If your Kia or Hyundai engine just started making a loud knocking sound, don’t panic. You might be eligible for a free engine replacement due to a massive engine recall.

A viral TikTok video is warning drivers about a defect tied to certain Hyundai and Kia models that can cause a catastrophic engine failure. But there’s a catch: You have to recognize the sound and act on the engine recall before it’s too late.

The clip from auto mechanic creator MotorCarNut (@motorcarnut), who we’ve named “Sparky” in previous stories, has generated more than 1.1 million views. He says the loud rod knock noise at startup is caused by inherent design and manufacturing issues for Kia and Hyundai engines.

“Hyundai and Kias, they have a problem at the manufacturing and it has nothing to do with the oil,” he said. “99.9% any other car, it's a low oil, lack of oils. It's oil starvation. On the Kia and Hyundais, it's different.”

Is my Kia or Hyundai covered?

In plain facts, certain Kia and Hyundai models have been plagued by engine problems due to manufacturing defects, leading to issues like rod knock. The automakers have initiated an engine recall and settlements to address the problem.​

Kia's class-action engine recall settlement covers specific models equipped with certain engines. Owners must have the Knock Sensor Detection System software update installed by a Kia dealership. This update monitors engine vibrations to detect early signs of bearing wear, potentially preventing severe damage.

The engine recall settlement covers repair expenses and extended Powertrain Limited Warranty up to 15 years or 150,000 miles.

In February, Kia announced a recall of over 137,000 vehicles, including certain 2021-2023 Seltos and Soul models. The recall is due to concerns about incorrectly manufactured piston oil rings that can result in engine damage. Dealers will inspect and replace the affected engines and install piston-ring noise-sensing system software at no cost to owners.

How to detect rod knock

In the TikTok, Sparky quickly drops a dire warning: “This is the sound you do not want to hear…” followed by the unmistakable rattle of a distressed engine. That unignorable sound? It’s called rod knock.

It happens when the connecting rod bearings inside your engine start to wear out or break down. These bearings should provide a smooth, lubricated surface for the rod to spin on as the engine runs. But when they degrade, things get loud and ugly.

Without a smooth surface, the connecting rod starts to knock or bang against the crankshaft with every engine cycle. You might hear a rhythmic tapping or deep knocking noise that speeds up as the engine revs. That’s the car’s internal components literally smashing into each other.

If ignored, the rod can break loose and punch a hole in your engine block. That, obviously, will be the end of your car for a while.

In most cases, rod knock is caused by the “oil starvation,” Sparky mentions. But the pile of legal and regulatory action confirm that in lots of Kia and Hyundai vehicles the knock is a manufacturing defect, not bad maintenance. 

Kia and Hyundai haters sound off

In the comments section of the video there was a regular chorus of LOLs at Kia and Hyundai vehicles in general, along with a few other notable viewpoints.

“Turn the radio up; all fixed!” joked one observer.

Someone claiming to be an auto tech was throwing shade at the owners, rather than the vehicles. They wrote, “100% false. Every single Kia engine I’ve replaced while being a tech at Kia was lack of maintenance by owner. Got handfuls of pictures of 4-7k miles over due oil changes, no oil change stickers.”

And one Kia owner testified to the smoothness of getting his vehicle services, writing, “Mine did that at 102k miles Kia covered a new engine replacement and extended the warranty to 15 years 150,000 miles.”

Watch on TikTok

The Daily Dot reached out to Sparky via direct message, and to Kia/Hyundai via email.

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The post ‘Sounds like a brand new GM truck engine’: Mechanic reveals the engine noise you never want to hear—especially in a Hyundai or Kia. Then he reveals what you can do about it appeared first on The Daily Dot.

Steph Curry raced past Jimmy Butler, with his hands up and ready for the pass, late in the first half of Tuesday night’s game at Memphis. 

Curry received the pass he wanted and, some 30 feet away from the rim on the right wing, launched a rainbow shot. The ball ripped the net and gave him 32 first-half points, the 22nd time in his career that Curry had scored 30 points in the first half. 

It was arguably the most spectacular of his dozen 3-pointers, two off the record former teammate Klay Thompson holds. 

Against a Grizzlies squad that recently fired coach Taylor Jenkins, Curry played 36 minutes and poured in 52 points overall in a 132-125 Golden State victory. He also passed Jerry West for 25th on the all-time scoring list after shooting 16-of-31 from the field and 12-of-20 from beyond the arc. 

The Warriors (44-31) are the fifth seed after their third win in a row, now a half-game in front of the free-falling Grizzlies (44-32) and also ahead of Minnesota (43-32) in the play-in tournament slot.

Curry was the star, but he had help. Jimmy Butler was also uber-efficient and scored 27 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field while making all 12 of his free throws. Draymond Green had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. 

Brandin Podziemski put Golden State up by five with 1:11 left in regulation when he jumped over Grizzlies star Ja Morant (36 points) for a tip-in layup, and then Moses Moody gave the Warriors an eight-point lead on the next possession with a corner 3-pointer. 

The Warriors, who were a perfect 28-of-28 on free throws, salted the game away at the line.

In Curry’s last game at Memphis’ FedEx Forum, he went 0-for-7 from the field and scored just two points in a 51-point loss on Dec. 19. 

It was arguably the worst performance of his Hall of Fame career. 

In the rematch on Tuesday night, Curry didn’t take long to show there would be no such repeat performance against a seemingly-reeling Grizzlies team that had lost six of its last seven. 

He made his first five shots and scored 19 points in the first 12 minutes, one where Golden State set its season high for points in the first quarter with 45. 

The superstar made his first four three-pointers, many drawing cheers from what was supposed to be a hostile Southeastern crowd.

Despite missing forward Jonathan Kuminga and athletic defender Gary Payton II from the rotation, Golden State had no problems carving up Memphis’ defense. 

Golden State put former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. in foul trouble early, with Moody – who expected friends and family from nearby Arkansas to be in attendance – inducing Jackson’s second infraction only three minutes into the game. 

At one point down by 17, Memphis, led by interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, fought back and cut the deficit to 58-56 with 5:37 left in the first half. 

Grizzlies bigs Jackson Jr. (6-foot-10), Santi Aldama (7-0) and Zach Edey (7-4, 300 pounds) pounded Golden State – sans 6-9 Kuminga – inside. They combined for 50 points.

That size continued to give Golden State issues in the second half. Jackson drove right through the Warrior defense with six minutes left in the third quarter to give Memphis an 85-84 lead. 

The teams battled back and forth after that point, but Warriors came out on top. 

The Warriors finish their six-game road trip with a showdown with the No. 4 seed Lakers in Los Angeles on Thursday. After that, the Warriors will face third-seeded Denver at Chase Center on Friday.