TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OIL PRESSURE SWITCH (OPS) REPLACEMENT (WTY026 REVISION 2) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information regarding the replacement of the Oil Pressure Switch associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY026) on some 2014-2018MY vehicles listed in the table below, for repairs that may be necessary to address an Oil Pressure Switch leak in the eligible vehicles listed below from 10 years/100,000 miles to 15 years/150,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Kia Cadenza engine problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 10 engine complaints filed for the 2015 Kia Cadenza, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Kia Cadenza in our records for engine problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Engine accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039 - REVISION 7) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and 2015-2016 MY Sedona vehicles, equipped with 3.3L GDI engines. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the cylinder head gasket will be extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039 REVISION 6) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and 2015-2016 MY Sedona vehicles, equipped with 3.3L GDI engines. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the cylinder head gasket will be extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,00
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN (WTY039) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and 2015-2016 MY Sedona vehicles, equipped with 3.3L GDI engines. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the cylinder head gasket will be extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes f
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: ENGINE SUB ASSEMBLY: INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT (WTY039) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY039) to diagnose a coolant leak from the cylinder head gasket area and, if necessary, replace the engine sub assembly on 2014-2015 MY Sorento, 2014-2017 MY Cadenza, and 2015-2016 MY Sedona vehicles, equipped with 3.3L GDI engines. The warranty coverage for repairs related to the cylinder head gasket will be extended from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, w
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Cadenza's 3.3L Lambda II V6 shows a pattern of catastrophic engine failure across this complaint cluster. One owner experienced fuel leaking and severe power loss at just 1,322 miles. Another heard an engine knock, then the vehicle shut down without warning at 55 mph—the dealership found a failed crank bearing. A third owner reported the same bearing failure occurring a second time in a Hyundai/Kia product and was forced to surrender the vehicle.
At higher mileage, owners describe head bolts pulling out of what they characterize as a soft engine block, causing head gasket failure and seizure. One dealership service manager told an owner this is a known issue occurring above 150,000 miles. An owner with only 76,000 miles was diagnosed with factory-installed bad lifters and camshafts—the dealer acknowledged failure is imminent but refused engine replacement. Seizures happen suddenly: one vehicle stalled at 30 mph, restarted after two minutes, then failed again. Another seized at 50 mph within 6,000 miles of completing a $6,000 maintenance service.
Engine replacement, when authorized, costs owners thousands of dollars out of pocket, and some have surrendered vehicles to lenders rather than pay. Owners note hundreds of similar complaints across the Hyundai/Kia lineup involving this engine family and point to class-action suits in other countries.
Same Kia Cadenza engine reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel leak and loss of power under load
Gasoline odor in cabin during idle and driving, fuel dripping from engine compartment, severe power loss (unable to exceed 5 mph on incline), occurring early in vehicle life.
When: 1,322 miles on vehicle purchased 2 months prior; odor noticed a few days before failure
Symptoms owners cite: strong gasoline odor in cabin; fuel dripping from engine compartment; severe power loss; inability to climb incline
Engine knock followed by sudden stall and crank bearing failure
Engine knock audible at startup, then vehicle stalled without warning at highway speed (55 mph). Dealership diagnosed failed crank bearing. Owner notes this bearing failure occurred despite good maintenance records and questions whether the 3.3L Lambda II engine has endemic quality issues given widespread complaints across the Hyundai/Kia lineup.
Symptoms owners cite: engine knock at startup; sudden engine stall at 55 mph without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Crank bearing failure diagnosed
Engine seizure from bearing failure
Engine seized completely. Owner reports this is the second Hyundai/Kia vehicle where the 3.3L Lambda II GDI engine seized due to bearing failure. Owner notes both engines had bearing failures and neither was on any recall list. Repair cost several thousand dollars; owner was forced to surrender vehicle due to inability to pay.
Symptoms owners cite: engine seizure
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; cost owner thousands of dollars
Head bolt pull-out, head gasket failure, and engine seizure
Head bolts pulling out of the soft engine block, head gasket failure. Temperature gauge fluctuation, check engine light flashing. After stopping at a light, engine would not move; required vehicle to be removed from highway and engine replacement. Service manager and independent mechanic both indicated this is a known issue with the V6 engine, particularly on engines over 150,000 miles.
When: Over 150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: slight temperature gauge movement; check engine light flashing; head bolts pulling out; engine would not move after stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement recommended by both dealership and independent mechanic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service manager indicated this was a known issue with V6 engine occurring over 150,000 miles
Sudden engine seizure with delayed restart
Engine seized without warning while driving at 30 mph. Vehicle would not restart immediately; owner waited approximately two minutes before engine restarted and resumed normal operation. Failure could not be duplicated by dealership and was not repaired. Failure recurred.
When: 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: sudden engine seizure; delayed restart (approximately 2 minutes); seizure recurred
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; failure could not be duplicated at dealership
Bad lifters and camshafts with factory defect
Engine ticking sound diagnosed as bad lifters and camshafts installed at the factory. Kia service department stated the engine will fail but could not predict whether it would seize or blow up or when. Owner reports feeling unsafe driving the vehicle despite only 76,000 miles on the odometer. Kia refuses to replace the engine.
When: 76,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ticking sound in engine
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia refuses to replace engine despite factory defect diagnosis
Engine seizure shortly after major dealership maintenance
Engine seized without warning while driving at approximately 50 mph. Seizure occurred within 6,000 miles of completing a $6,000 maintenance service at a Kia dealership.
When: Within 6,000 miles after $6,000 maintenance service
Symptoms owners cite: engine seizure without warning at 50 mph
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Upon pressing engine push button start a strong odor of gasoline filled the cabin compartment during idling while the car was in park. The engine started as normal with no indication of malfunction. As car was put into drive and driven a short distance less than 500 feet from my starting point the gasoline odor was overpowering in the cabin compartment and the car was unable to climb a small…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Kia cadenza. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle seized without warning. The vehicle would not immediately restart. The contact waited approximately two minutes and the vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to rick case Kia (14500 w sunrise blvd, sunrise, fl 33323, (954) 715-7580) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated.…
Engine seized. 3.3L Lambda II GDI. This is the 2nd Hyundai/KIA product that the engine has seized on me. Both with bearing failure. Neither on the list of recalled engines. You need to do a more thorough investigation into Hyundai/KIAs engines. The brands share the same power trains across the entire line up for a number of years. This class of engines has been produced for YEARS along…
There are thousands of vejicles with a variant of the 3.3L V6 Lambda II GDI Hyundai/KIA class of engines on the road. There are hundreds if not thousands of complaints regarding different variants of this engine throught Hyundai/KIAs line up. All of them with seized engines. There are class action lawsuits in other countries regarding this engine. They have known since before 2015 that these…
Please open an investigation into Hyundai/Kia lambda ii class of engines! They are leaving hundreds of families stranded! NHTSA needs to do better! Stand up to Kia make them fix these engines! Its unfair to the little people aka the consumer! Stop protecting the giant companies!
At startup I experienced a knock in the engine which seemed to have gone away. I notified the KIA dealership of the issue. The service advisor told me to drive the vehicle in for service. While attempting to drive the vehicle in for service the vehicle TURNED OFF while going 55MPH without any warning at all. KIA diagnosed the vehicle with a failed crank bearing and that it can happen to high…
Engine seized without warning while driving at approx 50mph. This occurred within 6,000 miles of a KIA dealership performing a 6,000 dollar maintenance to the vehicle.
Had engine trouble with your 2015 Kia Cadenza?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2015 Kia Cadenza?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 39,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Kia/Cadenza.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.