NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Kia Cadenza. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
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 GREAT FORCE AT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. THE IMPACT SENT MY CAR INTO A CIRCULAR SPIN. MY KIA HAD A HOLE IN THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR WHERE THE REAR SEAT WAS EXPOSED. THE IMPACT WAS TREMENDOUS AND NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO FRONT, REAR OR SIDE CURTAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. I TALKED TO THE KIA CORPORATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND ASKED WHY NO AIR BAG WENT OFF. THAT WAS A WEEK AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND I AM STILL WAITING ON THAT PHONE CALL. THESE INCIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. THE SENSOR SYSTEM DETECTING IMPACT AND FORCE OF IMPACT TOTALLY FAILED...UPDATED 02/24/15*BF *TR UPDATED 9/21/2017*CN
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 ELECTRICAL AND/OR MECHANICAL FAILURE WE WERE EXPOSED TO THE UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT ON THE BUSY STREET/FREEWAY OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN ENDED UP IN MAJOR SAFETY INCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WE COULDN'T MANEUVER THE STEERING RESULTING IN SITUATION TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. *TR
THE 2014 CADENZA DOES NOT OFFERS A HEIGHT SEAT ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SO IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE TO GET IT AND OUT. I CALLED KIA AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS I GET THE 2015 MODEL. SO I BOUGHT A SEAT CUSHION TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT . THE PROBLEM NOW IS THAT THE " OFF WARNING LIGHT" FOR THE AIR BAGS DOES NOT ACTIVATE TO ON WHEN YOU SEAT, WHICH MEANS THAT IF THERE'S IS AN ACCIDENT, THOSE BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY AND COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC INJURIES. KIA STATES THAT PROBLEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE FIXED.MANY CADENZA OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IPS FILTER FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,300, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NECK AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE FENDER AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,652. UPDATED 2/4/16 *CN UPDATED 4/18/18*JB *TR
My first recall was on my windshield when I took it to a dealer they told me that was my problem it got so bad I had my insurance company have a windshield put in there was no glue on top or sides only on the bottom you could put your arm out the top of the windshield my dash was swollen and split open they replaced it but now my computer is acting crazy as is the car I got under the driver seat and it is rusted all underneath as well as my steering control I am scared of this car the rusting is all over it I am [XXX] old and could not even drive to see my Grandchildren and they are not allowed in my car and I understand this please check all this out everyone says it’s too outdated but everything that is wrong with it was wrong with it when I bought it I paid cash at that time but can’t afford that anymore thanks again INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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
I HAPPEN TO BE DRIVING FROM WORK,AND LOUD NOISE CAUSED ME TO HIT WALL,AS I WAS TRANSPORTED TO HOSPITAL. *TR
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 BEFORE THE BUTTON IS FLUSH WITH THE PLASTIC BODY, ALLOWING MANY DIFFERENT NORMAL MOTIONS TO RELEASE THE KEY. ON MANY OCCASIONS, JUST REGULAR MOVEMENT HAS RELEASED THE KEY AND IT HAS FALLEN OFF IN MY POCKET. ON ONE OCCASION, THE SMART KEY CAME OFF AS I REMOVED MY KEYS FROM MY POCKET AT MY HOUSE AND THE KEY BOUNCED UP UNDER THE CAR. HAD I NOT HAD THE OTHER KEY INSIDE THE HOUSE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED BECAUSE IT BOUNCED OUT OF REACH. NOW IT HAS COME OFF AND FALLEN OUT OF MY POCKET AND IS LOST. ALL OF THESE INCIDENCES OCCURRED WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE KEY IS PLASTIC AND LIGHT ENOUGH THAT IT COULD FALL OFF WITHOUT BEING HEARD. IN SUCH A SITUATION, IT COULD BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY, SUCH AS IF IT WERE NEAR A FIRE OR BLOCKING ACCESS FOR A FIRE TRUCK OR AMBULANCE. IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE IT COULD COME OFF UNNOTICED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND THEN ANYONE COULD FIND THE KEY, USE THE "ANSWER-BACK" OR PANIC FUNCTIONS TO LOCATE THE CAR THE KEY WENT TO, AND THEN STEAL THE CAR. A RUNNING CRIMINAL OR JUVENILE ON A JOY-RIDE COULD THEN CRASH AND CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. THE KEY SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND THE CURRENT ONE RECALLED. *TR