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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

What owners actually said

48 reports
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2023
Unknown Or Other

This pertains to recall SC232. I have an open case on the car with Kia #15366890. The car was in for service in July 2022 when I was advised of the recall and the parts were ordered. I repeatedly check with the dealer regarding the status of the part and am told that it is on order. In December I was told there were three wi…

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This pertains to recall SC232. I have an open case on the car with Kia #15366890. The car was in for service in July 2022 when I was advised of the recall and the parts were ordered. I repeatedly check with the dealer regarding the status of the part and am told that it is on order. In December I was told there were three windshields coming into the dealer by the end of the month and the car would be serviced in January. According to the dealer, none showed up. As of today, May 22, 2023, the dealer advised the part is now on "international" back order. I advised the dealer that the windshield now leaks on both the driver's and passenger's sides. When calling Kia all I get is I am part of their Premium Care Department and they are checking into the part status. No timely follow-up from them either. The last time I spoke to them was about four weeks back when they called me about a month after I spoke to someone in their recall department. Everyone is nice, polite, and full of empty follow-up promises. It seems ludicrous that we are 10 months in and still waiting on a safety-related part to come in. Kia needs to be prodded to either produce the glass and deliver it or authorize the dealers to sublet that part to a quality third party. Maybe if a hefty fine was dangled in front of them something would happen.

NHTSA ODI #11523288

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2023
Engine

After hearing a ticking sound in my engine, I had it diagnosed by a Kia service department. They said bad lifters and cam shafts had been installed at the factory, and that sometime soon my engine was going to fail and they could say if it would seize or blow up or what, or how this would play out if this happened when I was dri…

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After hearing a ticking sound in my engine, I had it diagnosed by a Kia service department. They said bad lifters and cam shafts had been installed at the factory, and that sometime soon my engine was going to fail and they could say if it would seize or blow up or what, or how this would play out if this happened when I was driving. My car only has 76k miles, and the ticking sound is fairly quiet. Kia refuses to take the safe route and replace my engine. I do not feel safe driving this car.

NHTSA ODI #11522999

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2023
Engine

Kept up on all regular maintenance and needs a new Engine.

NHTSA ODI #11522126

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2023
Electrical SystemSteering

The vehicle steering wheel became hard to turn while driving. This could have caused serious accident and injury. The car also died on me while driving and impossible to turn the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. I then noticed a flashing light. This happened all at the same time and without notice. This could …

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The vehicle steering wheel became hard to turn while driving. This could have caused serious accident and injury. The car also died on me while driving and impossible to turn the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. I then noticed a flashing light. This happened all at the same time and without notice. This could have been a major accident and I believe a serious defect as I saw too many KIA and Hyundai vehicles with the same complaints. Can this please be looked into? The vehicle next day refused to start. I paid $209.00 to get a new battery and then drove for about 1 hour, the same problem. The vehicle steering wheel locked up while I’m driving and almost didn’t turn while I going around a deep bend. Now it refused to turn on.

NHTSA ODI #11501155

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2023
Air BagsCrashInjury

I was driving down the road going 70mph and then another vehicle swerved and struck my vehicle causing us to hit barrier and rollover 4-6 times. None of the airbags went off and me and 2 other passengers sustained injuries

NHTSA ODI #11501130

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2023
Visibility

While driving on the freeway my rearview mirror suddenly came down causing a Crack across the windshield. "Recall on windshield"So I looked up recalls seen there is one for a loosening windshield. I took it to the dealership he said that couldn't happen and there is no way he can take windshield off to find out due to it being c…

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While driving on the freeway my rearview mirror suddenly came down causing a Crack across the windshield. "Recall on windshield"So I looked up recalls seen there is one for a loosening windshield. I took it to the dealership he said that couldn't happen and there is no way he can take windshield off to find out due to it being cracked. It's obviously the reason why. I can feel cold air when driving on freeway driverside top of windshield now that it's cold out. I was sent on my way. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11500241

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2022
Unknown Or Other

I received recall notice dated 5/13/22 (NHTSA Recall #: 22V158). I have taken to KIA dealership multiple times as the recall was for front windshield glass which needs to be removed & reattached with sufficient primer. It leaks every time it rains causing the leather on dashboard to swell up with water and going down into the en…

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I received recall notice dated 5/13/22 (NHTSA Recall #: 22V158). I have taken to KIA dealership multiple times as the recall was for front windshield glass which needs to be removed & reattached with sufficient primer. It leaks every time it rains causing the leather on dashboard to swell up with water and going down into the entertainment system which no longer works. Ed Voyles KIA service dept. determined there was no leak and marked my Recall as Repaired! It still leaks, not fixed. I called the Consumer Assistance Center for KIA America who gave me Case # [XXX] but I've never spoken with anyone in the Consumer Affairs Dept. I have been put on hold for 2 hrs., 1.5 hrs & today, 1.4 hrs., each time being disconnected. I tried taking to another dealer but was told my file was marked Repair Complete with date of 9/13/22. It is not fixed and I have no help from KIA. Please help me! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #11490871

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2022
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

The windshield on my car is loose and leaky - water leaks in during rain and wind noise at moderate speeds. I can push from the inside and separate the windshield from the vehicle with minimal effort. There is NHTSA Recall 22V158 for Kia windshield separation on 2014-2016 Cadenzas. I took the vehicle to 2 different Kia servic…

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The windshield on my car is loose and leaky - water leaks in during rain and wind noise at moderate speeds. I can push from the inside and separate the windshield from the vehicle with minimal effort. There is NHTSA Recall 22V158 for Kia windshield separation on 2014-2016 Cadenzas. I took the vehicle to 2 different Kia service centers and called Kia Consumer Assistance Center, and I still cannot get them to fix this issue. This is a family car and my young children travel in it and it is not safe. please help.

NHTSA ODI #11488764

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2022
Suspension

4/2019 at 34,038 miles front drivers side spring broke while backing out of driveway. It was towed to dealer and repaired. A day or two later after driving from NY to NC the passenger side spring broke. Again car was towed to dealer. Parts were back ordered and car was in shop for approximately 2+ months before it was finally …

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4/2019 at 34,038 miles front drivers side spring broke while backing out of driveway. It was towed to dealer and repaired. A day or two later after driving from NY to NC the passenger side spring broke. Again car was towed to dealer. Parts were back ordered and car was in shop for approximately 2+ months before it was finally repaired. Was told it was faulty materials. Was fixed under warranty. This is a known issue in Cadenza forums online. One of many.

NHTSA ODI #11470133

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2022
Back Over Prevention

Faulty back up camera. This is the second time in 4 years it needs replacing. The screen is black but occasionally the lines will be there. I had it replaced at dealer the first time. And while at dealer for the recall of windshield they told me it would be over $800 to replace camera again. I did not have it replaced

NHTSA ODI #11469765

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.