2020 Kia Cadenza

Showing the 2020 Cadenza Limited. NHTSA's VIN data shows it with a 3.3 L engine, but that may not be every version of it, so the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
23 mpgcombined; city 20, highway 28; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120U.S. average; Ohio $12,620 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
1over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
0filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 Cadenza. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 0 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Cadenza. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2014111
  2. 201548
  3. 201614
  4. 201733
  5. 20187
  6. 20195
  7. 20200

Every Cadenza year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Cadenza over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Electrical system: software; Visibility: power window devices and controls

NHTSA campaign 22V022000 · reported Jan 21, 2022 · 451 vehicles potentially affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020 Cadenza vehicles. The rear power windows can be operated by the driver's power window main switch after the ignition has been turned off and a front door is opened. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

Risk: Rear power windows that operate unexpectedly can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the Driver Door Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 8, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC225.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 47 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Cadenza, the latest on Dec 9, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (21), engine and engine cooling (7), fuel/propulsion system (7), steering (7), equipment (4).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Audit query AQ23002
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires · covers 3 makes		Service brakes, hydraulicNov 17, 2023Open
NHTSA's summary names recall 20V520000, 20V543000, 21V161000, 21V160000, 21V303000, 22V056000, 22V810000, 23V651000, 16V815000, 20V518000, 20V519000, 21V137000, 21V331000, 22V051000, 22V800000, 23V652000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 Cadenza.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: large cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Cadenza
Front-Wheel Drive		3.3 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S8)Regular Gasoline20 / 28 / 23

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data