2015 Kia Cadenza: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 48 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
48
Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
3
Injuries
83.3
Severity index
Severity index 83.3 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 143 2015 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2015 Kia Cadenza ranks 54 of 143 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 62% of its model-year peers. See the full 2015 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 13 | 27.1% |
| ENGINE | 13 | 27.1% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 | 18.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 5 | 10.4% |
| VISIBILITY | 5 | 10.4% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 4 | 8.3% |
| HYDRAULIC | 3 | 6.2% |
| STEERING | 3 | 6.2% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 13 of 48 complaints (27.1%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.6x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22V158000 | 15/03/2022 | VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling all 2014-2016 Cadenza vehicles. During manufacturing, the front windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach. |
| 23V652000 | 25/09/2023 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Con |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.