Home · 2014 Kia Cadenza · Complaints

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)

5 of 110 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters

Mar 24, 2023Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

I purchased a 2014 Kia Cadenza from San Leandro Kia on 05/16/17 As a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle. On 02/16/23, my engine started knocking. I took to get an oil change, because I thought that was the problem but was told it was my engine. I couldn’t get an appt w/ Kia dealership where I purchased my car until Tue 03/21/23 Upon calling I was asked my vin# & asked the # of miles. I stated approx 98k. The service rep -[XXX] said oh, you’re right under the mark (100k). I did not drive the car after 02/16 & actually had it towed home from Pep Boys, who suggested I get it towed due to oil showing in the coolant reserve. I recv’d a call from Kia yesterday stating they had to contact corporate for instructions. Today, rep-[XXX] called to say corporate said my coverage ended in April 2019 @60k ml. I adv her that I have my original sales ppwk sticker that was on my vehicle and it states 10yr/100k ml. She stated what corporate says is usually the final answer. I advised I do not agree & how can I contact them? She said there is no way to contact them. I found the # online & cld. I was told the same thing BUT was adv it was denied because I didn’t purchase a CPO-Certified Pre Owned Vehicle! I replied that they then sold me a deceptive description cus my sticker States it’s include it also notes the 10yr/100k warranty which covers me as a 2nd owner & I also registered my vehicle with CarFax as suggested to do once car was purchased as CPO. After researching Kia, I see that there were recalls on three other Kia vehicles, but my model isn’t listed nor was it part of the Class Action Lawsuit, which many other owners of this model also had engine issues of knocking/ticking/ rattling at start-up. I was even more shocked to see that the same complaints I’d made to my Kia dealership when taking car in for service, that “that’s normal”. I just paid off my car, I am under 100kml and wont reach my 10th year until May 2023. This is not right & I want to file a lawsuit. Plz contact me! INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11513529

Jan 4, 2021Fuel system

SINCE THE PURCHASED OF MY 2014 KIA CADENZA IN 2016, I'VE HAD MAJOR ISSUES. I'VE TAKEN IT TO KIA FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND FOR ISSUES I'VE DISCOVERED AND NO ONE COULDN'T FIND THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED WHEN THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE CAR CONSTANTLY STOPS ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN HIGH TRAFFIC, I ALMOST GOT HIT SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY CUTTING OFF WITH NO WARNING. AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS & EMAILS, THE DEALER FIXED THE THROTTLE BODY; HOWEVER, I'VE HAD CONTINUOUS ISSUES SUCH AS BURNING SMELLS AND WHITE SMOKE. SAME DEALER IGNORED ME AND TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF LEAVES BURNING IN THE VENT. DECEMBER 2020, I WAS TOLD THE CAR NEED A ENGINE. KIA WILL NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALLS ON THIS VIN; HOWEVER, OTHER OWNERS WITH SAME MAKE/MODEL SHOW RECALLS. DOES SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY NEED TO DIE UNTIL SOMEONE TAKES THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AND ASSUME ACCOUNTABILITY. IT'S EVIDENT I WAS SOLD A DEFECTED CAR AND LIKE MOST WOMEN CAR BUYERS, DEALERS/MECHANICS, THINK WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS SO THEY GIVE US FALSE INFORMATION AND TURN US AWAY THEN TELL US WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRES.

NHTSA ODI 11386413

Nov 15, 2016Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME, IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE; THEREFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,416.

NHTSA ODI 10926287

Jan 14, 2015EngineFuel system

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

NHTSA ODI 10672413

May 30, 2014Fuel system

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.

NHTSA ODI 10595211

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 →