Metallic hum or whine from the engine that rises with revs: which faults cause it?

Documented faults that cause it: balance shaft bearing wear, in the 2.0 Ingenium diésel; failure of the oil pump with a plastic rotor housing, in the BMW B58; bearing noise from the electric motor or reduction gear, in the Hyundai-Kia eléctrico (Ioniq, Kona, e-Niro, Soul EV); whine from the reduction gear or electric motor and bearing wear, in the Hyundai-Kia E-GMP (Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6); mégane E-Tech electric motor and reduction gear: motor replacements and bearing noise, in the Renault-Nissan CMF-EV (Mégane E-Tech, Ariya); electric motor or drive unit fault, in the Tesla Model S / Model X.

NoisesUrgency: Garage soon

Metallic hum or whine from the engine that rises with revs: causes and the faults that trigger it

6 documented faults cause it in 6 engines. The most important:

High severity: Balance shaft bearing wear · 2.0 Ingenium diésel
High severity: Failure of the oil pump with a plastic rotor housing · BMW B58
High severity: Bearing noise from the electric motor or reduction gear · Hyundai-Kia eléctrico (Ioniq, Kona, e-Niro, Soul EV)

What it means

A metallic hum or whine, different from a turbo whistle, that is most noticeable when accelerating and rises in pitch with engine speed. On some diesel engines it points to wear in an internal component such as the balance shaft bearings, which cancel out the vibrations typical of an engine with few cylinders.

General explanation from MotorFiable. How it shows up in each engine, with sources, is in the list of faults.

What to do now

Garage soon

Do not ignore it: if the source is a worn internal bearing, driving on can end up releasing metal particles into the oil circuit. Ask for an inspection at a garage that specialises in your brand.

Reviewed on 30 October 20269 sources How we work

Faults that cause it

Specific engine and gearbox faults, from most to least important (severity × frequency). Below each title, how the symptom shows up in that fault.

- High severityFrequency: Common2.0 Ingenium diéselBalance shaft bearing wearA metallic whine or howl that increases with revs, described by a German technical guide as the characteristic sign of a worn balance shaft bearing.
Source for the symptom in the 2.0 Ingenium diésel^[1][2]
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW B58Failure of the oil pump with a plastic rotor housingA high-pitched whine coming from the pump.
Source for the symptom in the BMW B58^[3]
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalHyundai-Kia eléctrico (Ioniq, Kona, e-Niro, Soul EV)Bearing noise from the electric motor or reduction gearA growl or whine that increases with speed, sometimes with an EV warning on the dashboard.
Source for the symptom in the Hyundai-Kia eléctrico (Ioniq, Kona, e-Niro, Soul EV)^[4][5]
- High severityFrequency: RareHyundai-Kia E-GMP (Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6)Whine from the reduction gear or electric motor and bearing wearWhine, growl or whistle from the reduction gear that rises with speed.
Source for the symptom in the Hyundai-Kia E-GMP (Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6)^[6][7]
- High severityFrequency: RareRenault-Nissan CMF-EV (Mégane E-Tech, Ariya)Mégane E-Tech electric motor and reduction gear: motor replacements and bearing noiseMotor bearing noise, which the entry advises addressing early to avoid a long immobilisation.
Source for the symptom in the Renault-Nissan CMF-EV (Mégane E-Tech, Ariya)^[8]
- High severityFrequency: RareTesla Model S / Model XElectric motor or drive unit faultAbnormal noises from the motor or reduction gear, or loss of traction; the sources consulted do not detail symptoms.
Source for the symptom in the Tesla Model S / Model X^[9]

Which cars it appears in

These faults affect 6 engines. We have documented 35 models from 8 makes with some of the affected versions: open yours to see all its faults.

Engines

Cars with the affected versions

BMW

See all BMW models

Hyundai

Jaguar

Kia

Land Rover

Renault

Renault Mégane E-TechEngine: Renault-Nissan CMF-EV (Mégane E-Tech, Ariya)Years: since 2022

Tesla

Toyota

Toyota GR Supra A90Engine: BMW B58Years: 2019–2026

Other symptoms: noises

All symptoms

Has this happened to you? Tell us which fault it was, at how many kilometres and how much you paid: it helps other owners know what to expect. Report your fault.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Jaguar F-Pace (X761) – Typische Probleme & SchwachstellenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 27 March 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
Jaguar XE – Bekannte Probleme, Schwachstellen & RückrufeGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 5 September 2022 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
The Popular BMW B58 Inline-Six Engine Has One Big Achilles HeelThe Autopian · Motoring press · published 14 June 2024 · consulted 9 October 2026
Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Ioniq 2016-2022 (46 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Kia Niro 2016-2022 (75 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Hyundai Ioniq 5 2021 (47 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes du Kia EV6 2021 (19 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Tous les problèmes sur Renault MEGANE E-TECH 2022 (86 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Fiabilité Tesla Model S (2012-2021): tous les problèmesfiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French