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Kia CadenzaModel year report

2015 Kia Cadenza Problems

Compared with other Kia Cadenza years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

25/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
48filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
45,559miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
22 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl FWD · 19 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2015 Kia Cadenza (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 48 consumer complaints for the 2015 Kia Cadenza. The part named most often is electrical system, with 13 complaints (27% of the total), followed by engine (13) and other or unknown (9). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 45,559 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 96 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 20 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 21 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Kia Cadenza model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 25 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Fuel system (1), Seats (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “While driving home my vehicle began to smoke and leave fumes within the car. I pulled the vehicle immediately to inspect to find that my kickplate was on fire from below the kickplate. I pulled the panel off and doused out the flame. Now with the vehicle home I do not feel safe driving this vehicle knowing something like this is even remotely possible.”

NHTSA complaint #11207099, filed 2019-05, 55,950 miles

Engine: “Upon pressing engine push button start a strong odor of gasoline filled the cabin compartment during idling while the car was in park. The engine started as normal with no indication of malfunction. As car was put into drive and driven a short distance less than 500 feet from my starting point the gasoline odor was overpowering in the cabin compartment and the car was unable to climb a small incline in the road and the engine was not able to provide speed over 5 MPH. I was able to turn the car around and return home. …”

NHTSA complaint #10661857, filed 2014-12, 5 miles

Other or unknown: “Was driving down a busy local road when out of no where, I heard a lound explosion. I looked at the rear view mirror thinking something had crashed into the back windshield, but there was nothing. I got out to check the car and noticed a huge hole in my sunroof. The glass had shattered and pieces were everywhere. I called Kia to see if it would be covered under warranty, but they told me that they've never come across something like this. I even showed them many sources online of people complaining about the same exact issue and they still failed to acknowledge the defect. …”

NHTSA complaint #11114680, filed 2018-07, 40,118 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “My entire Dash went Black. I could not see speed, gas level, milage. This is an extreme Hazard! I brought the car into Crown KIA in Clearwater to run a Diagnostic Check for 0.5 hour at $150 and they could not find the problem. I had no money to pay for additional time! I did research on this and found that this is a common problem with KIA's no matter what year!! Just because my particular VIN # is not on the recall should not absolve KIA from their duty to provide a safe reliable car!”

NHTSA complaint #11714783, filed 2026-02

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,200 and 78,000 miles.

7%0–1014%10–2529%25–5021%50–757%75–10021%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 45,559 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2016201920221220242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2015 Kia Cadenza version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Cadenza FWD3.3L 6-cyl6-speed automatic192822$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2015 Kia Cadenza → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 96 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 96 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Cadenza

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2019574,0001—23—Not enough data
201875,6251—23—Not enough data
20173317,0002—2350 · TypicalRising
20161442,6742—22—Not enough data
20154845,5592—2225 · FewerRising
201411148,5003—2279 · MoreRising

All Kia Cadenza model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 Kia Cadenza have?

NHTSA recorded 48 consumer complaints for the 2015 Kia Cadenza as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 Kia Cadenza is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 13 complaints (27% of the total), followed by engine with 13.

Has the 2015 Kia Cadenza been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2015 Kia Cadenza get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Kia Cadenza (Cadenza, 3.3L 6-cyl) at 22 mpg combined, 19 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2015 Kia Cadenza reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 45,559 miles and the middle half falls between 36,200 and 78,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.