MY KIA CADENZA HAS PANORAMIC SUNROOF. WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HEARD LOUD BOMB EXPLOSION NOISE AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL BUT LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT HAPPEND.
2014 Kia Cadenza
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cadenza years →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
54 reports with mileage · 56 unknown
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.
- 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.
What owners actually said
110 reportsPARKING BRAKE GOT STUCK WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE AFTER LOOKING AT MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS % SEVRAL ATTEMPTS ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE PB WENT OFF THEN THE AUTOHOLD LIGHT IN YELLOW AND ABS WENT ON. STILL ON ATTEMPTED PER INSTRRCTIONS TO DISENGAGE THE AUTO HOLD ..YOU TUBE INDICATED YELLOW HOLD MEANS TAKE TO SHOP/DEALER. ALSO ON KIA FORUM OTHER…
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PARKING BRAKE GOT STUCK WAS ABLE TO DISENGAGE AFTER LOOKING AT MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS % SEVRAL ATTEMPTS ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE PB WENT OFF THEN THE AUTOHOLD LIGHT IN YELLOW AND ABS WENT ON. STILL ON ATTEMPTED PER INSTRRCTIONS TO DISENGAGE THE AUTO HOLD ..YOU TUBE INDICATED YELLOW HOLD MEANS TAKE TO SHOP/DEALER. ALSO ON KIA FORUM OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES ONE TOOK TO DEALER & DEALER ADVISED NEEDED BRAKE WORK. THE KIA FORUM SAID THAT WAS NOT SO IT WAS A SYSTEM ERROR OR SWITCH ERROR BUT IT LOCKS OF THE CAR BRAKES WHICH HAPPENED TO OTHERS & MYSELF LASTNIGHT THEY HAD TO TOW BACKWORDS CAUSE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED WOULD ONLY ALLOW REAR TOWING. MY HUSBAND WANTED TO CHECK BRAKES FIRST & BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT ON KIA FORUM THIS HAS BEEN MAJOR ISSUES WITH OTHERS AT AROUND 36000 MILES PLUS I HAVE 44080. I HAVE THE DEALER DO ALL THE SERVICING NEVER MISS OIL CHANGES I WAS ABOUT TO SCHEDULE MY NEXT. THEY ALSO DO INSPECTIONS & TIRE ROTATION. I FOUND OUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING ROTATIONS EVEN THOUGH THE PRICE I PAID INCLUDED IT. THERE ARE OTHER INSTANCES THE DEALER HAS MISSED THE MARK. & THEY ARE BETTER THAN MY LAST DEALER. IF THAT SENDS A MESSAGE. IF OTHERS ARE HAVING ISSUES WHY IS THIS NOT A WARANTEE FIX OR RECALL? I ALREADY HAD THE PARKING BRAKE SENSOR REPLACED ONCE WHEN IT FAILED .. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE MY INFORMATION. I CAN CONTACT THEM . BUT THIS AUTO HOLD YELLOW SEEMS TO BE NORMAL AT THIS MILEAGE ACCORDING TO OTHERS AT THE KIA FORUM. IT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT 12-5-2020 300PM- BECAUSE OF ISSUES TOW TRUCK DRIVER DID NOT DELIVER TO MY HOUSE TILL 716. HUSBAND WILL CHECK BRAKING SYSTEM ACCORDING TO KIA FORUM ISSUE WITH DIRT & MOISTURE GETTING INTO BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES AUTO HOLD TO LOCK UP BRAKING SYSTEM.
I HAVE LOOSENESS IN MY STEERING FEELS LIKE IT'S SLIPPING AND I HEARING KNOCKING AND WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I BREAK I FEEL MY WHEELS SHAKING AND ON I AM CAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIGHT ELEVATION, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIGHT ELEVATION, A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND ENGAGED THE EPB. I HEARD THE USUAL MOTOR SOUND EXCEPT IT KEPT SOUNDING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I DISENGAGED THE EPB AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD AND THE AUTO HOLD AND ELECTRICAL POWER BRAKE (EPB) GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASED ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT SHOWING ON THE DASH AS ACTIVE AND THEN, …
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BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND ENGAGED THE EPB. I HEARD THE USUAL MOTOR SOUND EXCEPT IT KEPT SOUNDING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I DISENGAGED THE EPB AND PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD AND THE AUTO HOLD AND ELECTRICAL POWER BRAKE (EPB) GOT STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASED ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT SHOWING ON THE DASH AS ACTIVE AND THEN, I TRIED TO GO FORWARD AND THE AUTO HOLD AND EPB LIGHTS CAME ON AND WERE AMBER. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WAITED A FEW MINUTES HOPING FOR A RESET AND TURN THE CAR ON AND THE AUTO HOLD AND EPB WERE NO LONGER DISPLAYED. I AGAIN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND THE BREAK WAS STILL STUCK. I ENGAGED THE EPB AND THEN DIS ENGAGED IT AND IT STINKS WAS STUCK. I TRIED TO GO FORWARD AND IT WAS STUCK AND THEN THE EPB, AUTO HOLD, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AMBER AND STAYED AMBER. MY CAR WAS LITERALLY INOPERABLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. SEARCHING THE WEB, I FOUND THIS ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE KIA MAKES AND THE MANAGER AND SERVICE AGENT BOTH TOLD ME THAT HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE.
THE FACTORY-INSTALLED WINDSHIELD WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. I HAD IT IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE YEARS FOR LEAKS AND THE TECH WOULD ALWAYS SAY HE COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. NOW I CAN LIGHTLY PUSH ON THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE INSIDE AND IT PUSHES OUT/MOVES. WHOOSHING SOUND WHEN DRIVING.
WHILE DRIVING AROUND 40MPH, WENT TO PASS A VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POP... AFTER EXITING VEHICLE FOUND A 5 INCH LINE CRACK WITHIN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE (PASSENGER)... HAVE BEEN TO TWO GLASS REPAIR SHOPS, AND THE DEALER AND ALL AGREE THERE IS NO DAMAGE INSIDE OR OUT TO THE GLASS, (STONE CHIP), APPEARS THE GL…
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WHILE DRIVING AROUND 40MPH, WENT TO PASS A VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD POP... AFTER EXITING VEHICLE FOUND A 5 INCH LINE CRACK WITHIN THE WINDSHIELD ON THE LOWER RIGHT HAND SIDE (PASSENGER)... HAVE BEEN TO TWO GLASS REPAIR SHOPS, AND THE DEALER AND ALL AGREE THERE IS NO DAMAGE INSIDE OR OUT TO THE GLASS, (STONE CHIP), APPEARS THE GLASS FAILED INTERNALLY...
FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE BULB IS BRAND NEW. WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHT WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF, THEN TURN OFF COMPLETELY. ALL OF THE FUSES ARE INTACT AND FUNCTIONING, MULTIPLE SHOPS (INCLUDING THE KIA DEALERSHIP) HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND ARE RECOMMENDING A COMPLETE HEADLI…
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FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE BULB IS BRAND NEW. WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHT WILL FLICKER ON AND OFF, THEN TURN OFF COMPLETELY. ALL OF THE FUSES ARE INTACT AND FUNCTIONING, MULTIPLE SHOPS (INCLUDING THE KIA DEALERSHIP) HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND ARE RECOMMENDING A COMPLETE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT.
TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER - I STARTED TO GET A WEIRD RATTLE WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS WAS A PRETTY COMMON NOISE WITH THESE ENGINES AND NOT TO WORRY. AT 62K MILES I TOOK IT BACK IN AND SAID SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. WELL IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. IN SEARCHING FOR COMMON ISSUES I…
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TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER - I STARTED TO GET A WEIRD RATTLE WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THIS WAS A PRETTY COMMON NOISE WITH THESE ENGINES AND NOT TO WORRY. AT 62K MILES I TOOK IT BACK IN AND SAID SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. WELL IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. IN SEARCHING FOR COMMON ISSUES I FOUND SEVERAL TSB'S REPORTING THE SAME THING. THERE IS EVEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT TELLS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHAT PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT THERE IS NO INVESTIGATIONS OR RECALLS. I STILL HAD TO PAY 2500.00 TO FIX IT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT TIME. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SEVERAL OTHER CAR OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ISSUED A MEMO FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS. THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING WHEN I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPACE TO GO WATCH A MOVIE AND WHEN I CAME OUT THEY WERE NO LONGER WORK…
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ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AT NIGHT TIME. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SEVERAL OTHER CAR OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ISSUED A MEMO FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS. THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING WHEN I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPACE TO GO WATCH A MOVIE AND WHEN I CAME OUT THEY WERE NO LONGER WORKING. THIS IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY HAZARD IF LIGHTS ON THE CAR RANDOMLY GO OUT ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENING. DEALERS HAVE ISSUED A RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL NOTING FAULTY PARTS BUT NOT FOR MY CAR MODEL.
Official recalls
323V652000 · 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
1AQ23002 · 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.
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