KiaCadenza2018Overview/kia/cadenza/2018/base/

2018 Kia Cadenza

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Cadenza.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2018 Kia Cadenza is a passenger car whose powertrain is serviced with 6.9 quarts of 5W-30, 10W-30, or 15W-40 API oil and is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, earning EPA ratings of 20/28/23 mpg. Within the model’s 20142020 complaint history, a span that runs from a high of 110 owner-reported issues in 2014 to a low of four in 2019, this model year recorded just seven complaints and one recall, with the engine cited as the top complaint area. That near-bottom grievance count places the 2018 Cadenza among the more reliable years in that run.

Model year2020201920182017201620152014

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 / 15W-40 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 124R · 660 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 124R · 660 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnEXTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245/45R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length195.7 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight3633 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume108 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Cadenza of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.5–7.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.50 sec — 2020 Technology Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2017SXL Sedan 3.3L V66.50 sec14.80 sec290 hpFWD
2017SXL Sedan 3.3L V66.70 sec15.00 sec290 hpFWD
2017SXL Sedan 3.3L V67.30 sec15.50 sec290 hpFWD
2020Technology Sedan 3.3L V66.50 sec14.90 sec290 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.9 qt of 5W-30 / 10W-30 / 15W-40 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity8.9
Engine Oil5W-30 · API · 10W-30 · 15W-40
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt
Power Steering FluidKia PSF-III

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.1-7.2 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.8-6.5 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts311.0-318.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)26.0-33.3 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)11.6-17.4 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts36-40 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.2-8.7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts79-94 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub177-199 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerKia
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque11 - 18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.38-1.49 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.17-3.87 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca
Standard BCI Group Number94R

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum42.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)42.0 psi
Engine Compression178

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16-23
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque58-72
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.039; Rear: .330
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0002
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0016; Rear: .0012

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages
148.0 inch lbs.48 in
284.0-108.0 inch lbs.84–108 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
270.0
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 3 stages
12.9-4.3 ft. lbs.2.9–4.3 ft. lbs
219.5-23.1 ft. lbs.19.5–23.1 ft. lbs
3Repeat Step 2 twice.
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Inside bolts

136.0 ft. lbs.36 ft. lbs
290.0 degrees; Outside bolts90 degrees
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
2120.0 degrees; Side bolts120 degrees
121.0-23.0
Engine Valve Cover Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.6-4.3 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.2-8.73.6–4.3 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2018 Kia Cadenza marks a clear improvement within its generation, particularly when compared to earlier model years. Complaints dropped sharply from 31 in 2017 to just 7 in 2018, continuing a downward trend that began after 2014’s peak of 110 complaints. Recalls also declined, with only one in 2018—matching 2019 and 2020—while investigations remained constant at one per year throughout the generation. The 2018 model’s top complaint areas were minor, with only four engine-related reports and no crash or fire incidents documented. This positions the 2018 Cadenza as one of the most reliable years in the lineup, reflecting Kia’s mid-cycle refinements. Given the data, the 2018 is a strong used purchase, offering the best balance of low complaints and recalls in its generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
51
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
7
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 7 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Engine4
Air Bags1
Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V137000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/ModuleReported 04/03/2021

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… 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 51 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PS7972025-12-09Back Over PreventionPITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop…
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
WTY034_TSB_R22025-03-27Fuel/Propulsion SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP…
WTY034_TSB_R12024-09-20Fuel/Propulsion SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP…
WTY034_REIMB2024-05-24EngineWARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: REIMBURSEMENT FORM (WTY034) - This document is a…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Cadenza. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 Cadenza take?

6.9 qt of 5W-30 API Preferred. Above 0 degreesF 10W-30, Above 10 degreesF 15W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Cadenza have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Cadenza get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.