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What 110 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Cadenza

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (110)Crash / fire / injury (10)Engine (28)Brakes (23)Visibility & wipers (16)Electrical system (13)Steering (12)Body & structure (8)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Fuel system (5)Wheels (4)Airbags (3)

8 of 110 complaints match · Body & structure · clear filters

Feb 22, 2024BrakesBody & structure

The contact owns a 2014 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 the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. Additionally, the contact stated that after a visual inspection underneath the vehicle, she became aware of excessive corrosion and water damage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who declined to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The contact stated the first recall did not come through fast enough the inside of the vehicle stayed so wet that a lot of things are rusting and the dashboard had to be replaced but now the computer system is acting crazy.

NHTSA ODI 11573341

May 13, 2022Visibility & wipersBody & structure

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that the front windshield was damaged and there was a split along the dashboard by the air bag housing. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,900.

NHTSA ODI 11464471

Feb 12, 2021Body & structure

POP UP WIND SCREEN LOCATED AT FRONT OF PANORAMIC ROOF BECAME RUSTED THROUGH . FOR SOME REASON THE ENGINEERS CHOSE FERROUS MATERIAL THAT IS CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO MOISTURE AND HIGH HUMIDITY AT ALL TIMES . THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS , AS THE WINDSCREEN IS SUBJECT TO VERY HIGH STRESS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS . THIS CORROSION CAN CAUSE THE PART TO FAIL AND INTRUDED UPON THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE INJURING OCCUPANTS

NHTSA ODI 11396016

Jan 2, 2021Body & structure

MY KIA CADENZA HAS PANORAMIC SUNROOF. WHILE I WAS DRIVING I HEARD LOUD BOMB EXPLOSION NOISE AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL BUT LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT HAPPEND.

NHTSA ODI 11386068

Jul 28, 2017Body & structure1 injury

SUNROOF EXPLODED IN A VERY LOUD MANNER. NO OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF, IT JUST EXPLODED. VEHICLE WAS UNDERWAY GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A HIGHWAY. NO OVERPASS OR VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT.

NHTSA ODI 11011327

Mar 14, 2016Body & structure

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE - DURING A RAIN STORM - TRAVELING AROUND 65-70MPH - AND OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OF, BESIDE, AND BEHIND ME - OUT OF NOWHERE (NOT BIG BUMPS BEING HIT ) THERE WAS A SUDDEN BOOM WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN GOING OFF. THIS WAS VERY ALARMING AND SCARED THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GAIN COMPOSURE TO NOTICE THAT MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED AS GLASS CONTINUED TO COME DOWN INTO THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER (STILL IN POURING RAIN) AND EVENTUALLY MAKE IT TO A BRIDGE WHERE I COULD SHIELD THE RAIN TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. ONCE OUT OF THE CAR, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE SLIDING SUNROOF OF MY PANORAMIC ROOF HAD EXPLODED UPWARD. I AWAITED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO CLOSEST DEALER (AN HOUR AWAY - IN THE POURING RAIN WHICH SOAKED THE INTERIOR.) I KNEW THAT IT HAD TO BE SOME TYPE OF DEFECT SINCE THE EXPLOSION WENT UPWARD. UPON RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT THIS TYPE OF DEFECT HAS HAPPENED AS FAR BACK AS 2010. KIA IS LOOKING TO REPLACE THE SUNROOF UNDER WARRANTY WHICH IS PROBABLY THE SAME DEFECTIVE SUNROOF. I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW MY FAMILY TO BE IN THIS CAR MOVING FORWARD. IT IS SUCH AN ALARMING SITUATION AND COULD HAPPEN SO SPONTANEOUSLY, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL MORE DEVASTATING ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR. AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, I AM LUCKY THAT IT WAS ME DRIVING - NOT MY WIFE OR MY KIDS. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT OUTCOME. OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE ADDRESSED THEIR ISSUE WITH PANORAMIC ROOFS, BUT KIA CONTINUES TO DENY THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. KIA SHOULD BUY BACK THESE CARS AS THEY ARE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR NOT ONLY THOSE IN THE CAR, BUT FOR ANY MOTORIST AROUND THEM. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED, AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO SELL VEHICLES WITH THIS CHARACTERISTIC, THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE A DISCLAIMER TO WARN BUYERS.

NHTSA ODI 10846442

Oct 9, 2015Body & structureCrash2 injuries

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

NHTSA ODI 10781033

Jun 18, 2015Body & structure

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HWY AND MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. I DO NOT THINK A ROCK HIT IT BUT IF IT DID IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SHATTERED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE BUT WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE DEALERSHIP HE THEN LOOKED AND THE SUNROOF AND SAID THAT IT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A ROCK AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. I THEN TOLD HIM THAT IF A ROCK HIT IT, IT STILL SHOULD NOT HAVE BUSTED AND SHATTERED THE WAY IT DID. HE SAID IT HAS SOMETHING TO SO WITH CABIN PRESSURE. SO THEN IF THAT IS THE CASE EVERY TIME A ROCK HITS IT THEN IT WILL BUST AND SHATTER?

NHTSA ODI 10725953

Working with the data? Download all 110 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Kia Cadenza verdict →