2020 Kia Cadenza problems, complaints & recalls
🧠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 (1)
Electrical System:software 2022-01-21 · campaign 22V022000 · 451 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Cadenza vehicles. The rear power windows can be operated by the driver's power window main switch after the ignition has been turned off and a front door is opened. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."
Risk: Rear power windows that operate unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the Driver Door Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC225.
Service bulletins (47)
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.
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
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
Fuel/Propulsion System 2025-03-27 · WTY034_TSB_R2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: warranty extension campaign: high-pressure fuel pump replacement (wty034) - 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 associat
Electrical System 2025-03-20 · TSB_ELE378 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: service action: kia connect modem reset (sa611) - this bulletin outlines the procedure for resetting the modem in certain 2016-2025my kia vehicles listed on page 3 that are equipped with kia connect services. the affected vehicles may encounter the following issues: remot
Electrical System 2024-12-05 · TSB_ELE361 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: avn 5.0 wide dealer mode factory reset - this bulletin provides the procedure to perform the ‘dealer mode factory reset’ on multiple 2020-2021my vehicles (listed on page 5) equipped with avn 5.0 wide head units. the affected vehicles may exhibit inoperable and/or interrup
Electrical System 2024-11-15 · TSB_ELE303_R3 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: avn 5.0 wide non-responsive radio icon (am, fm, sxm) - 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 to update the software on 5th
Showing the 6 most recent of 47 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.