Kia Cadenza Recalls (2014-2020)
The Kia Cadenza has been the subject of 6 recall campaigns on record with NHTSA across the 2014 to 2020 model years. They cluster mostly around the service brakes, visibility, and electrical system.
The Kia Cadenza scores 6 out of 100 (grade F), one of the heavier recall records among the vehicles we track. That score reflects how serious the recalls are rather than how many. 83% involve a critical safety system, none carried a do-not-drive warning, and 17% were issued in the last three years. How the score works.
Those 6 campaigns span 7 model years of the Kia Cadenza. The single largest affected 1,730,192 vehicles, over service brakes. A recall repair is free at a franchised dealer and most never expire, so an older open recall is still worth fixing. Beyond recalls, you can also see the most common Cadenza problems owners report.
The full record is below, grouped first by model year and then listed in detail. Each entry gives the defect NHTSA describes, the safety risk it creates, the manufacturer's remedy, the number of vehicles in that campaign, and the dates. A recall covers a whole production run, so a campaign listed for the Kia Cadenza may not apply to your exact vehicle, and one you have already had repaired will still appear in the history. To see what is actually open and unfixed on a specific car, check its 17-digit VIN.
Kia Cadenza recalls by model year
Recall activity by model year. Select a year to jump to its recalls below. Older years often carry more recalls simply because defects surface over time.
Kia Cadenza recalls by affected system
Which vehicle systems the recalls touch, using NHTSA's component groups. Select a system to see how it is recalled across every make and model.
Recalls by model year
2020 Kia Cadenza Recalls
1 recall affects the 2020 Kia Cadenza, involving the electrical system and visibility.
2019 Kia Cadenza Recalls
1 recall affects the 2019 Kia Cadenza, involving the service brakes.
2018 Kia Cadenza Recalls
1 recall affects the 2018 Kia Cadenza, involving the service brakes.
2017 Kia Cadenza Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2017 Kia Cadenza, involving the service brakes.
2016 Kia Cadenza Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2016 Kia Cadenza, involving the service brakes and visibility.
2015 Kia Cadenza Recalls
2 recalls affect the 2015 Kia Cadenza, involving the service brakes and visibility.
2014 Kia Cadenza Recalls
3 recalls affect the 2014 Kia Cadenza, involving the service brakes, visibility, and wheels.
Every Kia Cadenza recall in detail
Service Brakes
- Affected years
- 2014-2016 Kia Cadenza
- Vehicles in this recall
- 1,730,192
- Reported
- Sep 25, 2023
- Owners notified
- Mar 29, 2024
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 23V652000.
Visibility
- Affected years
- 2014-2016 Kia Cadenza
- Vehicles in this recall
- 30,362
- Reported
- Mar 15, 2022
- Owners notified
- May 13, 2022
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 22V158000.
Electrical System
- Affected years
- 2020 Kia Cadenza
- Vehicles in this recall
- 451
- Reported
- Jan 21, 2022
- Owners notified
- Mar 8, 2022
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Cadenza vehicles. The rear power windows can be operated by the driver's power window main switch after the ignition has been turned off and a front door is opened. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Risk: Rear power windows that operate unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Driver Door Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC225.
NHTSA campaign number 22V022000.
Service Brakes
- Affected years
- 2017-2019 Kia Cadenza
- Vehicles in this recall
- 379,931
- Reported
- Mar 4, 2021
- Owners notified
- Apr 30, 2021
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
NHTSA campaign number 21V137000.
Service Brakes
- Affected years
- 2017 Kia Cadenza
- Vehicles in this recall
- 47
- Reported
- Mar 16, 2017
- Owners notified
- Apr 17, 2017
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Cadenza vehicles. The brake vacuum hose on the affected vehicles may kink, reducing braking performance.
Risk: Reduced braking performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake vacuum hose, replacing it as necessary, free charge. The recall began on April 17, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC146.
NHTSA campaign number 17V190000.
Wheels
- Affected years
- 2014 Kia Cadenza
- Vehicles in this recall
- 3,107
- Reported
- May 30, 2014
- Owners notified
- Jun 23, 2014
Defect: 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.
Risk: 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.
NHTSA campaign number 14V289000.
Common questions about Kia Cadenza recalls
- Does the Kia Cadenza have any recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA has 6 recall campaigns on record for the Kia Cadenza across the 2014 to 2020 model years. The most common areas are the service brakes, visibility, and electrical system.
- How many times has the Kia Cadenza been recalled?
- The Kia Cadenza has 6 recall campaigns from the 2014 to 2020 model years. A single campaign often covers several model years at once, so the number of recalls is not the same as the number of years affected.
- What is the most serious Kia Cadenza recall?
- The most serious recall on record involves the service brakes, affecting 1,730,192 vehicles. Owners were told to park outside and away from buildings because of a fire risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Which Kia Cadenza model year has the most recalls?
- The 2014 Kia Cadenza has the most, with 3 recall campaigns on record. Older model years often pick up more recalls over time, since defects can surface years after a car is built.
- How do I check if my Kia Cadenza has an open recall?
- Enter your 17-digit VIN on the recall check page. It returns the recalls tied to your exact vehicle straight from NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer, with no expiration on most safety recalls.
Recall data comes from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. For how it is sourced and how the safety score is built, see the methodology and data sources. This page is a reference, not legal or safety advice.