2016 Kia Cadenza reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Kia Cadenza holds 14 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 0 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Cadenza years here — under the median of the other years, which is 1. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Windshield.

2014 Kia Cadenza — Photo by EuroCarGT, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility (6 of 14), then Engine (4) and Hydraulic brakes (2).

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Cadenza has 48 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2017 has 32 complaints, 3 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Kia Cadenza. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000

Summary 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 Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Remedy 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.

Recall visibility, windshield 2022-03-15 · NHTSA campaign 22V158000

Summary 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.

Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (14 total)

Visibility

Engine

Hydraulic brakes

Electrical system

Structure

Suspension

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"My 2016 Kia Cadenza (VIN [XXX] ) experienced repeated overheating, coolant loss, and eventually white exhaust smoke consistent with internal coolant intrusion. The issue began mid-2025 and worsened over time. Despite…"
Engine · filed 2025-12-03
"I am submitting this complaint regarding a 2016 Kia Cadenza (VIN: [XXX] ) and Kia’s repeated failure to properly diagnose or repair a serious overheating/safety defect despite this being a well-documented and known…"
Electrical system, Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2025-09-04
"The contact owns a 2016 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that there was water and air leaking through the windshield of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number:…"
Visibility · filed 2025-05-12
"While driving down the highway, I heard a loud boom and my sunroof exploded sending glass everywhere all through the car with my kids in the backseat. Driving straight on the highway at 60 miles per hour and nothing to…"
Unknown or other · filed 2025-03-18
"The contact owns a 2016 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the front windshield, after which she observed that the windshield had begun to…"
Visibility · filed 2024-05-02

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2016 Kia Cadenza 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
Cadenza	3.3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (6-speed)	Front-wheel drive	19	28	22 MPG	$2950

Specs and fitment

First generation (VG), 2014–2016

Body styles Sedan

Oil 5W-30 (preferred; all temps) , 6 qt capacity

Tire size 225/55R17, 245/45R18, 245/40R19 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 22V-158 covers all 2014-2016 Cadenza vehicles: during manufacturing, the front windshield may not have been properly bonded, allowing it to detach. The campaign lists 30,362 vehicles. Dealers inspect the glass and, if needed, remove and reinstall it. Recall 23V-652 covers certain 2014-2016 Cadenza vehicles among many other Kia/Hyundai models: the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) circuit may short and cause an engine-compartment fire. That multi-model campaign lists 1,730,192 vehicles. Owners are advised to park outside until the fuse replacement is completed.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Kia Cadenza Next year 2017 Kia Cadenza See every Kia Cadenza model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia Cadenza reliable?

What are common problems with a 2016 Kia Cadenza?

The complaints owners file most often name Visibility (6 of 14), then Engine (4) and Hydraulic brakes (2).

Is the 2016 Kia Cadenza more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Cadenza has 48 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2017 has 32 complaints, 3 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Kia Cadenza been recalled?

The 2016 Kia Cadenza has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Kia Cadenza?

Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2016 Kia Cadenza with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Kia Cadenza get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Kia Cadenza is 22 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the 2018 Kia Cadenza?

Second generation (YG, 2017-2020).

What oil does a Kia Cadenza take?

5W-30 preferred for all temperatures; VG (~6 qt) and YG (~6.9 qt) capacities differ by generation.

What does recall 22V-158 cover on the Cadenza?

All 2014-2016 Cadenza vehicles: the front windshield may not have been properly bonded during manufacturing. See the NHTSA campaign for the remedy.