FaultScore

Worst years for a KIA Cadenza

Owners have filed 292 complaints about the KIA Cadenza with NHTSA across model years 2014 to 2019. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2014 KIA Cadenza

148 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2016 KIA Cadenza

18 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every KIA Cadenza year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2019 8 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2018 8 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2017 D 46 5 2 21,250 Engine & Cooling
2016 A 18 0 0 42,674 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2015 C 64 1 2 51,000 Engine & Cooling
2014 D 148 4 5 45,860 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a KIA Cadenza

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 65 22.3%

Worst in 2014

Brakes 36 12.3%

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2014

Worst in 2014

Steering 18 6.2%

Worst in 2014

Body & Structure 12 4.1%

Worst in 2014

Fuel & Propulsion 11 3.8%

Worst in 2014

Lights 8 2.7%

Worst in 2015

Wheels 8 2.7%

Worst in 2014

Transmission & Drivetrain 7 2.4%

Worst in 2014

Airbags 7 2.4%

Worst in 2014

Suspension 6 2.1%

Worst in 2015

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 6 2.1%

Worst in 2014

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every KIA Cadenza, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 2014 peak 14 Aug 2026

Compare the KIA Cadenza

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.