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2015 Kia Cadenza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 48 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2022
Structure

Major concern for the safety of my passengers, myself, and anyone around my vehicle if a frontal crash was to happen. This is due to the lack of seal/adhesive holding the windshield to the vehicle. Started as small puddling on the floormats in the front and has since progressed. While attempting to clean the inside of my windshi…

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Major concern for the safety of my passengers, myself, and anyone around my vehicle if a frontal crash was to happen. This is due to the lack of seal/adhesive holding the windshield to the vehicle. Started as small puddling on the floormats in the front and has since progressed. While attempting to clean the inside of my windshield I noticed movement to find there is absolutely nothing holding the windshield to the body of the vehicle aside from the weight itself. My concern is; if an accident was to occur, there would be no way to know where my passengers (if they were to slip out from the seatbelts) or myself would go. The same goes for the windshield and the potential unknown damage or death it is capable of causing. Talked to the dealer on the phone and was told its not a common issue and surprised this site has only one complaint because if you can check any of the cadenza forums online you'll quickly see that probably most if not all of these cars will or have already had this issue. Which is very alarming due to the very low numbers per year (less than 10k) that were available to the US market. So since I purchased my car used; the great warranty they pride themselves on was no longer in affect since it gets shortened to a term of the amount of years and mileage the average person takes to pay a vehicle off and once it's no longer titled to the original owner the warranty is pretty much expired and kia is no longer responsible.

NHTSA ODI #11451480

37,105 miles · Feb 5, 2018
Structure

WHEN I AM DRIVING HOME JUST A MILE AWAY FROM HOME I HEARD A POP NOISE SIMILAR TO A BALLOON AND MY KIDS WITH ME AND I ASKED THEM DID THEY HAVE ANY BALLOONS WITH YOU ALL . THEY SAY NO AND HEARD THE SAME NOISE AND I WAS THINKING MAY BE THE TIRE POPPED BUT I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING IN MY STEERING WHEEL . THEN I STARTED HEARING WIND NO…

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WHEN I AM DRIVING HOME JUST A MILE AWAY FROM HOME I HEARD A POP NOISE SIMILAR TO A BALLOON AND MY KIDS WITH ME AND I ASKED THEM DID THEY HAVE ANY BALLOONS WITH YOU ALL . THEY SAY NO AND HEARD THE SAME NOISE AND I WAS THINKING MAY BE THE TIRE POPPED BUT I DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING IN MY STEERING WHEEL . THEN I STARTED HEARING WIND NOISE COMING INTO THE CAR. THEN I REALIZED THE SUNROOF MUST HAVE EXPLODED. I GOT TO MY HOUSE AND GOT OUT CHECK IT OUT FIND ITS STARTING CRACK ALL OVER THE FRONT MOON ROOF. I COULD HEAR IT'S SLOWLY CRACKING WITH SUEAKY NOISE WITH PRESSURE AND ITS LIFTING SLIGHTLY OVER ITSELF. WE ARE SAFELY CONE OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE THE GLASS CAME DOWN.I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH KIA SORENTO BUT NEVER WITH CADENZAS.NOW I SEE THE PROBLEM OF USING TEMPERED GLASS IT SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS THEY ARE VERY SHARP. I CONTACTED KIA AND THEY SAID WILL CALL BACK IN 2 DAYS AND THEY CALLED BACK BUT I COULD COULDN'T PICK UP, NO ONE ANSWER MY RETURN CALL I AM WAITING FOR 4 DAYS NOW FOR A SOLUTION TO THIS.

NHTSA ODI #11066923

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2016
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA CADENZA. AFTER INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA CADENZA. AFTER INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10896365

Official recalls

2

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.

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

1

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.