10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,776 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #14

Feb 162023

Cadenza

  • miles
2014 Kia Cadenza Continuous knocking and rattling sound since car purchase and now engine started smoking and from what mechanic states, the engine is now blown after just paying off vehicle. There was a Class Act settlement in other Kia models but not for the Cadenza. After researching & finding out this make of car has numerous engine issues, I contacted the Settlement Dept but was told my model car was not included. There are numerous car owners of this same make/model that had same complaint to dealership about the knocking/rattling sounds & from the post of complaints I-€™ve read, this statement to owners countywide was -€œ That-€™s Normal-€. I was shocked to see that others complained of this same issue and also the engine smoking and now not functioning. I would like to file a complaint and/or generate a Class Action Lawsuit because Kia knows that most of their engines are no good, yet they only opted to cover those three cars who-€™s replacement engines were the cheapest. What about those of us with these Cadenzas who are now stuck with a non operating car, especially after working hard for over 6years to pay it off to have the engine blow or head gaskets, when this matter could have been taken care of years ago. My car stopped on February 16, yet I cannot even get a diagnostic appointment until March 21, 2023. I am the second owner of this vehicle purchased 2017, via a trade in of my paid off Kia Sorento so it makes me now wonder if the Kia dealership sold me a vehicle that they knew had a faulty engine and or had already replaced the engine with a remanufactured one? I, along with other Kia Cadenza owners who are or have had engine problems deserve too to have our engines replaced for free. I would like to be contacted to discuss further. If I cannot get assistance from you, then I will look for assistance from the news media in hopes of having them do a story and research on Kia Cadenza owners who too have had engine issues.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #13

Jun 042021

Cadenza

  • miles
The first time anything happened was June 2021. I-€™d only had the vehicle 4 months. We were on the interstate doing 70 mph when there was a loud noise, it jerked back, almost ran us into an 18 wheeler, went into LIMP mode, and left us on the side of the road! Since then, we-€™ve taken it to the Kia dealership in Slidell, La SEVERAL times. They removed 5 pages of codes that came up, said nothing was wrong, then it needed a head gasket until finally they said it needs a $9000 motor!! My Cadenza sat at Kia for over 3 MONTHS before they even looked at it the last time! There have been MANY MANY complaints about the head bolts backing out of these Lamba II 3.3L engines causing a catastrophe. Kia does NOT replace head bolts where inserts are needed. It-€™s an automatic engine replacement. So, now my car is still sitting here in pieces and I cannot get it fixed after paying $9500! Kia needs a recall on the Lamba II engines!! They-€™re dangerous and are going to kill someone!! This isn-€™t the first time Kia has screwed me out of a vehicle! I also had a 2011 Genesis I had to get rid of it wasn-€™t even drivable!! I just want my 2014 Kia Cadenza fixed! Please!

- Slidell, LA, USA

problem #12

Jan 012019

Cadenza

  • miles
Engine, electrical, and powertrain is faulty on this 2014 KIA Cadenza and many other models of this same vehicle. After researching for alternate engines or engine replacement, there are many Cadenzas experiencing the same issues and are often parked due to these issues with no maintenance or replacement options as a result of the cost being way too high. When KIA was contacted, they replied that they do not have engine replacements and that servicing of the vehicle expires after the car is paid off.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

problem #11

Jan 012022

Cadenza

  • miles
Engine light is on the dashboard and can not conduct the Emission Test. I was told it's a oil consumption problem. And that the same problem that the sorento and sportage is doing. That is currently have a lawsuit going on. I was told the engine may start knocking soon. I was also told at shop that can cause the sensors to get false reading and send error signals to the engine also. If the engine cut off while driving or stall it can put my life and others in danger and cause a major accident. It was confirm at shop and I was told it's a recall on the engine. The dealership tells me not for the credenza and it's doing the same things as the models that is being look at and had a lawsuit going on. My cadenza is wrll6keot and under miles and should not be having this problem. Kia should help me with this problem. Please help me with this mattet.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Feb 212022

Cadenza

  • miles
The rear wheel cracked and I had to have it repaired, and the vehicle has been making a ticking noise for 3 years and the Dealer in Colorado Springs told me don-€™t worry about it, it was a common noise, that was 2020. Now I have found out that the tension pulley and/or the timing tension pulley is bad. How is this a common problem? They want to replace my engine. Not to mention the problem that all KIA-€™S have the steering coupler that is going out. How are these not all recall problems as I have found on your site multiple complaints of the same nature.

- Aurora , CO, USA

problem #9

Oct 012021

Cadenza

  • miles
Several times the car has accelerated without me pushing on the gas pedal. Kia has been unable to find a problem.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 182020

Cadenza

  • 88,000 miles
On cold start there is a clicking noise which is coming from the timing chain tensioner. When I look it up it tells me the years that were affected were 2014-2016. Even though it was such a common issue why was there no recall on it to be replaced?

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #7

Jan 072019

Cadenza

  • 62,000 miles
Timing chain tensioner - I started to get a weird rattle when I started the engine. The Kia dealership told me this was a pretty common noise with these engines and not to worry. At 62K miles I took it back in and said something is definitely not right. Well it was the timing chain tensioner. In searching for common issues I found several tsb's reporting the same thing. There is even a technical service bulletin that tells the service department what parts need to be replaced to resolve the issue but there is no investigations or recalls. I still had to pay $2500 to fix it.

- West Haven, UT, USA

problem #6

Jan 052019

Cadenza

  • 47,000 miles
I was traveling on city street at 35 miles per hour when engine has stalled suddenly, without any warning. I lost power steering and barely made it to the side of the road moving by inertia. I was very lucky there was no car behind me and I was able to stop safely. If there would be other traffic situation, such problem with the car could possibly result in fatal accident. The car was towed to grossinger Kia dealer in lincolnwood,

- Skokie, IL, USA

problem #5

Jun 042018

Cadenza

  • 19,000 miles
When traveling above 25 mph, when I take my foot off the gas pedal in anticipation of an upcoming red traffic signal or on the highway doing 55 or so and seeing traffic coming to a halt ahead, foot off the gas pedal engine keeps going, will not throttle down to near idle.,its as if the gas pedal is stuck. At this point I have to really brake hard to slow the car down, it is dangerous, especially at highway speeds..eventually as the car slows to a crawl the tachometer eventually shows the engine is down to idle speed., and the engine stops pulling on its own..my other issue involves the transmission downshifting to a lower gear and slowing the car down, I have no issues when accelerating, only when I tale my foot off of the accelerator, my Kia dealer cannot duplicate problem even after several visits..I have made a short video of the speedometer and tachometer, and it clearly shows the the car going on its own, while my foot is off the gas pedal.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #4

May 182016

Cadenza

  • 45,860 miles
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, while driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled in the middle of an intersection. The check engine light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 45,860.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 072015

Cadenza

  • 24,000 miles
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 cough and severe headaches and later told my husband I thought it was gas I was smelling in the car we took it to the dealer they looked at it and said it was fine so we leave to calif and the following day I went to start the car and we heard a loud noise and gas had gone every where the fire dept had to come assist and give clearance to tow the car due to the fuel hazard.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #2

Mar 032014

Cadenza 6-cyl

  • 5,000 miles
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.

- Malvern, PA, USA

problem #1

Nov 222014

Cadenza 6-cyl

  • miles
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.

- Eastvale, CA, USA