2018 KIA Cadenza Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Cadenza years
- Not enough data 5th of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Cadenza. That ranks 5th out of 8 Cadenza model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 71%), typically at around 9,500 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 7owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 71% | 9,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 29% | 5,625 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 14% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 KIA Cadenza recalls (1)
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 Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
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.
The airbag light randomly came on 2 weeks ago and stayed on , indicating that the airbags would not deploy in the event of an accident. I called my mechanic, who confirmed it was not a warranty item. My car only has about 45,000 miles on it and is well maintained. it has never been in an accident…
Complete engine failure due to rods and bearings (same as all other Kia engine recalls currently active). Ironically my car wasnât included in the recall. Also Iâve noticed that Hyundai has extended the warranty for this same engine in the 2018 Santa Fe basically acknowledging it has a problem…
No prior issues/light on dashboard as the car was just serviced for coolant hose replacement. On my way home from work, the car stalled and loss power at the light. The signs were giving engine failure due to losing power then a clicking/ticking noise. After pulling over and giving the car a break…
Vehicle has been properly maintained and at 78k miles, while at a stop sign, the engine seized. No warning signs from vehicle appeared.
Failure of Oil Pressure Sensor resulting in oil leaking into wiring harness, this is the same problem with 3.3L engines in other models that KIA has extended coverage. I contacted KIA Customer Care and was told they tracked VIN and not enough Cadenzas had reported the same repair. If the problem is…
Other KIA Cadenza years
← 2017 Cadenza · 2019 Cadenza →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Cadenza | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 Cadenza | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Cadenza | 5 | 1 |
| 2018 | 7 | 1 |
| 2017 Cadenza | 33 | 2 |
| 2016 Cadenza | 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 2018 KIA Cadenza?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, air bags problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Cadenza?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 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 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.