YearToAvoid

2016 Kia Cadenza Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#4 most-complained of 7 Cadenza years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 Kia Cadenza has 14 complaints and a Complaint Index of 50, ranking 4th worst out of 7 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Visibility & Wipers issues, mainly windshield bonding, drive 43% of complaints.

Complaints
14
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 Kia Cadenza problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Visibility & Wipers6 (43%)
  2. Engine4 (29%)
  3. Brakes2 (14%)
  4. Other2 (14%)
  5. Electrical System1 (7%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (7%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Windshield glass has detached or cracked due to improper bonding, sometimes leaking water into the cabin afterward.
  • A sunroof reportedly exploded while driving on the freeway, sending glass shards into the cabin and affecting the owner's hearing.
  • Engine compartment produced a loud rattling sound at startup with no warning light, and dealers found nothing to repair.
  • Front and rear struts failed on both sides of the vehicle within about two months of each other, causing the car to sit lower on one side with a grinding noise.
  • Owners reported head bolts loosening, which a dealer linked to eventual engine failure.
  • Several owners said recall parts for the windshield bonding and brake hydraulic recalls were not available within a reasonable time.
2016 Kia Cadenza complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2016Sep 2021Jul 2022Oct 2023Apr 2024Mar 2025Sep 2025
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2016 to Dec 2025; peak Sep 2025 (3).

2016 Kia Cadenza recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V652000Sep 25, 2023Brakes1,730,192 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    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.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 22V158000Mar 15, 2022Visibility & Wipers30,362 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield

    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.

    Risk: A front windshield that detaches from a vehicle can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    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.

2016 Kia Cadenza fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Cadenza years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid100110322
2015Avoid8348222
2016Caution5014222
2017Caution6732223
2018Caution337123

All Kia Cadenza years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia Cadenza reliable?
NHTSA lists 14 complaints and a Complaint Index of 50 for the 2016 Cadenza, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 4th worst among the 7 model years covered.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia Cadenza?
Visibility & Wipers issues account for 43% of complaints, mainly windshield bonding failures, followed by Engine problems at 29%, with a median failure mileage of 42,674 miles.
Does the 2016 Kia Cadenza have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for windshield bonding (campaign 22V158000) and one for brake hydraulic components (campaign 23V652000), the latter advising owners to park outside.
How does the 2016 Cadenza compare to other model years?
The 2016 model's Complaint Index of 50 is better than 2014 (100) and 2015 (83), both rated Avoid, but worse than 2017 (67), 2018 (33), and 2019 (17), which rank Caution, Good, and Best respectively.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Kia Cadenza?
The EPA rates the 2016 Cadenza at 22 mpg combined (19 city / 28 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,950.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.