2017 Kia Cadenza problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (7) · Fuel/Propulsion System (5) · Wheels (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Cadenza model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/Module 2021-03-04 · campaign 21V137000 · 379,931 vehicles ⚠ PARK OUTSIDE
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Risk: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC206.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2017-03-16 · campaign 17V190000 · 47 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Cadenza vehicles. The brake vacuum hose on the affected vehicles may kink, reducing braking performance.
Risk: Reduced braking performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake vacuum hose, replacing it as necessary, free charge. The recall began on April 17, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC146.
Service bulletins (72)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2025-12-18 · WTY039_TSB_R7 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 t
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Engine 2025-12-01 · WTY039_TSB_R6 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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
Engine 2025-11-04 · WTY039_TSB_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 progr
Engine 2025-10-08 · WTY039_TSB_R4 · Warranty Program/Extension
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
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - 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 relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Showing the 6 most recent of 72 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-14 · Engine“component: engine oil pressure sending unit/switch (part 94751-3c000, per kia repair shop) or the oil pressure system on my 2017 kia cadenza 3.3l v6, about 95,500 miles. the car and any removed part are available for inspection on request. symptom/warning: the oil pressure warning light first appeared in october 2026 and comes on intermittently wh…”
2026-08-06 · Steering · 165,000 mi“the contact owns a 2017 kia cadenza. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power. the contact waited before restarting the vehicle and continued driving. the abs warning light was intermittently flashing. the failure became more persistent, causing the vehicle to lose power steering functionality.…”
2026-04-22 · Engine“engine oil light is on and there is a burning smell when i drive. fear of a fire breaking out in the engine when driving or parked. had it looked at by a technician and they expressed those concerns to me and that brings me great worry. the service technician believed it was just the oil cap being loose but there was no evidence of that. …”
2026-03-29 · Electrical System“the vehicle harness is burned and under recall sc206 for hecu fuses that was allegedly repaired which should have required a check of the harness connections . part number 91223f6632 is for the wire harness during engine replacement for campaign wty039 i was told the harness was melted and needed replacing , dealer put the car back together and tol…”
2026-03-21 · Engine“i currently have a complaint 11709255 regarding the electric thermostat. i just had that part replaced in november of 2025 for the 3rd time. last week, again i had a warning of engine problem. the next day there was cold air blowing when the heat was on. the dash thermostat immediately began to move to hot. i was thankfully close to home. i turned…”
2026-03-11 · Engine“check engine was flashing in front of my house in brookhaven pa. took to mechanic around the corner, diagnosed with a blown head gasket & oil in my anti freeze over flow. internal engine failure. had towed to kia dealership in nj…”
2026-02-07 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i have and am the original owner of a kia cadenza 2017 with the 3.3l lambda engine (same engine as the sorento lawsuit). the vehicle is currently at the dealership getting repaired due to carbon buildup causing the fuel injectors to malfunction( despite of consistently being on top of maintenance and oil changes).i have read online of lots of users…”
2026-01-06 · Unknown Or Other“this vehicle was inherited to me in 2019 from my father who puchased it cash on 10/13/2017. on 4/19/2018 he brought it in for a check engine light which was related to recall sa299 (electronic thermostat). on 7/11/2018 service was performed again. on 3/4/2022 i brought in for check engine light with same recall for electronic thermostat. on 11/1…”
2025-10-14 · Unknown Or Other“multiple oil, engine/knocking issues. drove the car unaware of loss of oil ( disguised as water from days rain) no oil light or engine light appeared. when i took to dealer the leak was fixed.multiple times of loss of oil and only once did it show on dash.i kept taking to dealership for loud knocking and was told it wasn’t reproduced. but fixed a g…”
2025-10-02 · Air Bags“i am submitting a complaint regarding my 2017 kia cadenza related to an ongoing airbag system failure and kia’s refusal to cover the repair under their existing airbag warranty extension. my vin is included in kia’s wty027 warranty extension, which extends coverage for repairs related to the airbag warning light illumination from 5 years/60,000 m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.