Reliability & cost of ownership
Kia Cadenza Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Kia Cadenza? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Kia Cadenza problems by model year
12 recall entries and 218 owner complaints on file across 7 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Cadenza | 1 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2019 Cadenza | 1 | 5 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2018 Cadenza | 1 | 7 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 Cadenza | 2 | 33 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 Cadenza | 2 | 14 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 Cadenza | 2 | 48 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 Cadenza | 3 | 111 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Kia Cadenza, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine64 complaints
- unknown or other34 complaints
- electrical system33 complaints
- visibility25 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic24 complaints
- steering18 complaints
- structure12 complaints
- service brakes11 complaints