Engine. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

3 reports

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4,100 miles · Feb 11, 2015

Air BagsEquipment Adaptive/mobilityCrash

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I PURCHASED A KIA CADENZA IN SEPT. 2014. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I SELECTED THIS VEHICLE WAS THE SAFETY RECORD OF THE VEHICLE. THIS KIA CADENZA CAME WITH DUAL FRONT AND REAR SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIRBAGS. ON JAN. 19TH, 2015 I WAS BROAD SIDED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. MY KIA WAS HIT WITH GREAT FORCE AT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. THE IMPACT SENT MY CAR INTO A CIRCULAR SPIN. MY KIA HAD A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR WHERE THE REAR SEAT WAS EXPOSED. THE IMPACT WAS TREMENDOUS AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO FRONT, REAR OR SIDE CURTAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. I TALKED TO THE KIA CORPORATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND ASKED WHY NO AIR BAG WENT OFF. THAT WAS A WEEK AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND I AM STILL WAITING ON THAT PHONE CALL. THESE INCIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DETECTING IMPACT AND FORCE OF IMPACT TOTALLY FAILED...UPDATED 02/24/15*BF *TR UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10682794

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2014

Air Bags

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THE 2014 CADENZA DOES NOT OFFERS A HEIGHT SEAT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SO IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE TO GET IT AND OUT. I CALLED KIA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS I GET THE 2015 MODEL. SO I BOUGHT A SEAT CUSHION TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT . THE PROBLEM NOW IS THAT THE " OFF WARNING LIGHT" FOR THE AIR BAGS DOES NOT ACTIVATE TO ON WHEN YOU SEAT, WHICH MEANS THAT IF THERE'S IS AN ACCIDENT, THOSE BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AND COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC INJURIES. KIA STATES THAT PROBLEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED.MANY CADENZA OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649022

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2014

Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10605003

Official recalls

23V652000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Sep 25, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

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.

22V158000 · Visibility:windshield

Mar 15, 2022

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A front windshield that detaches from a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

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.

14V289000 · Wheels

May 30, 2014

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A wheel fracture could cause the circular rim to separate, resulting in a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

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.