KIA Cadenza Problems by Year
KIA Cadenza years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Cadenza year: 2014, 2015, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2014 Cadenza: 111 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2015 Cadenza: 48 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2017 Cadenza: 32 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2019 Cadenza: 5 complaints, 1 recall
- 2018 Cadenza: 7 complaints, 1 recall
- 2016 Cadenza: 14 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common KIA Cadenza problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 63 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 33 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 25 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 4 | 4 |
| Power Train | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All KIA Cadenza model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cadenza | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| 2020 Cadenza | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2019 Cadenza | 5 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2018 Cadenza | 7 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2017 Cadenza | 32 | 2 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Cadenza | 14 | 2 | — | Visibility | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 Cadenza | 48 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Cadenza | 111 | 3 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
More from KIA: all KIA models · KIA VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which KIA Cadenza years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2014 (111), 2015 (48), 2017 (32) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Cadenza year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the KIA Cadenza?
Engine, with 63 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the KIA Cadenza have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.