NHTSA // SAFETY RECORD
2019 Kia Cadenza Safety Record
The 2019 Kia Cadenza has not been crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. Its federal safety record shows 1 recall and 4 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
CRASH
DATANot crash-tested
For the 2019 Kia Cadenza, federal data offers a limited safety picture. NHTSA has not crash-tested this model year, leaving it without official star ratings or an overall Safety Index score. The available record indicates a Heavy recall and complaint burden band. One active recall campaign addresses a concern with the antilock braking control module. Additionally, owner filings include six reported complaint components across four unverified complaints. This represents the complete federal safety data accessible for the 2019 Cadenza.
The 2019 Kia Cadenza was not crash-tested by NHTSA, carries a Heavy recall and complaint burden band, and is subject to one recall involving the antilock braking hydraulic electronic control unit, according to NHTSA federal safety data.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
- shoppers who want the full federal safety picture in one place
| NHTSA crash test | Not crash-tested |
|---|---|
| Recall and complaint burden | Heavy |
| Recalls on file | 1 (includes park-outside) |
| Owner complaints | 4 (unverified allegations) |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2019 Kia Cadenza?
The 2019 Kia Cadenza carries a Heavy burden rating from the Safety Desk, a classification driven primarily by a critical recall concerning its antilock braking control unit. This particular recall received NHTSA's park-outside designation, the most serious directive short of an order not to drive the vehicle. Such a recall is highly consequential, as it directly impacts the system designed to prevent wheel lockup and maintain control during abrupt braking maneuvers. Owner complaints for the 2019 Cadenza are modest in volume, with four filings. However, these complaints cover a notably broad spectrum of issues, including steering, engine performance, lane departure systems, and exterior lighting. This distribution suggests a lack of a single, concentrated failure point but also offers no clear area of reassurance regarding overall vehicle integrity. NHTSA has not published crash-test ratings for the 2019 Kia Cadenza, nor are there tested sibling years to provide an adjacent safety reference. The Heavy burden band reflects the vehicle's recall and complaint record, not its crashworthiness. Prospective buyers should consider this rating a directive to verify the open-recall status of any specific 2019 Cadenza by VIN before purchase.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2019 Kia Cadenza have any recalls?
The 2019 Kia Cadenza carries one recall, covering the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit inside the antilock braking and traction control system. NHTSA designated this a park-outside campaign, meaning owners were directed not to garage the vehicle until the remedy was completed. The campaign spans 2017 through 2021 Sportage and Cadenza models. Any prospective buyer should verify by VIN whether this recall has been remedied on the specific vehicle.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE21V137000
Risk: 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 cont
Reported 2021-03-04
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2019 Kia Cadenza?
Four owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Cadenza, touching six reported components: Unknown Or Other, Tires, Engine, Steering, Exterior Lighting, and Lane Departure. None of the four filings alleged a crash, a fire, an injury, or a fatality. All are unverified consumer allegations and have not been confirmed as defects by NHTSA.
4 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2019 Kia Cadenza?
The 2019 Kia Cadenza carries a critical warning for prospective buyers: an unremedied park-outside recall concerning the antilock braking control unit. This recall is serious enough to warrant checking the specific vehicle's VIN on nhtsa.gov before purchase, as the condition transfers with ownership.
- The 2019 Kia Cadenza has no NHTSA crash-test score of any kind, including no frontal, side, or rollover star ratings, because NHTSA did not test this model year.
- A park-outside recall covering the antilock braking hydraulic electronic control unit is on record for this model year, meaning NHTSA directed owners to avoid enclosed parking until the remedy was performed.
- Four unverified owner complaints on file with NHTSA span six distinct components, including steering, engine, lane departure, and exterior lighting, with zero reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among those filings.
- No NHTSA-tested sibling years of the Cadenza are available in the federal record to provide any adjacent crash-safety reference, making the VIN-specific recall check at nhtsa.gov the most actionable safety step for a prospective buyer.
RANKINGSWhere the 2019 Kia Cadenza places
The 2019 Kia Cadenza qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2019 Kia Cadenza safety questions
Was the 2019 Kia Cadenza crash-tested by NHTSA?
No. NHTSA has not run a New Car Assessment Program crash test on this configuration, so it carries no Safety Index. Its safety record here is built from 1 recall and 4 owner complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2019 Kia Cadenza have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 1 vehicle recall is on file for the 2019 Kia Cadenza, including a park-outside or do-not-drive campaign, which is the most serious class of recall. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Kia Cadenza?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 4 owner complaints are on file for the 2019 Kia Cadenza. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Cadenza years
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Kia Cadenza 2019.
- SCORE This configuration was not crash-tested by NHTSA, so it carries no Safety Index. We report its recall and complaint record only.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.