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Kia · NHTSA safety record

2014 Kia Cadenza

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 110 safety complaints about the 2014 Kia Cadenza with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 8 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 28 complaints, 25% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 48,500 miles, the median across the 54 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2014 to July 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

110 complaints on file

110

Complaints

3

Describe a crash

3

Mention fire

8

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 28 · 25%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 16 · 15%
VISIBILITY 14 · 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13 · 12%
STEERING 12 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 8 · 7%
STRUCTURE 8 · 7%
POWER TRAIN 7 · 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 · 4%
WHEELS 4 · 4%
AIR BAGS 3 · 3%
0 12 23

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 110.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 21.

24 18 12 6
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2014 Kia Cadenza. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

23V652000 · September 25, 2023

Park outside until repaired

The defect
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.
The risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
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.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 1,730,192 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

22V158000 · March 15, 2022

The defect
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.
The risk
A front windshield that detaches from a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
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.

Kia Motors America · up to 30,362 vehicles across all model years covered

WHEELS

14V289000 · May 30, 2014

The defect
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadenza vehicles manufactured February 1, 2013, through August 27, 2013, and equipped with 19" non-chrome aluminum wheels. The wheels on the affected vehicles may fracture from impacts such as large, deep potholes.
The risk
A wheel fracture could cause the circular rim to separate, resulting in a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheels with new wheels, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC107.

Kia Motors Corporation · up to 3,107 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

AQ23002

Still open audit query · opened November 17, 2023

the hydraulic brakes

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

2 injured · crash · towed · 8,652 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,652. UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN UPDATED 4/18/18*JB *TR

NHTSA complaint 10781033. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

2 injured · 24,000 miles

ENGINE WAS MAKING A NOISE AND FOWL ODOR FROM VENTS TOOK TO KIA DEALER AFTER A WK THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BACK TO LAS VEGAS FROM CALIF ONCE WE ARRIVED WE CALLED LOCAL DEALER THEY REPLACED ENGINE SO THEY SAID. THEN 2 WKS LATER WE GET IT BACK I BEGAN HAVING SITE THROAT COUGH AND SEVERE HEADACHES AND LATER TOLD MY HUSBAND I THOUGHT IT WAS GAS I WAS SMELLING IN THE CAR WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS FINE SO WE LEAVE TO CALIF AND THE FOLLOWING DAY I WENT TO START THE CAR AND WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND GAS HAD GONE EVERY WHERE THE FIRE DEPT HAD TO COME ASSIST AND GIVE CLEARANCE TO TOW THE CAR DUE TO THE FUEL HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint 10778840. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash

I HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING FROM WORK,AND LOUD NOISE CAUSED ME TO HIT WALL,AS I WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10605003. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 33,000 miles

SUNROOF EXPLODED IN A VERY LOUD MANNER. NO OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF, IT JUST EXPLODED. VEHICLE WAS UNDERWAY GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A HIGHWAY. NO OVERPASS OR VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT.

NHTSA complaint 11011327. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

my car caught on fire while driving, i was never notified of the recall

NHTSA complaint 11748173. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

129,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that while driving through a car wash, there was water entering the vehicle through the front windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the windshield bonding agent. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V158000 (Visibility); the VIN was included, but the vehicle was previously repaired in 2022. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 129,000.

NHTSA complaint 11693699. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

I was driving down the highway at 65 mph when suddenly the sunroof exploded in an outward fashion causing me to pull over. I believe there is a defect in the sunroofs of 2011 to 2014 models. I've contacted Kia. They refused to cover it. Nothing hit the windshield. It just spontaneously exploded.

NHTSA complaint 11690817. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

177,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle independently went into LIMP Mode and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel. The contact was able to coast the vehicle over to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic, and it was discovered that there was no oil in the engine. A diagnostic test was performed; however, no oil leaks or failures were discovered. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer for service. The mechanic added

NHTSA complaint 11662295, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Interior door handle chrome has delaminated. Both my wife and my hand have been sliced open on it.

NHTSA complaint 11655316. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The engine started smoking and knocking really bad. Took it to the kia dealership and was told a piston o ring and gasket went bad because of heavy oil consumption that caused antifreeze to leak inside the motor while sitting still and this was causing the burning smell because the cylinder had gone bad because of this. The dealership states this was a known issue with all kias from this year and should be under recall. So I called kia because the car only has 80k miles and they informed me it's not apart of the open recall because it's a cadenza. What if I hadn't went back outside and seen the smoke and the car caught fire and burned my home down. It seems like kia knows all of these

NHTSA complaint 11654893, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Kia Cadenza

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2017 32 2 —
2016 14 2 —
2015 48 2 —

Other 2014 Kia models

Sorento 987 Soul 901 Optima 586 Forte 442 Sportage 123 RIO 52 Sedona 39 Optima Hybrid 31

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Kia on this site — 181 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst