The Lemon IndexKnocking or ticking from the engine can be harmless valve noise or a sign of serious wear, so it needs a check.
Fix soon. Check the oil level now. Get it checked soon, and stop if the knock gets louder.
Low engine oil or low oil pressure. Then: worn or noisy valve lifters; rod bearing wear (a deep knock that rises with engine speed).
Owners describe this in 9,685 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Hyundai Sonata.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Honda Pilot | 122 | 7% |
| 2013 Hyundai Sonata | 117 | 6% |
| 2011 Hyundai Sonata | 96 | 3% |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 93 | 8% |
| 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe | 88 | 7% |
| 2015 Kia Soul | 84 | 9% |
| 2013 Kia Optima | 78 | 5% |
| 2012 Hyundai Sonata | 73 | 4% |
| 2014 Kia Soul | 68 | 8% |
| 2015 Kia Optima | 65 | 6% |
| 2012 Kia Forte | 64 | 21% |
| 2016 Kia Soul | 64 | 8% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2012 Kia Forte · 21% 2013 Kia Forte · 16% 2012 Kia Sportage · 16% 2010 Kia Forte · 15% 2011 Kia Forte · 15% 2017 Kia Soul · 15% 2018 Kia Soul · 14% 2013 Kia Sportage · 13%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of engine knocking or ticking
- Low engine oil or low oil pressure
- Worn or noisy valve lifters
- Rod bearing wear (a deep knock that rises with engine speed)
- Wrong fuel or carbon buildup causing pinging
- An exhaust leak (a tick that is loudest when cold)
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a knocking or ticking engine?
Fix soon. Check the oil level now. Get it checked soon, and stop if the knock gets louder.
Get help right away if the oil light comes on; the knock gets louder or deeper.
Of the 9,685 complaints describing it, 1.0% mention a crash, 5% say the car was towed, 1% mention a fire and 0.6% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (64%), engine and engine cooling (26%), power train (12%), electrical system (6%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 80,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Kia (1,689), Hyundai (1,590), Ford (1,036), Chevrolet (986), Dodge (794).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine, exhaust & emissions, fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $2,800 to $8,800, typical $6,000, from 410 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P1326 P0300 P0014 P0303 P0301 P0304 P0011 P0017
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Check engine light flashing Car burning oil Engine misfire Car shaking and check engine light on Car shakes at idle Car jerks when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes engine knocking or ticking?
Knocking or ticking from the engine can be harmless valve noise or a sign of serious wear, so it needs a check. Common causes: low engine oil or low oil pressure; worn or noisy valve lifters; rod bearing wear (a deep knock that rises with engine speed); wrong fuel or carbon buildup causing pinging; an exhaust leak (a tick that is loudest when cold).
Is it safe to drive with a knocking or ticking engine?
Fix soon. Check the oil level now. Get it checked soon, and stop if the knock gets louder.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Silverado. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 410 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $2,800 to $8,800. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup