Kia Cadenza: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Kia Cadenza: 7 model years scored from 216 NHTSA owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns. Worst year 2014, best year 2017.
Kia Cadenza: which years to avoid
Across 7 scored model years the Kia Cadenza ranges from 46/100 in 2014 to 92/100 in 2020 — a 46-point spread, so which year you buy matters more than whether you buy a Cadenza at all. The weakest year’s complaints concentrate in Engine (28 of them).
Avoid: 2014 — scored below 45 on the complaint and recall record.
Safest years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2017 (score 78). Worst: 2014 (score 46, AVOID).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 92 | BUY | $4,030 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 91 | BUY | $4,183 | 5 | 1 |
| 2018 | 91 | BUY | $4,426 | 7 | 1 |
| 2017 | 78 | BUY | $4,617 | 32 | 2 |
| 2016 | 90 | BUY | $4,866 | 14 | 2 |
| 2015 | 73 | BUY | $4,962 | 48 | 2 |
| 2014 | 46 | AVOID | $5,194 | 110 | 3 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Cadenza, through the years →
What goes wrong on the Kia Cadenza
Across every Cadenza model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Engine63 complaints across all Cadenza years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Service Brakes35 complaints across all Cadenza years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Unknown Or Other33 complaints across all Cadenza years · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair$360–$940
- Electrical System33 complaints across all Cadenza years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Visibility25 complaints across all Cadenza years · typical job: Glass, wiper or defogger repair$490–$1,200
- Hydraulic18 complaints across all Cadenza years · typical job: Brake master cylinder or ABS module replacement$680–$1,520
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
Which Kia Cadenza years should I avoid?
On the NHTSA record the years to avoid are 2014 — each scores below 45 out of 100 on complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. The 2014 is the weakest at 46/100, with its complaints concentrated in Engine.
What are the best Kia Cadenza years to buy?
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2020 at 92/100, on 0 complaints and 1 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Kia Cadenza problem?
63 of the complaints filed against the Cadenza across all its model years sit in the Engine group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04