2015 Kia CADENZA

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2015 Kia CADENZA has 64 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: upon pressing engine push button start a strong odor of gasoline filled the cabin compartment during idling while the car was in park. the engine started as normal with no indication of malfunction. as car was put into drive and driven a short distance less than 500 feet from my starting point the g. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

13 complaints

20%

• UPON PRESSING ENGINE PUSH BUTTON START A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLED THE CABIN COMPARTMENT DURING IDLING WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE STARTED AS NORMAL WITH NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION. AS CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE LESS THAN 500 FEET FROM MY STARTING POINT THE G
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE KIA (14500 W SUNRISE B
• Kept up on all regular maintenance and needs a new Engine.

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

“UPON PRESSING ENGINE PUSH BUTTON START A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLED THE CABIN COMPARTMENT DURING IDLING WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE STARTED AS NORMAL WITH NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION. AS CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE LESS THAN 500 FEET FROM MY STARTING POINT THE G”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA CADENZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT
• WHILE DRIVING HOME MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LEAVE FUMES WITHIN THE CAR. I PULLED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO INSPECT TO FIND THAT MY KICKPLATE WAS ON FIRE FROM BELOW THE KICKPLATE. I PULLED THE PANEL OFF AND DOUSED OUT THE FLAME. NOW WITH THE VEHICLE HOME I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE
• I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TUESDAY EVENING, THEN I NOTICED MY HEAD LIGHTS FLICKER TWICE. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT THEN THEY SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. I FLIPPED THE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH UNTIL IT TURNED ON. THEN 5 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE THEY COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THEY NEVER CAME BACK ON.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA CADENZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

9 complaints

14%

• WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT PATH ON AN INTERSTATE AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH, THE SUNROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WITH A SOUND LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY A DIMPLE IN THE ROOF OF THE CAR CAUSED BY A ROCK OR AN OBJECT THAT HIT THE CAR AT SOME POINT. HOWEVER, TH
• WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY LOCAL ROAD WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE, I HEARD A LOUND EXPLOSION. I LOOKED AT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THINKING SOMETHING HAD CRASHED INTO THE BACK WINDSHIELD, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING. I GOT OUT TO CHECK THE CAR AND NOTICED A HUGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF. THE GLASS HAD SHATTERED AND PIECES WE
• WE NOTICED THAT WHEN WE WOULD CLOSE OUR CAR DOORS IT WOULD MAKE A LARGE POPPING SOUND AND WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS THE WINDSHIELD. I TOUCHED IT AND WHEN I DID IT LIFTED FROM THE CAR. THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT SECURED TO THE CAR! I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR A YEAR YET AND IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE SCHE

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

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT PATH ON AN INTERSTATE AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH, THE SUNROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WITH A SOUND LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY A DIMPLE IN THE ROOF OF THE CAR CAUSED BY A ROCK OR AN OBJECT THAT HIT THE CAR AT SOME POINT. HOWEVER, TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

7 complaints

11%

• The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that the front windshield was loose and could be pushed out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but, vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure m
• The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that while at a stoplight, he became aware that the windshield was not properly secured. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact
• The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that upon cleaning the interior side of the windshield, she noticed that the windshield was unsteady. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure an

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

“The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that the front windshield was loose and could be pushed out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but, vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure m”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

5 complaints

• 2015 Kia Cadenza. Consumer writes in regard to illuminated ABS and ESC warning lights and broken coil springs. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
• The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The co
• The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the heat was activated, and the contact became a

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

“2015 Kia Cadenza. Consumer writes in regard to illuminated ABS and ESC warning lights and broken coil springs. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 64 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: UPON PRESSING ENGINE PUSH BUTTON START A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FILLED THE CABIN COMPARTMENT DURING IDLING WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE STARTED AS NORMAL WITH NO INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION. AS CAR WAS PUT INTO DRIVE AND DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE LESS THAN 500 FEET FROM MY STARTING POINT THE G
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA CADENZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT PATH ON AN INTERSTATE AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH, THE SUNROOF OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED WITH A SOUND LIKE A BOMB GOING OFF. THE DEALER IS CLAIMING THE EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY A DIMPLE IN THE ROOF OF THE CAR CAUSED BY A ROCK OR AN OBJECT THAT HIT THE CAR AT SOME POINT. HOWEVER, TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: The contact owns a 2015 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that the front windshield was loose and could be pushed out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but, vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The failure m
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)