2017 Kia Cadenza Safety Report
2017 KIA Cadenza Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2017 Kia Cadenza
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2017 Kia Cadenza. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (29) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 5 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2019 | Compare against the 2019 Kia Cadenza with 2 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Kia Cadenza before buying across this generation. |
Kia Cadenza Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Kia Cadenza years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Cadenza | 6 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Kia Cadenza | 14 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Kia Cadenza | 2 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Kia Cadenza | 48 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2017 Kia Cadenza Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2017 Kia Cadenza, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Kia onlyFuel/Propulsion System
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Kia onlyUnknown Or Other
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Kia onlyElectrical System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Kia onlySeat Belts
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Seat Belts issues Kia onlyService Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Kia onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2017 Kia Cadenza
Reliability Score
The 2017 Kia Cadenza receives a reliability score of 87 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2017 Kia Cadenza
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2017 Kia Cadenza:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Fuel Propulsion System The engine and fuel propulsion system have been frequently reported as problematic, with recalls for electric and vacuum hose issues. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Seat Belts Seat belt failures have been reported, with some vehicles experiencing issues where the seat belt does not latch or retract properly. |
Low | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Service brake issues have been reported, including problems with the vacuum hose and control unit/module. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Electrical system issues have been reported, including a flashing check engine light and airbag system failures. |
Low | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2017 Kia Cadenza:
Issues with the engine and fuel propulsion system are the most common, with recalls for electric and vacuum hose problems.
Seat belt failures have been reported, with some vehicles experiencing issues where the seat belt does not latch or retract properly.
Service brake issues have been reported, including problems with the vacuum hose and control unit/module.
Electrical system issues have been reported, including a flashing check engine light and airbag system failures.
Recall Details for the 2017 Kia Cadenza
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2017 Kia Cadenza by NHTSA:
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2021 Sportage and Cadenza vehicles. The electrical circuit in the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may short-circuit, which can cause a fire in the engine compartment.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain fuses in the electrical junction box. Vehicles equipped with an electronic parking brake (EPB) will also receive a HECU software update. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2021. Owners may...
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017 Cadenza vehicles. The brake vacuum hose on the affected vehicles may kink, reducing braking performance.
Consequence: Reduced braking performance can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake vacuum hose, replacing it as necessary, free charge. The recall began on April 17, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC146.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2017 Kia Cadenza
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2017 Kia Cadenza with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 4 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
I currently have a complaint 11709255 regarding the electric thermostat. I just had that part replaced in November of 2025 for the 3rd time. Last week, again I had a warning of engine problem. The next day there was cold air blowing when the heat was on. The dash thermostat immediately began to move to hot. I was thankfully close to home. I turned car off and fan continues to run under the hood. ...
Check engine was flashing in front of my house in Brookhaven Pa. Took to mechanic around the corner, diagnosed with a blown head gasket & oil in my anti freeze over flow. Internal engine failure. Had towed to Kia dealership in NJ
I have and am the original owner of a Kia Cadenza 2017 with the 3.3L Lambda engine (same engine as the Sorento lawsuit). The vehicle is currently at the dealership getting repaired due to carbon buildup causing the fuel injectors to malfunction( despite of consistently being on top of maintenance and oil changes).I have read online of lots of users with failed engines due to carbon buildup in thes...
This vehicle was inherited to me in 2019 from my father who puchased it cash on 10/13/2017. On 4/19/2018 he brought it in for a check engine light which was related to recall sa299 (ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT). On 7/11/2018 service was performed again. On 3/4/2022 I brought in for check engine light with same recall for ELECTRONIC THERMOSTAT. On 11/10/2025 car showed engine overheating. In fear, I ...
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 engi...
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, Ki...
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 ...
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 t...
Actuator in Drivers door has failed. Unable to Lock or Unlock car door.
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 o...
Strong fuel odor after filling up fuel coming from the driver side, and can still be smelled inside the vehicle.
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 require...
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 deale...
Unknown
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...
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 mot...
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...
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 man...
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT QUIT ROLLING UP SO THEY WOULD NOT WORK IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED THREE WEEKS STILL NO PARTS
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 HARSHL...
Showing 20 of 29 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2017 Kia Cadenza
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
Opened 2023-11-17
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando....
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2017 Kia Cadenza
Has the 2017 KIA CADENZA been recalled?
Yes, the 2017 KIA CADENZA has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2017 KIA CADENZA have?
The 2017 KIA CADENZA has 29 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 4 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
The 2017 KIA CADENZA does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2017 KIA CADENZA involve engine (4 complaints), fuel/propulsion system (4 complaints), unknown or other (3 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, seat belts, service brakes.
How many crash reports does the 2017 KIA CADENZA have?
There are 4 crash reports associated with the 2017 KIA CADENZA out of 29 total complaints (13.8% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2017 KIA CADENZA have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2017 KIA CADENZA out of 29 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 KIA CADENZA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2017 KIA CADENZA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2017 KIA CADENZA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 KIA CADENZA is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 29 complaints, 2 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
The components with the most failures on the 2017 KIA CADENZA are: 1. ENGINE (4 complaints), 2. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (4 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints), 5. SEAT BELTS (2 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 4 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2017 KIA CADENZA?
Be cautious of potential engine and fuel propulsion system issues, as well as seat belt and service brake failures. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing. The 2017 KIA CADENZA has 29 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
The 2017 KIA CADENZA receives a reliability score of 87/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 29 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 5 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine and Fuel Propulsion System and Seat Belts.
What are the known issues with the 2017 KIA CADENZA?
Known issues with the 2017 KIA CADENZA include: Engine and Fuel Propulsion System, Seat Belts, Service Brakes, Electrical System. These are based on patterns found across 29 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 KIA Cadenza?
Yes, there are recalls for electric and vacuum hose issues affecting the engine and fuel propulsion system.
What are the most common issues with the 2017 KIA Cadenza?
The most common issues are with the engine and fuel propulsion system, seat belts, and service brakes.
Are there any electrical system issues with the 2017 KIA Cadenza?
Yes, electrical system issues have been reported, including a flashing check engine light and airbag system failures.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential engine and fuel propulsion system issues, as well as seat belt and service brake failures. Consider a thorough inspection before purchasing.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2017 Kia Cadenza
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2017 Kia Cadenza. The data includes 29 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 4 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16