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ProblemsByVin File / 2014-KIA-CADENZA NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Kia

2014 Kia Cadenza problems

The 2014 Kia Cadenza has 110 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2014 Kia Cadenza has 110 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is brakes at 19 complaints, typically surfacing around 58,583 miles (~$450 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Kia Cadenza owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2014 Cadenza (this page) 110 3
2015 Cadenza 48 2
2016 Cadenza 14 2
2017 Cadenza 31 2
2014 Kia Cadenza
Photo: Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Kia Cadenza
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2014 Cadenza?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2014 Kia Cadenza? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: engine is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 91,938 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2014 Kia Cadenza

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2014-kia-cadenza/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2014 Kia Cadenza reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2014-kia-cadenza/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2014 Kia Cadenza reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

brakes
19 reports · fails ~58,583 mi · avg $450
moderate
engine
14 reports · fails ~91,938 mi · avg $3,100
severe
visibility
14 reports · fails ~84,937 mi · avg $350
moderate
steering
12 reports · fails ~69,913 mi · avg $700
moderate
electrical
10 reports · fails ~31,368 mi · avg $850
severe
body
6 reports · fails ~30,962 mi · avg $1,500
severe
powertrain
5 reports · fails ~40,360 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
airbags
3 reports · fails ~4,100 mi · avg $1,100
severe
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2014 Cadenza's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2014 Cadenza?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2014 Cadenza · engine
The vehicle has been carefully maintained and received the 144,000-mileage thorough maintenance service which was performed at the KIA dealership in August 2023 three months prior to the incident. While driving in November 2023 the Malfunction Indicator Light came on. I took…
2014 Cadenza · brakes
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 ABS warning light and the check engine warning light were illuminated. The…
12/20/2023 · at 117,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11561134.0 · see brakes pattern →
2014 Cadenza · brakes
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in a recall 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. After the repair was completed, while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated before…
12/19/2024 · at 41,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11631570.0 · see brakes pattern →
2014 Cadenza · cruise control
Several times the car has accelerated without me pushing on the gas pedal. Kia has been unable to find a problem.
View all 110 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2014 Kia Cadenza? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 23V652000 September 25, 2023

Kia America, Inc

An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
severe NHTSA 22V158000 March 15, 2022

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling all 2014-2016 Cadenza vehicles

A front windshield that detaches from a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the front windshield glass. If necessary, the windshield will be removed and reinstalled. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 13, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC232.
severe NHTSA 14V289000 May 30, 2014

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2014 Cadenza vehicles manufactured February 1, 2013, through August 27, 2013, and equipped with 19" non-chrome aluminum wheels

A wheel fracture could cause the circular rim to separate, resulting in a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wheels with new wheels, free of charge. The recall began in June 2014. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC107.

Under investigation 1 open at NHTSA

AQ Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · opened November 2023

NHTSA has an open defect investigation covering this vehicle — the step that can precede a recall, not a finding of fault. AQ23002 on NHTSA →

How NHTSA investigations work, and what's open now →

Common questions

Is the 2014 Kia Cadenza reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2014 Kia Cadenza is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2014 Kia Cadenza?

The 2014 Kia Cadenza is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2014 Kia Cadenza?

Inspect the brakes first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 19 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 58,583 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2014 Kia Cadenza a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 110 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is brakes. Typical failure occurs around 58,583 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2014 Kia Cadenza?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 19 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 58,583 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 58,583 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Kia Cadenza has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2014 Kia Cadenza?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 110 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Kia/Cadenza. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Kia. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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