AI Damage2018 KIA Cadenza: common problems
Owners of the 2018 KIA Cadenza filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. The maker issued 32 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 32
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 71% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- Engine: 5 complaints (71% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Air bags: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 8-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The airbag light randomly came on 2 weeks ago and stayed on , indicating that the airbags would not deploy in the event of an accident. I called my mechanic, who confirmed it was not a warranty item. My car only has about 45,000 miles on it and is well maintained. it has never been in an accident.
Complete engine failure due to rods and bearings (same as all other Kia engine recalls currently active). Ironically my car wasn’t included in the recall. Also I’ve noticed that Hyundai has extended the warranty for this same engine in the 2018 Santa Fe basically acknowledging it has a problem but didn’t include the…
On my way home from work, the car stalled and loss power at the light. The signs were giving engine failure due to losing power then a clicking/ticking noise. After pulling over and giving the car a break I tried to restart it, at that point the noise had change from the clicking to a weird knocking noise.
Failure of Oil Pressure Sensor resulting in oil leaking into wiring harness, this is the same problem with 3.3L engines in other models that KIA has extended coverage. I contacted KIA Customer Care and was told they tracked VIN and not enough Cadenzas had reported the same repair.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,591 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 24% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Cadenza has 10 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…
- This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity…
This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT (WTY034) - his bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY034) to diagnose the ‘Malfunction Indicator Lamp’ (MIL)…
- WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN
REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY034) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the…
- WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY034) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the high-pressure fuel pump in 2017-2020 MY Cadenza…
- WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (WTY034) - This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding the Warranty Extension Campaign WTY034.
- WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS & SERVICE MANAGERS MEMO (WTY034) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs…
- WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN
DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (WTY034) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the high-pressure fuel…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission…
- PITSTOP
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER REPLACEMENT AND MILEAGE SETTING WITH KDS - 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…
NHTSA lists 32 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA Cadenza?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (43%), smoke, burning smell, fire (29%), stalls while driving (29%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 KIA Cadenza?
NHTSA lists 32 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 KIA Cadenza from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.