines were not replaced an extended warranty was given for 150,000 miles or 15 years. Hyundai will not remedy our excess oil consumption problem locally or nationally. An oil consumption test was done at the Hyundai dealer. Conclusion: by dealer and national level office: it's not bad enough to remedy. There were no engine warning lights activated because we check the oil regularly and add as needed. This post-2019 2.4 liter engine continues to be a hazard as some owners from previous year's models had engine seizures in traffic which is dangerous. Some owners reported engine fires. We have not experienced those tragedies but possibly post-2019 Tucson owners should be alerted to potential dangers.

Filed Jun 16, 2026 · Engine · NC

I am reporting a serious safety issue involving diagnostic code P1326. My vehicle developed engine knocking and little to no acceleration and appeared to enter a reduced-power or limp-mode condition while driving. This made it difficult to merge, maintain speed, and travel safely in traffic, creating a risk of collision or becoming stranded in an unsafe location. Based on publicly available Hyundai materials, code P1326 is associated with the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) and may indicate abnormal engine vibration, possible bearing-related engine damage, and reduced-power operation. Those materials also indicate that certain vehicles were eligible for software updates, inspection, and possible engine repair or replacement. I request that this issue be documented as a safety complaint and that the dealership perform a full diagnostic inspection, determine whether my vehicle qualifies for any applicable campaign or warranty extension, and provide appropriate repairs.

Filed Jun 1, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · PA

While driving, the engine began making a loud knocking/rattling noise and the check engine light began flashing. The vehicle experienced a loss of power and was unsafe to continue operating normally. The vehicle was taken to a Hyundai dealership for diagnosis. The engine requires replacement. Hyundai denied coverage, claiming excessive oil consumption and/or maintenance concerns. However, upon inspection, the dealership removed the valve cover and advised that the engine was internally clean and showed no significant sludge buildup consistent with severe neglect. I am concerned that this engine failure may be related to known Hyundai engine issues involving the 2.4L GDI engine. The failure occurred well before the expected service life of the engine and created a potential safety hazard due to the loss of power while driving. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this failure and determine whether similar failures are occurring in 2020 Hyundai Tucson vehicles equipped with the 2.4L GDI engine.

Filed Aug 12, 2025 · Engine · 83,500 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. While the contact’s daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud knocking sound coming from the vehicle before the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 83,500.

Filed Feb 25, 2025 · Engine · NC

2020 Hyundai Tuscon engine continually consumes an excess amount of oil on a weekly basis causing cylinder knocks. This vehicle has been routinely maintainanced and continues to experience this issue which is an issue known by the manufacturer and has yet to be addressed seriously by the manufacturer. The vehicle is just out of warranty; however, the issue stems from known engine faults that are the responsibility of the manufacturer.

Filed May 25, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · MA

The vehicle is a 2020 Hyundai Tucson with AWD. Current mileage of the vehicle is 58,309. In the last 10K miles, there have had 4 separate instances of a sustained flashing check engine light that has put the car into limp mode. Since the first instance, a knock sensor, catalytic converter, and spark plug coil, among other things, have been replaced. However, the issues persist and have yet to be resolved. The engine continues to misfire, resulting in dangerous driving situations. Most recently (XXX) the car went into limp mode on an interstate highway where the vehicle was unable to accelerate and could not exceed 2000 RPMs. The code scanner read P1326 - Glow Relay Short Circuit. This was just a week after the vehicle was towed to McGovern Hyundai in Brockton, due to the car being in limp mode (XXX) and the vehicle was given a clean bill of health. I was told that there was no cause for concern and the code was cleared. I’m extremely concerned about this issue with the vehicle and don’t feel that it is safe to drive, especially when it loses power on the highway. The vehicle is insured, but has not been inspected by an insurer. Nor has the vehicle been inspected by police. The car has been inspected by the dealership, but that have not produced any findings. The car is certainly available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 20, 2024 · Electrical, Steering · SC

2020 Hyundai Tuscon May I have had numerous incidents where my stereo navigation screen goes black, and then instantly comes back. This happens frequently; whether or not my phone is plugged in. I have stopped plugging my phone into the car. May 1, 2024 As I was backing into my garage this afternoon I started the turn to get into my driveway. I turned the steering wheel tight and it seemed to lock up just like the car had turned itself off. My vehicles main screen went blank along with the stereo navigation. May 16 2024 As I backed into my driveway and straightened my steering wheel position to get into the garage the vehicle screen went black along with the navigation stereo screen I felt the steering wheel tug a little bit along with a knocking noise All lighting quickly came back and then the same exact thing happened again. I then finished backing in and turned the car off. May 18 My husband and I went to the market 1 mile away and as he was backing into the driveway at home the steering wheel locked up then the stereo navigation screen went black and we heard bumping sounds same as before. This happened numerous times in a row going in reverse and forward and we were able to get two videos. After we got the car parked in the garage we tried to open the back hatch to get the groceries out and we were unable to do so manually or with the key fob. At that time, we then noticed that the entire electrical system was down. I then sat in the front seat, tried to turn the car on and it was completely unresponsive. A few seconds later, we were able to open the back hatch along with turning the car on. At this point, we decided to have the car towed in as opposed to driving it in to have it looked at. We have videos of the issue as it happens. But cannot upload to your site

Filed May 16, 2024 · Engine · 101,196 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently decelerated. In addition, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a knock sensor failure. The contact was informed that the knock sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 101,196.

Filed Feb 14, 2024 · Engine · PA

I turned on a road that the speed limit is posted 55mph and I accelerated up to about 50 and suddenly my speed dropped back to about 10mph and the car began shaking and the engine light was flashing. There was absolutely no warning at all. I had left my house about 15 minutes prior and everything was fine while I was driving up until then. My engine failed. If I had entered an busy highway I would have most likely caused a Major Accident and been killed and/or killed others. It happened around 5:00 A.M. in the dark which was bad enough as I was alone on my way to work. I had it towed to the Dealership and they replaced the knock sensor and assured me that the car was perfectly safe now. But on Dec. 1,2022 I was driving on a 35 mph road and the car did exactly the same thing and I had to be towed again.This time after much arguing the engine was condemned and replaced.