One problem related to engine knocking noise has been reported for the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe based on all problems reported for the 2008 Santa Fe.
While accelerating to merge with traffic the engine starting making a strange noise. It continued to run and the noise decreased, and sometimes even quit. The next day the noise was back and while driving down a hill the engine died and my wife was able to coast onto an exit ramp. I was able to get it restarted and drove it to the dealer. The dealer stated with the knocking sound and they found metal in the oil it would need a new engine. I could not afford the over $7,000 estimate so I loaded the car on a trailer and took it home to repair myself. When I dissembled the engine I found one of the connecting rod bearings had spun and all the main bearings had significant damage consistent with metal debris on the bearing surface.