2017 KIA Cadenza Problems & Complaints

Strong fuel odor after filling up fuel coming from the driver side, and can still be smelled inside the vehicle.

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THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF PREVIOUS NHTSA COMPLAINT ID 11047835. THE STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR AFTER FILLUP RECURRED ON MY VEHICLE AT 9550 MILES, 3600 MILES AFTER THIS PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE REPAIRED GAP IN THE PREVIOUSLY-REPLACED HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP SEAL; HOWEVER, FUEL SMELL REMAINS WHEN TANK IS FULL UNTIL DEPLETED TO ABOUT HALF. I ASK NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE KIA CADENZA.

SHORTLY AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK A STRONG RAW FUEL ODOR EMANATED FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE FUEL DOOR. THE SMELL WAS MOST PRONOUNCED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY I THOUGHT SOME FUEL HAD SPILLED, BUT THE SMELL LASTED SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL THE TANK WAS DEPLETED TO 1/2 FULL, AND IMMEDIATELY CAME BACK UPON NEXT FILL UP. NO CEL OR CODES WERE THROWN, AND DRIVABILITY WAS NOT AFFECTED. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INITIALLY MISDIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS CLOGGED FUEL VENT LINES, BUT ON THE SECOND VISIT THEY APPEAR TO HAVE CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS A LEAKING SEAL AROUND THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP ATOP THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK. DEALER INVOICE NOTES THE FUEL PUMP GASKET WAS "TORN APART." (THE INVOICE INCORRECTLY NOTES THE SMELL WAS APPARENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, NOT THE OUTSIDE.)

While driving 80 mph on Interstate 25 in Wyoming, my wife, great granddaughter (in a car seat), and I (driver) suddenly heard a LOUD bang, followed by wind noise coming from the top of the car. I opened the moonroof and found that the sunroof had exploded and shattered. We were on the northbound lanes with no traffic, other than 1 pickup truck in front of us by approximately 200 yards.There was no evidence of debris hitting it. Temperature was in the low 80’s at approximately 5:30 pm. I have no explanation for the sunroof exploding. Being that the incident happened on Friday evening, I have yet to take the vehicle into a dealer or glass shop

McGrath Arlington Kia in Palatine, Illinois stated I had a recall I live over 55 miles from this location. Base on the distance my contract states I can pick a closer location. When I contacted Bill Walsh Kia in Ottawa, Illinois. Service department stated they can not find the recall in there system, so they can't fix the recall. Their explanation was that my car had done made in Korea a Kia motor corporation. So I'd have to take it to Korea to get it fixed. Please advise on fixing recalls for this car. I didn't know this would be an issue when I purchased it. Cell [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD RAPIDLY. FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

A little history, my Cadenza was placed at KIA of Bradley [XXX] 2024, I complained of oil burning, the oil sending unit light staying on and the engine dying. The Kia rep found “THE OIL PRESSURE SENDER INTERNALLY FAULTED, LEAKING OIL INTERNALLY – OIL LEAKING DOWN TO PIGTAIL HARNESS”. The Oil pressure switch and wiring harness lead were replaced. Here lies the problem. During my visit in Feb, I told Kia about the burning oil smell, I provided a video of the smoke coming from the engine and the oil light staying on. I was relying on Kia’s expertise because it’s their product. The complaints I had were about the same issues the KIA Sorento 3.3 L had, considering my Cadenaza has a 3.3 GDI engine also. The Sorento’s engine was recalled. Move forward to [XXX], 2024, I brought my Cadenaza to Kia of Bradley to have my windshield fluid motor checked because only the passenger’s side was spraying fluid, after Kia telling me the car would probably be held for a couple of days I decided to come back later. Here lies the problem, during the visit a Vehicle inspection was supposedly done on my car. Mind you, I have always had oil checks done and regular maintenance done (I have receipts to prove it). [XXX], stated the things that need to be done I had done by another dealer and there was no mention of oil being low for the car nor problem with the Oil sensor unit that was replaced in Feb 2024. Mind you, I never had any low oil engine light come oil or any OIL LEAKS OR COOLANT LEAKS ON THE FLOOR OF MY GARAGE. I figured my OIL AND COOLENT LEVEL WERE FINE, I never gotten any warning lights from the newly replaced Oil sender unit. I took my KIA Cadenza to Firestone in Mokena, IL to service my windshield motor on [XXX]. Firestone performed a basic check of my car that Kia of Bradley performed [XXX], 2024. Firestone found there was no oil in the engine because the engine burned it all and my coolant was burned inside of my engine also. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I purchased my 2017 Cadenza, Sept 2022. I've always had problems with the engine. Coolant loss, smoke from the engine after drving , loss of power and oil loss. This past August 2023 I had to replace my AC valve for 3800. My engine has gotten worse. smoke constantly comes from the engine and now my oil sensor light is coming on. I've always done maintenance on the car. Oil changes and the required milage maintenance. I've notice other owners of the 2017 cadenza have had the same problems. I'm the next step will be my engine sizing. I notice several 3.3 engines and 2017 models have been included in the recall. My 3.3 engine is doing the exact things of the other recall cars. I hope my car is included in the recall thank you.

Actuator in Drivers door has failed. Unable to Lock or Unlock car door.

This is about a recall not solved in timely manner by KIA Van Nuys Dealer and must include the Corporate Office since they were informed by me that the dealer did not respond to my inquiries after many attempts, from my side, in order to resolve the recall. The original letter from Kia Motor America, Inc. , Corporate Headquarters, 111 Peters Canyon Road, Irvine, CA 92606-1790, USA, was dated April 30, 2021, being received by me about 10 days after. I did call the dealer and got an appointment for 5/22/2021. That day the recall was not resolved since the part the dealer had was not for the Cadenza. I return a week later on 5/29/2021 and the recall could not be solved since they did not received the part. After that I waited for another 10 days before call the dealer to find out what was the status of the part. Someone at the customer service did let me know that the part had not been received yet by the dealer and I will be called as soon as they got the part. After a couple of weeks without knowing nothing I did call and left message. Nobody return my call/message neither by phone or email. After few days I did fill a complaint form at the Kia Corporate Headquarter Office website. Again after about 10 days someone did call me and let me know that that office will contact the Kia Van Nuys dealer and then this office will contact me back again. Until today -after a month- I did not receive any call/email from this Corporate Office as well. (?) Few days ago I contacted the Bureau of Automotive Repair and an agent contacted me by phone ([XXX]) after I received a letter from this office. He said that he will contact in person to the GM dealer. But he said that they can't do much since there's no law that can enforce them to resolve a customer service issue. (???) This is more than a CS issue, this is a safety issue where is a risk of fire. That's why I writing this. Hoping that NHTSA could help me in resolve this recall. Thank you. [XXX] . INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat belt failed to latch or retract as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the upper and lower seat belt retractor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT QUIT ROLLING UP SO THEY WOULD NOT WORK IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED THREE WEEKS STILL NO PARTS

I WAS BRAKING APPROACHING A LIGHT ON A STATE ROAD, WHEN THE BRAKE WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR SUDDENLY AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE SLOWED BUT DID NOT STOP, I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME.

BRAKE ISSUE: I HAD AN ACCIDENT DUE TO A BRAKE FAILURE ON THIS CAR. I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY GOING DOWNHILL (SPEEDS 0 TO 10 MPH) IN A LINE OF CARS STOPPING AND GOING, STOPPING AND GOING MANY TIMES. AT FIRST THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT NORMAL AS PRESSURE WAS APPLIED THE CAR SLOWED THEN PETAL RESISTANCE WOULD DROP AND THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP DUE TO THE DOWNHILL GRADE. I APPLIED FOOT PRESSURE TO PETAL AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I SLOWLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MANY TIMES AS IT MOVED FORWARD. THIS CAR HAS AN AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (AEB) EQUIPPED ON IT. THE AEB IS SUPPOSED TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN YOU'RE ABOUT TO HIT SOMETHING. IT'S SUPPOSED TO TURN OFF AT ABOUT 6 MPH, IN THIS TRAFFIC MY SPEED VARY THROUGH THIS POINT MANY TIMES. I FEEL THE CONSTANT ON AND OFF OF AEB CONFUSED THE CONTROL SYSTEM ON THE CAR AND CAUSE THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. THE ROAD CONDITION WAS WET BUT NO STANDING WATER. THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT A SKID. THE TIRES ARE IN GREAT SHAPE THE CAR ONLY HAS 14000 MILES ON IT.

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 gasket/manifold more than once. overheating of engine when I was driving out driveway. I turned around parked and had it towed to dealership. Stated faulty sensor then was called back & told i needed to pay for the fan wires that kept the engine cool because they had melted in the process.i have had issues with right brake fluid and boot as well. Changed brakes.most of the time It has been loss of oil or engine knocking then needed to rebuild the engine which I had to pay $4000. Im sad and upset that most of the time I have had my car it has been in the shop or having to be parked for a length of time.( avg. 3-20 days) was called back to say it was another issue.Took to another dealer who repaired . had to take in for repeat engine issues and knocking sounds the wasn’t “reproduced” it was clearly heard when manager drove it but service provider said no. So frustrated that I have spend a lot of money for engine issues and haven’t had a chance to enjoy the vehicle, frustrated it is performed less than what I expected.have never taken my car to any other but dealership and kept up with maintenance. the rest was slow to accelerate(even after just picking up from dealership) a lot of knocking .Engine was “rebuilt” and It’s still in the shop today. Driving without oil loss notification.Now radiator hose is swollen/soft at top unsure if oil or water. And I need to pay for hose $400 now another $1000? braking feels unusual after they replaced. I notified KIA customer support/emailed all receipts and return call was told no recalls about a year ago and she would call dealership. Car was at dealership for a while at that time.

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 miles to 15 years/unlimited miles. Despite this, Kia Affairs has denied coverage because the diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) pulled by the dealership do not “exactly match” the codes listed in the extension, even though the warning light is on and the issue affects the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). Kia Affairs acknowledged the problem and escalated the case to their District Parts & Service Manager (DPSM) for possible goodwill coverage. However, goodwill is discretionary and not guaranteed, leaving me potentially responsible for expensive labor costs on a federally required safety system. My Concerns: The airbag light remains illuminated, which means the airbags may not deploy in a crash — a critical safety hazard. Kia’s decision to exclude legitimate SRS failures because the DTCs do not exactly match their list undermines the purpose of the warranty extension. Owners whose VINs are included in the extension are still being denied coverage based on technicalities, despite facing the same safety risk. Requested Action: I request that NHTSA investigate whether Kia’s narrow, code-based coverage criteria is improperly excluding safety-related airbag failures that should be repaired under the warranty extension. This appears to leave consumers unprotected from a defect in a federally regulated safety system. I can provide: The dealership’s diagnostic codes and repair order. Correspondence from Kia Affairs regarding the denial. Warranty extension documentation showing my VIN is included. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter

Problem unknown, i was driving to my friends house with 2 kids, about 2 mins from the house the steering wheel light started flashing on my dashboard, nothing major happening, so slowed down got to the house. When at the house realized a light come from the engine bay. A fire started out of no where. I used a fire extinguisher to put out, even moved some plastic from wheel well to completely put out. Tow truck driver (non mechanic) told kia that the plastic caused the fire. Was told no warranty or recall for kia to do anything for it, i have to pay out of picket for it.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage, she noticed that the engine oil had leaked onto the ground. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact then drove to a nearby dealer, where it was diagnosed that the oil gasket and the valve cover needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that upon picking up the vehicle from the dealer, she noticed that the low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The dealer was informed of the failure and determined that the oil pressure safety switch needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The dealer ordered the part and informed the contact that the vehicle was safe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Cadenza. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V137000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

BOUGHT A LEFT OVER 2017 KIA CADENZA IN JULY OF 18,WITHIN FIRST 10,000 MILES CAR STARTED SOUNDING LIKE A HELICOPTER,TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP,THEY DROVE IT,THOUGHT MAYBE A WHEEL BEARING,REPLACED THAT,ROTATED TIRES TOLD ME TO DRIVE FOR AWHILE AND SEE IF THAT CHANGED IT,WENT BACK 3 WEEKS LATER SAYING NEED TO ROTATE TIRES THEN WENT BACK AGAIN AT 17500 MILES WITH SAME ISSUE,SERVICE ADVISOR ASKED ME HARSHLY 'WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN DRIVING THIS THING', I TELL ON THE HIGHWAY TO AND FROM WORK AND DAILY DRIVING,HE TELLS ME YOU KNOW YOU CAN TAKE THIS TO ANY OTHER DEALERSHIP, I SAY NO IT'S CALLED LOYALTY, I SPEAK WITH SERVICE MANAGER,HE DRIVES THE CAR REALIZING IT IS LOUD,HAS TIRES TAKEN OFF ANOTHER IDENTICAL CAR,SOUND GOES AWAY,HE TALKS TO KIA,THEY DECIDE TO GIVE ME NEW TIRES,THEY WERE INSTALLED CAR DRIVE FINE TILL ABOUT ANOTHER 12000 MILES AND NOISE CAME BACK,I WENT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP FOR A OIL CHANGE 2 TIMES AND THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT TIRES ON THEIR INSPECTION,DECIDED TO GO BACK TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME TIRES ARE FEATHERED AGAIN, I SAY HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CAR GOING THROUGH 2 SETS OF TIRES IN 37000 MILES,THEY TELL ME IT'S OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN, I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR NEED ALIGNMENT BEFORE A 100000 MILES NOW THE CAR SHAKES AND SWAYS WITH THE GROVES IN THE ROADS AND NEEDS A THIRD SET OF TIRES AT 37000 MILES I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CHASSIS OF THIS CAR,MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THESE CARS ARE KNOWN TO FEATHER TIRES.

I HAVE 4 HANCOOK VENTIS S1 NOBLE 2+ TIRES ON MY 2017 KIA CADENZA. THE SIZE AND DOT NUMBERS ARE 245/45R18 96V DOT 5MEF 1A H 0217 I HAVE A BUBBLE, IN THE SIDEWALL, IN ONE TIRE THAT MAY BE THE RESULT OF A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES ARE VERY NOISY PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE REAR TIRES ARE AT 4/32" DEPTH AT 22,500 MILES. CAN YOU ADVISE ME IF THESE TIRES ARE PART OF A RECALL? THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CAR CUPPED TIRES AROUND 17000 MILES. DEALER BLAMED ME FOR CAR NOT BEING ALIGNED AND NOT ROTATED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH I.E. 7500 MILES. I DISAGREED WITH DEALER FILED COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND THEY MADE A COMPROMISE AND I PAID FOR 2 TIRES AND KIA PAID FOR 2 TIRES, DIFFERENT TIRE BRAND THAN PREVIOUS TIRES. CAR AGAIN CUPPED TIRES AROUND 44000 MILES. I HEARD SOUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER TIRE ROTATION BACK TO FRONT. TOOK CAR TO KIA SEAN THE SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED FRONT TIRES WERE CUPPED. TOOK CAR TO KIA DEALER A WEEK OR SO LATER TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED AT CAR IT WAS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECS AND TIRE ROTATIONS DONE APPROX. EVERY 7500 MILES. KIA DEALER THEN TOLD ME THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT THE TIRES WERE AT FAULT AND WERE GOING TO CONTACT TIRE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE TIRES. I STRONGLY DISAGREED WITH THIS POSITION AND SAID THAT ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING I HAVE READ AND BEEN TOLD THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE IS A SUSPENSION PROBLEM I.E. SHOCKS OR STRUTS. IT IS ALSO NOT GOOD FOR THE CAR TO BE DRIVEN WITH A SUSPENSION PROBLEM AND OR CUPPED TIRES. CUPPED TIRES ARE CAUSED BY POOR CONTACT WITH THE ROAD WHICH MAY ALSO BE DANGEROUS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY THE TIRES (2 SETS TIRES DIFFERENT BRANDS) SO CAN NOT WITH A GOOD CONSCIOUS SUPPORT A TIRE WARRANTY CLAIM. I BELIEVE AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THIS CAR NOT SURE IF IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM OR A PROBLEM WITH A CERTAIN SUSPENSION PART SHOCKS, STRUTS OR BOTH? ON 5/17/19 I FILLED ANOTHER COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON A RESPONSE. I AM FILLING THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2017 KIA CADENZA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CERVICAL STENOSIS AND A HERNIATED DISK IN THE LOWER BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS DEEMED OPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

OUTSIDE AIR TEMP SENSOR HAS DEFECT. IT READS 32 DEGREES F. WHEN TEMPS ARE OVER 80 F OUTSIDE. WON'T ALLOW AUTO AIR CONDITIONING TO WORK. THE ENGINE EMISSION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. HAVE HAD IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME MY GAS CAP IS NOT SEALING. IT'S RESET AND IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN.