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What 48 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 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 (48)Crash / fire / injury (3)Electrical system (13)Engine (13)Visibility & wipers (7)Brakes (4)Lights (4)Body & structure (3)Steering (3)Suspension (2)Airbags (1)Backup camera & sensors (1)

3 of 48 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jan 10, 2023AirbagsCrash3 injuries

I was driving down the road going 70mph and then another vehicle swerved and struck my vehicle causing us to hit barrier and rollover 4-6 times. None of the airbags went off and me and 2 other passengers sustained injuries

NHTSA ODI 11501130

May 12, 2019Electrical systemFire

WHILE DRIVING HOME MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LEAVE FUMES WITHIN THE CAR. I PULLED THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO INSPECT TO FIND THAT MY KICKPLATE WAS ON FIRE FROM BELOW THE KICKPLATE. I PULLED THE PANEL OFF AND DOUSED OUT THE FLAME. NOW WITH THE VEHICLE HOME I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE KNOWING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS EVEN REMOTELY POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI 11207099

Jun 28, 2016Electrical systemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA CADENZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER NOTICED SMOKE AND A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 10877062

Working with the data? Download all 48 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 2015 Kia Cadenza verdict →