2014 Kia CADENZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Kia CADENZA has 146 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: on saturday - november 22, 2014 around 6:30 pm the car engine stopped and car rolled for few feet and stopped in the middle of the street. also steering jammed and didn't move. it was stopped and didn't start back on and steering became very hard to crank it. the battery was running fine. due to ele. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 2 crash reports 9 injuries

146

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

28 complaints

19%

• ON SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 22, 2014 AROUND 6:30 PM THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND CAR ROLLED FOR FEW FEET AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ALSO STEERING JAMMED AND DIDN'T MOVE. IT WAS STOPPED AND DIDN'T START BACK ON AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO CRANK IT. THE BATTERY WAS RUNNING FINE. DUE TO ELE
• WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, IF DONE IN A START, STOP, RESTART FASHION, IT DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RE-ACCELERATE. THIS CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHEN STOPPING PRIOR TO PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
• ENGINE WAS MAKING A NOISE AND FOWL ODOR FROM VENTS TOOK TO KIA DEALER AFTER A WK THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BACK TO LAS VEGAS FROM CALIF ONCE WE ARRIVED WE CALLED LOCAL DEALER THEY REPLACED ENGINE SO THEY SAID. THEN 2 WKS LATER WE GET IT BACK I BEGAN HAVING SITE THROAT CO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“ON SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 22, 2014 AROUND 6:30 PM THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND CAR ROLLED FOR FEW FEET AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ALSO STEERING JAMMED AND DIDN'T MOVE. IT WAS STOPPED AND DIDN'T START BACK ON AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO CRANK IT. THE BATTERY WAS RUNNING FINE. DUE TO ELE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

24 complaints

16%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWNHILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL UNTIL IT REACHED A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION
• WHEELS CAUSE EASY TIRE BLOWOUT IN SMALL POTHOLES ALL BULBS BURN OUT TAKEAWAY EVERY 3MONTHS
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWNHILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL UNTIL IT REACHED A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

16 complaints

11%

• WHILE DRIVING DOWN 95 S FROM COLUMBIA I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN THE SUN ROOF COVER SLID BACK (IT HAD BEEN CLOSED) AND THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED DOWN ON MY PASSENGER AND MY HEAD AND INTO THE CAR. WE LOOKED UP AND WE COULD SEE THE SKY. THE GLASS WAS POINTING UPWARD. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED FROM THE EXTERIOR WITHOUT IMPACT. THE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN 95 S FROM COLUMBIA I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN THE SUN ROOF COVER SLID BACK (IT HAD BEEN CLOSED) AND THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED DOWN ON MY PASSENGER AND MY HEAD AND INTO THE CAR. WE LOOKED UP AND WE COULD SEE THE SKY. THE GLASS WAS POINTING UPWARD. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

• THE "SMART KEY" FOR THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW DESIGN, RELEASED FOR THE 2013 KDM KIA K7, AND HAS A RELEASE BUTTON WHERE THE PLASTIC KEY/REMOTE PART MAY BE REMOVED TO EXPOSE A METAL CENTER-CUT KEY THAT CAN BE USED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, TRUNK, OR GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE RELEASE WILL DETACH THE KEY WELL BEFO
• ON SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 22, 2014 AROUND 6:30 PM THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND CAR ROLLED FOR FEW FEET AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ALSO STEERING JAMMED AND DIDN'T MOVE. IT WAS STOPPED AND DIDN'T START BACK ON AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO CRANK IT. THE BATTERY WAS RUNNING FINE. DUE TO ELE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWNHILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL UNTIL IT REACHED A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“THE "SMART KEY" FOR THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW DESIGN, RELEASED FOR THE 2013 KDM KIA K7, AND HAS A RELEASE BUTTON WHERE THE PLASTIC KEY/REMOTE PART MAY BE REMOVED TO EXPOSE A METAL CENTER-CUT KEY THAT CAN BE USED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, TRUNK, OR GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE RELEASE WILL DETACH THE KEY WELL BEFO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

13 complaints

• 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
• ENGINE WAS MAKING A NOISE AND FOWL ODOR FROM VENTS TOOK TO KIA DEALER AFTER A WK THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BACK TO LAS VEGAS FROM CALIF ONCE WE ARRIVED WE CALLED LOCAL DEALER THEY REPLACED ENGINE SO THEY SAID. THEN 2 WKS LATER WE GET IT BACK I BEGAN HAVING SITE THROAT CO
• VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN ACCELERATION TO GO ON HWY ONRAMSPS . HAPPENED ON 2 OCASIONS COMPLAINED TO KIA BUT THE.CLAIM TBEY CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMSALSO LOUD ENGINE NOISE AT STARTUP USED TO BE JUST MORNINGS BUT NOW ANYTIME I START THE CAR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 146 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: ON SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 22, 2014 AROUND 6:30 PM THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND CAR ROLLED FOR FEW FEET AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ALSO STEERING JAMMED AND DIDN'T MOVE. IT WAS STOPPED AND DIDN'T START BACK ON AND STEERING BECAME VERY HARD TO CRANK IT. THE BATTERY WAS RUNNING FINE. DUE TO ELE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWNHILL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL UNTIL IT REACHED A FLAT SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: WHILE DRIVING DOWN 95 S FROM COLUMBIA I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN THE SUN ROOF COVER SLID BACK (IT HAD BEEN CLOSED) AND THE SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED DOWN ON MY PASSENGER AND MY HEAD AND INTO THE CAR. WE LOOKED UP AND WE COULD SEE THE SKY. THE GLASS WAS POINTING UPWARD. NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE "SMART KEY" FOR THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW DESIGN, RELEASED FOR THE 2013 KDM KIA K7, AND HAS A RELEASE BUTTON WHERE THE PLASTIC KEY/REMOTE PART MAY BE REMOVED TO EXPOSE A METAL CENTER-CUT KEY THAT CAN BE USED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR, TRUNK, OR GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THE RELEASE WILL DETACH THE KEY WELL BEFO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)