diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods.go
index 87282584633..136080c08f1 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods.go
@@ -1378,24 +1378,40 @@ func getPhase(spec *v1.PodSpec, info []v1.ContainerStatus) v1.PodPhase {
 func (kl *Kubelet) generateAPIPodStatus(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecontainer.PodStatus) v1.PodStatus {
 	klog.V(3).InfoS("Generating pod status", "pod", klog.KObj(pod))
 
-	s := kl.convertStatusToAPIStatus(pod, podStatus)
+	// use the previous pod status, or the api status, as the basis for this pod
+	oldPodStatus, found := kl.statusManager.GetPodStatus(pod.UID)
+	if !found {
+		oldPodStatus = pod.Status
+	}
+	s := kl.convertStatusToAPIStatus(pod, podStatus, oldPodStatus)
 
-	// check if an internal module has requested the pod is evicted.
+	// calculate the next phase and preserve reason
+	allStatus := append(append([]v1.ContainerStatus{}, s.ContainerStatuses...), s.InitContainerStatuses...)
+	s.Phase = getPhase(&pod.Spec, allStatus)
+	klog.V(4).InfoS("Got phase for pod", "pod", klog.KObj(pod), "oldPhase", oldPodStatus.Phase, "phase", s.Phase)
+	if s.Phase == oldPodStatus.Phase {
+		// preserve the reason and message which is associated with the phase
+		s.Reason = oldPodStatus.Reason
+		s.Message = oldPodStatus.Message
+		if len(s.Reason) == 0 {
+			s.Reason = pod.Status.Reason
+		}
+		if len(s.Message) == 0 {
+			s.Message = pod.Status.Message
+		}
+	}
+
+	// check if an internal module has requested the pod is evicted and override the reason and message
 	for _, podSyncHandler := range kl.PodSyncHandlers {
 		if result := podSyncHandler.ShouldEvict(pod); result.Evict {
 			s.Phase = v1.PodFailed
 			s.Reason = result.Reason
 			s.Message = result.Message
-			return *s
+			break
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Assume info is ready to process
-	spec := &pod.Spec
-	allStatus := append(append([]v1.ContainerStatus{}, s.ContainerStatuses...), s.InitContainerStatuses...)
-	s.Phase = getPhase(spec, allStatus)
-	klog.V(4).InfoS("Got phase for pod", "pod", klog.KObj(pod), "phase", s.Phase)
-	// Check for illegal phase transition
+	// pods are not allowed to transition out of terminal phases
 	if pod.Status.Phase == v1.PodFailed || pod.Status.Phase == v1.PodSucceeded {
 		// API server shows terminal phase; transitions are not allowed
 		if s.Phase != pod.Status.Phase {
@@ -1404,18 +1420,27 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) generateAPIPodStatus(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecontainer.Po
 			s.Phase = pod.Status.Phase
 		}
 	}
+
+	// ensure the probe managers have up to date status for containers
 	kl.probeManager.UpdatePodStatus(pod.UID, s)
-	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, status.GeneratePodInitializedCondition(spec, s.InitContainerStatuses, s.Phase))
-	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, status.GeneratePodReadyCondition(spec, s.Conditions, s.ContainerStatuses, s.Phase))
-	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, status.GenerateContainersReadyCondition(spec, s.ContainerStatuses, s.Phase))
-	// Status manager will take care of the LastTransitionTimestamp, either preserve
-	// the timestamp from apiserver, or set a new one. When kubelet sees the pod,
-	// `PodScheduled` condition must be true.
+
+	// preserve all conditions not owned by the kubelet
+	s.Conditions = make([]v1.PodCondition, 0, len(pod.Status.Conditions)+1)
+	for _, c := range pod.Status.Conditions {
+		if !kubetypes.PodConditionByKubelet(c.Type) {
+			s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, c)
+		}
+	}
+	// set all Kubelet-owned conditions
+	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, status.GeneratePodInitializedCondition(&pod.Spec, s.InitContainerStatuses, s.Phase))
+	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, status.GeneratePodReadyCondition(&pod.Spec, s.Conditions, s.ContainerStatuses, s.Phase))
+	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, status.GenerateContainersReadyCondition(&pod.Spec, s.ContainerStatuses, s.Phase))
 	s.Conditions = append(s.Conditions, v1.PodCondition{
 		Type:   v1.PodScheduled,
 		Status: v1.ConditionTrue,
 	})
 
+	// set HostIP and initialize PodIP/PodIPs for host network pods
 	if kl.kubeClient != nil {
 		hostIPs, err := kl.getHostIPsAnyWay()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -1466,10 +1491,10 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) sortPodIPs(podIPs []string) []string {
 	return ips
 }
 
-// convertStatusToAPIStatus creates an api PodStatus for the given pod from
-// the given internal pod status.  It is purely transformative and does not
-// alter the kubelet state at all.
-func (kl *Kubelet) convertStatusToAPIStatus(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecontainer.PodStatus) *v1.PodStatus {
+// convertStatusToAPIStatus initialize an api PodStatus for the given pod from
+// the given internal pod status and the previous state of the pod from the API.
+// It is purely transformative and does not alter the kubelet state at all.
+func (kl *Kubelet) convertStatusToAPIStatus(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecontainer.PodStatus, oldPodStatus v1.PodStatus) *v1.PodStatus {
 	var apiPodStatus v1.PodStatus
 
 	// copy pod status IPs to avoid race conditions with PodStatus #102806
@@ -1490,11 +1515,6 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) convertStatusToAPIStatus(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecontaine
 	// set status for Pods created on versions of kube older than 1.6
 	apiPodStatus.QOSClass = v1qos.GetPodQOS(pod)
 
-	oldPodStatus, found := kl.statusManager.GetPodStatus(pod.UID)
-	if !found {
-		oldPodStatus = pod.Status
-	}
-
 	apiPodStatus.ContainerStatuses = kl.convertToAPIContainerStatuses(
 		pod, podStatus,
 		oldPodStatus.ContainerStatuses,
@@ -1526,13 +1546,6 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) convertStatusToAPIStatus(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecontaine
 		)
 	}
 
-	// Preserves conditions not controlled by kubelet
-	for _, c := range pod.Status.Conditions {
-		if !kubetypes.PodConditionByKubelet(c.Type) {
-			apiPodStatus.Conditions = append(apiPodStatus.Conditions, c)
-		}
-	}
-
 	return &apiPodStatus
 }
 
@@ -1767,7 +1780,7 @@ func (kl *Kubelet) convertToAPIContainerStatuses(pod *v1.Pod, podStatus *kubecon
 	if isInitContainer {
 		return kubetypes.SortStatusesOfInitContainers(pod, statuses)
 	}
-	var containerStatuses []v1.ContainerStatus
+	containerStatuses := make([]v1.ContainerStatus, 0, len(statuses))
 	for _, status := range statuses {
 		containerStatuses = append(containerStatuses, *status)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods_test.go
index d3b1d185421..b059864d8a4 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/kubelet_pods_test.go
@@ -31,11 +31,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	v1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
+	apiequality "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/equality"
 	apierrors "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/errors"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/labels"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/types"
+	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/diff"
 	utilfeature "k8s.io/apiserver/pkg/util/feature"
 	core "k8s.io/client-go/testing"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/tools/record"
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ import (
 	containertest "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/container/testing"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/cri/streaming/portforward"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/cri/streaming/remotecommand"
+	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/prober/results"
 	kubetypes "k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/kubelet/types"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/volume/util/hostutil"
 	"k8s.io/kubernetes/pkg/volume/util/subpath"
@@ -1806,10 +1809,13 @@ func TestMakeEnvironmentVariables(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func waitingState(cName string) v1.ContainerStatus {
+	return waitingStateWithReason(cName, "")
+}
+func waitingStateWithReason(cName, reason string) v1.ContainerStatus {
 	return v1.ContainerStatus{
 		Name: cName,
 		State: v1.ContainerState{
-			Waiting: &v1.ContainerStateWaiting{},
+			Waiting: &v1.ContainerStateWaiting{Reason: reason},
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -1847,6 +1853,14 @@ func runningState(cName string) v1.ContainerStatus {
 		},
 	}
 }
+func runningStateWithStartedAt(cName string, startedAt time.Time) v1.ContainerStatus {
+	return v1.ContainerStatus{
+		Name: cName,
+		State: v1.ContainerState{
+			Running: &v1.ContainerStateRunning{StartedAt: metav1.Time{Time: startedAt}},
+		},
+	}
+}
 func stoppedState(cName string) v1.ContainerStatus {
 	return v1.ContainerStatus{
 		Name: cName,
@@ -1891,6 +1905,14 @@ func waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown(cName string, restartCount int32) v1.Cont
 		RestartCount: restartCount,
 	}
 }
+func ready(status v1.ContainerStatus) v1.ContainerStatus {
+	status.Ready = true
+	return status
+}
+func withID(status v1.ContainerStatus, id string) v1.ContainerStatus {
+	status.ContainerID = id
+	return status
+}
 
 func TestPodPhaseWithRestartAlways(t *testing.T) {
 	desiredState := v1.PodSpec{
@@ -2506,6 +2528,303 @@ func TestConvertToAPIContainerStatuses(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func Test_generateAPIPodStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	desiredState := v1.PodSpec{
+		NodeName: "machine",
+		Containers: []v1.Container{
+			{Name: "containerA"},
+			{Name: "containerB"},
+		},
+		RestartPolicy: v1.RestartPolicyAlways,
+	}
+	now := metav1.Now()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name             string
+		pod              *v1.Pod
+		currentStatus    *kubecontainer.PodStatus
+		unreadyContainer []string
+		previousStatus   v1.PodStatus
+		expected         v1.PodStatus
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "no current status, with previous statuses and deletion",
+			pod: &v1.Pod{
+				Spec: desiredState,
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						runningState("containerA"),
+						runningState("containerB"),
+					},
+				},
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Name: "my-pod", DeletionTimestamp: &now},
+			},
+			currentStatus: &kubecontainer.PodStatus{},
+			previousStatus: v1.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					runningState("containerA"),
+					runningState("containerB"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:    v1.PodRunning,
+				HostIP:   "127.0.0.1",
+				QOSClass: v1.PodQOSBestEffort,
+				Conditions: []v1.PodCondition{
+					{Type: v1.PodInitialized, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.ContainersReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodScheduled, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+				},
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					ready(waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown("containerA", 0)),
+					ready(waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown("containerB", 0)),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "no current status, with previous statuses and no deletion",
+			pod: &v1.Pod{
+				Spec: desiredState,
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						runningState("containerA"),
+						runningState("containerB"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			currentStatus: &kubecontainer.PodStatus{},
+			previousStatus: v1.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					runningState("containerA"),
+					runningState("containerB"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:    v1.PodRunning,
+				HostIP:   "127.0.0.1",
+				QOSClass: v1.PodQOSBestEffort,
+				Conditions: []v1.PodCondition{
+					{Type: v1.PodInitialized, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.ContainersReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodScheduled, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+				},
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					ready(waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown("containerA", 1)),
+					ready(waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown("containerB", 1)),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "terminal phase cannot be changed (apiserver previous is succeeded)",
+			pod: &v1.Pod{
+				Spec: desiredState,
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					Phase: v1.PodSucceeded,
+					ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						runningState("containerA"),
+						runningState("containerB"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			currentStatus: &kubecontainer.PodStatus{},
+			previousStatus: v1.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					runningState("containerA"),
+					runningState("containerB"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:    v1.PodSucceeded,
+				HostIP:   "127.0.0.1",
+				QOSClass: v1.PodQOSBestEffort,
+				Conditions: []v1.PodCondition{
+					{Type: v1.PodInitialized, Status: v1.ConditionTrue, Reason: "PodCompleted"},
+					{Type: v1.PodReady, Status: v1.ConditionFalse, Reason: "PodCompleted"},
+					{Type: v1.ContainersReady, Status: v1.ConditionFalse, Reason: "PodCompleted"},
+					{Type: v1.PodScheduled, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+				},
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					ready(waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown("containerA", 1)),
+					ready(waitingWithLastTerminationUnknown("containerB", 1)),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "running can revert to pending",
+			pod: &v1.Pod{
+				Spec: desiredState,
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					Phase: v1.PodRunning,
+					ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						runningState("containerA"),
+						runningState("containerB"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			currentStatus: &kubecontainer.PodStatus{},
+			previousStatus: v1.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					waitingState("containerA"),
+					waitingState("containerB"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:    v1.PodPending,
+				HostIP:   "127.0.0.1",
+				QOSClass: v1.PodQOSBestEffort,
+				Conditions: []v1.PodCondition{
+					{Type: v1.PodInitialized, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.ContainersReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodScheduled, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+				},
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					ready(waitingStateWithReason("containerA", "ContainerCreating")),
+					ready(waitingStateWithReason("containerB", "ContainerCreating")),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "reason and message are preserved when phase doesn't change",
+			pod: &v1.Pod{
+				Spec: desiredState,
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					Phase: v1.PodRunning,
+					ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						waitingState("containerA"),
+						waitingState("containerB"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			currentStatus: &kubecontainer.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []*kubecontainer.Status{
+					{
+						ID:        kubecontainer.ContainerID{ID: "foo"},
+						Name:      "containerB",
+						StartedAt: time.Unix(1, 0).UTC(),
+						State:     kubecontainer.ContainerStateRunning,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			previousStatus: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:   v1.PodPending,
+				Reason:  "Test",
+				Message: "test",
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					waitingState("containerA"),
+					runningState("containerB"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:    v1.PodPending,
+				Reason:   "Test",
+				Message:  "test",
+				HostIP:   "127.0.0.1",
+				QOSClass: v1.PodQOSBestEffort,
+				Conditions: []v1.PodCondition{
+					{Type: v1.PodInitialized, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.ContainersReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodScheduled, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+				},
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					ready(waitingStateWithReason("containerA", "ContainerCreating")),
+					ready(withID(runningStateWithStartedAt("containerB", time.Unix(1, 0).UTC()), "://foo")),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "reason and message are cleared when phase changes",
+			pod: &v1.Pod{
+				Spec: desiredState,
+				Status: v1.PodStatus{
+					Phase: v1.PodPending,
+					ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+						waitingState("containerA"),
+						waitingState("containerB"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			currentStatus: &kubecontainer.PodStatus{
+				ContainerStatuses: []*kubecontainer.Status{
+					{
+						ID:        kubecontainer.ContainerID{ID: "c1"},
+						Name:      "containerA",
+						StartedAt: time.Unix(1, 0).UTC(),
+						State:     kubecontainer.ContainerStateRunning,
+					},
+					{
+						ID:        kubecontainer.ContainerID{ID: "c2"},
+						Name:      "containerB",
+						StartedAt: time.Unix(2, 0).UTC(),
+						State:     kubecontainer.ContainerStateRunning,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			previousStatus: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:   v1.PodPending,
+				Reason:  "Test",
+				Message: "test",
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					runningState("containerA"),
+					runningState("containerB"),
+				},
+			},
+			expected: v1.PodStatus{
+				Phase:    v1.PodRunning,
+				HostIP:   "127.0.0.1",
+				QOSClass: v1.PodQOSBestEffort,
+				Conditions: []v1.PodCondition{
+					{Type: v1.PodInitialized, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.ContainersReady, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+					{Type: v1.PodScheduled, Status: v1.ConditionTrue},
+				},
+				ContainerStatuses: []v1.ContainerStatus{
+					ready(withID(runningStateWithStartedAt("containerA", time.Unix(1, 0).UTC()), "://c1")),
+					ready(withID(runningStateWithStartedAt("containerB", time.Unix(2, 0).UTC()), "://c2")),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			testKubelet := newTestKubelet(t, false /* controllerAttachDetachEnabled */)
+			defer testKubelet.Cleanup()
+			kl := testKubelet.kubelet
+			kl.statusManager.SetPodStatus(test.pod, test.previousStatus)
+			for _, name := range test.unreadyContainer {
+				kl.readinessManager.Set(kubecontainer.BuildContainerID("", findContainerStatusByName(test.expected, name).ContainerID), results.Failure, test.pod)
+			}
+			actual := kl.generateAPIPodStatus(test.pod, test.currentStatus)
+			if !apiequality.Semantic.DeepEqual(test.expected, actual) {
+				t.Fatalf("Unexpected status: %s", diff.ObjectReflectDiff(actual, test.expected))
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func findContainerStatusByName(status v1.PodStatus, name string) *v1.ContainerStatus {
+	for i, c := range status.InitContainerStatuses {
+		if c.Name == name {
+			return &status.InitContainerStatuses[i]
+		}
+	}
+	for i, c := range status.ContainerStatuses {
+		if c.Name == name {
+			return &status.ContainerStatuses[i]
+		}
+	}
+	for i, c := range status.EphemeralContainerStatuses {
+		if c.Name == name {
+			return &status.EphemeralContainerStatuses[i]
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func TestGetExec(t *testing.T) {
 	const (
 		podName                = "podFoo"