2016 KIA Cadenza Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cadenza years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 4th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 KIA Cadenza. That ranks 4th out of 8 Cadenza model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (6 complaints, 43%), typically at around 75,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 14owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 KIA Cadenza problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 6 | 43% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 4 | 29% | 42,674 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 14% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 7% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 7% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 KIA Cadenza recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling all 2014-2016 Cadenza vehicles. During manufacturing, the front windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach.
Risk: A front windshield that detaches from a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the front windshield glass. If necessary, the windshield will be removed and reinstalled. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC232.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My 2016 Kia Cadenza (VIN [XXX] ) experienced repeated overheating, coolant loss, and eventually white exhaust smoke consistent with internal coolant intrusion. The issue began mid-2025 and worsened over time. Despite reporting overheating and coolant loss to Central Kia of Plano, the dealership…
I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2016 Kia Cadenza (VIN: [XXX] ) and Kiaâs repeated failure to properly diagnose or repair a serious overheating/safety defect despite this being a well-documented and known issue affecting these engines. Vehicle and Service Information â¢Vehicle: 2016…
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that there was water and air leaking through the windshield of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V158000 (Visibility); however, the dealer inspected the vehicle and informed the…
While driving down the highway, I heard a loud boom and my sunroof exploded sending glass everywhere all through the car with my kids in the backseat. Driving straight on the highway at 60 miles per hour and nothing to hit the glass, Something is definitely wrong with the pano sunroof on these cars.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front windshield, after which she observed that the windshield had begun to crack and was leaking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a…
Other KIA Cadenza years
← 2015 Cadenza · 2017 Cadenza →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cadenza | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 Cadenza | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Cadenza | 5 | 1 |
| 2018 Cadenza | 7 | 1 |
| 2017 Cadenza | 33 | 2 |
| 2016 | 14 | 2 |
| 2015 Cadenza | 48 | 2 |
| 2014 Cadenza | 111 | 3 |
See all KIA Cadenza problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 KIA Cadenza?
Owners most often report visibility, engine, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 6 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 KIA Cadenza?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 KIA Cadenza a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Cadenza model years, the 2016 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.