Kia Cadenza reliability by year
4 recalls and 211 owner complaints across 7 model years. Best year to buy: 2017. Year to avoid: 2014.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 7 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Cadenza aggregated across 7 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Kia Cadenza?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2017 Kia Cadenza scores 8.2/10 — the strongest in the 2014–2020 range. 31 complaints on file, 1 active recall. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Kia Cadenza year should I avoid?
The 2014 Kia Cadenza scores 7.6/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 109 owner complaints with NHTSA, 1 active recall. That doesn't mean every 2014 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Kia Cadenza should I avoid?
No Kia Cadenza model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.
How many years of the Kia Cadenza are tracked?
7 model years (2014 through 2020) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 4 recalls and 211 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Kia Cadenza?
engine is the most-reported category — 38 complaints across 5 model years. Average shop repair runs about $3,100.