2019 Kia Cadenza

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. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

While operating the vehicle, the engine suffered a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, resulting in an immediate and dangerous loss of motive power on the road. A subsequent physical diagnostic scan at an authorized Kia dealership revealed manufacturer trouble code P008800 (Fuel Rail System Pressure-Too High) along with universal engine misfire codes P030100, P030200, P030300, P030400, P030500, P030600. The dealership confirmed that the internal engine failure includes a shattered piston. Code P008800 is the primary mechanical failure indicator for active manufacturer warranty campaign WTY 0034 (High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure). The defective high pressure fuel pump suffered a primary mechanical failure, spiking fuel rail pressures to dangerous limits, causing all six cylinders to misfire, and inducing low speed pre-ignition (LSPI). This extreme combustion anomaly directly fractured the engine's internal piston. The dealership is currently attempting to clear these diagnostic trouble codes and perform an oil change, which would actively destroy the physical and electronic evidence linking the safety recalled component failure directly to the engine's catastrophic destruction. This component failure poses a severe stall hazard and a risk of total engine failure while operating at highway speeds. Photographic proof of the official dealer diagnostic report has been preserved.

NHTSA ID

11755245

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

I picked up my Cadenza from the repair shop. They were repairing the sunroof controls because the sunroof was not operating properly. I was 24 miles away from the shop headed home from Temple, TX to Waxahachie, TX on [XXX]. It sounded like a shotgun was fired right above my head and scared me. I am surprised I didn't crash. I pulled over and the sunroof had a 2 foot hole in it. The shade was in the shut position so no glass made into the cab. No rock or any debris hit the vehicle. My mom was driving behind me and she said she saw a huge chunk of glass fly up from my car and hit her car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11744719

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Cadenza. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, upon starting the vehicle later, the contact noticed that there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where the contact was informed that the diagnostic trouble code was associated with a tire sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

NHTSA ID

11742797

Incident

May 27, 2026

Mileage

74,000 mi

Hello, I wasn't notified of the recall on my vehicle. The steering wheel is extremely hard to turn and all of the system lights are on.

NHTSA ID

11481339

Incident

Jun 19, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 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 CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AIRPORT KIA NAPLES (3325 WESTVIEW DR, NAPLES, FL 34104) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL AUGUST 8, 2021. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO GET A RENTAL VEHICLE SINCE THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11416147

Incident

May 11, 2021

PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal transmission and reception times between the vehicle (ultrasonic sensor) and an object. The membrane film of the ultrasonic sensor is used for object detention and can be damaged by stone chips or foreign substances while driving. Damage to the cover of the ultrasonic sensor can also lead to damage to the internal circuit. As a result of this external damage, the PDW system may not receive the proper signal from the ultrasonic sensor. In some cases, the system may cause a false alarm, no alert, or phantom warnings by a “Warning Lamp’ to be displayed on the cluster. The ultrasonic sensor membrane film should be always inspected for external damage and if any part replacement should be treated as a general repair, not as a warranty claim repair for this concern. (Please note that this Pitstop only applies to models/trims that are equipped with the ultrasonic sensors.)

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced, and the transmission oil cooler is transferred to the new transmission.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT (WTY034) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY034) to diagnose the ‘Malfunction Indicator Lamp’ (MIL) accompanied by DTC P0088 and, if necessary, replace the high-pressure fuel pump on 2019-2021 MY Sedona vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2018 through July 8, 2020, 2017-2020 MY Cadenza vehicles manufactured from June 2, 2016 through October 15, 2020, and 2019-2020 MY Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 Engines manufactured from January 24, 2018 through October 26, 2020.

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT (WTY034) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY034) to diagnose the ‘Malfunction Indicator Lamp’ (MIL) accompanied by DTC P0088 and, if necessary, replace the high-pressure fuel pump on 2019-2021 MY Sedona vehicles manufactured from February 13, 2018 through July 8, 2020, 2017-2020 MY Cadenza vehicles manufactured from June 2, 2016 through October 15, 2020, and 2019-2020 MY Sorento vehicles equipped with 3.3L V6 Engines manufactured from January 24, 2018 through October 15, 2020.

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY034) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for the high-pressure fuel pump in 2017-2020 MY Cadenza vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to 15 years / 180,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date the vehicle was first put into service.

WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY034) - This document is a Reimbursement Request form that was mailed with the customer letter advising them to submit the form if they had paid for repairs for this same matter prior to the warranty extension program launch.