Kia Optima heater core price snapshot
- Low
- $61
- Average
- $117
- High
- $401
Vehicle-specific price guide
How much is a used Kia Optima heater core ?
How much does a used Kia Optima heater core cost? Current salvage yard asking prices with condition grade, trim, and model-year detail from real marketplace listings.
Price summary
A used Kia Optima heater core costs $61 to $401, with a median asking price of $116. Based on 593 priced salvage yard listings across the US, compatible across 2016–2023 (8 model years), updated Sep 8, 2026. Prices exclude shipping, core charges, and installation.
Grade A (excellent)$116
Grade B (good)$116
USD
Condition comparison
Price by part grade
Grade AClean / low wear$61–$401450 listings
Grade BStandard used$61–$400129 listings
Grade CVisible wearUpdating
Grade XUngraded$212–$25014 listings
| Grade | Price range | Relative range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade AClean / low wear | $61–$401 | 450 | |
| Grade BStandard used | $61–$400 | 129 | |
| Grade CVisible wear | Updating | — | |
| Grade XUngraded | $212–$250 | 14 |
Median by grade
Grade price comparison
Grade A$116
Grade B$116
Ungraded$250
Median asking price by seller-reported condition grade · $61–$401 overall range
Replacement cost
What is the Kia Optima heater core replacement cost?
- Used part
- $116
- Kia Optima median asking price
- Labor
- $475–$1,500
- 5–10 hours at $95–$150/hr
- Estimated total
- $590–$1,615
- median used part + labor
Labor is a typical independent-shop range for heater core replacement, not a quote for your vehicle; it does not include coolant refill, and dashboard reassembly on vehicles requiring full dash removal. The part price is the live median from the salvage-yard listings on this page. Full heater core replacement cost breakdown
Model-year comparison
What does a Kia Optima heater core cost by year?
Market analysis
How much does a used Kia Optima heater core cost?
The going rate for a used Kia Optima heater core is $116 at the median, with listings spanning $61 to $401. That figure comes from 593 priced salvage-yard listings tracked by our index.
Fitment variant moves the price more than most buyers expect. The most affordable variant we track, US built (VIN 5, 1st digit), lists at a $61 median, while Korea built (VIN K, 1st digit) commands $116, a 90% gap inside the same part category. Confirm which variant your VIN requires before comparing quotes.
Model year matters too: 2018 units carry the lowest median at $61, while 2017 tops the table at $116. Parts from 2016–2020 are interchangeable, so if the 2018 fits your vehicle, it offers the best value across 5 compatible years.
Against comparable vehicles, the Kia Optima sits level with the Nissan Sentra ($116), level with the Nissan Rogue ($116), and 16% above the Hyundai Sonata ($100) for the same part. The “similar vehicles” cards below open each comparison guide.
Buying a used heater core: what to check
- Ask for the donor vehicle's mileage. Lower-mileage parts carry more remaining life and resale value.
- Confirm the warranty. Many salvage yards offer 30–90 day guarantees; some sell extended coverage.
- Verify fitment against your VIN or the part number on your old unit, not just year and model.
- Ask whether shipping and any core charge are included in the quoted price.
Keep browsing this vehicle
What other Kia Optima parts are priced?
01wide ±117%
Engine
$2,500median
$150$6,017
02wide ±323%
Transmission
$649median
$75$4,267
03wide ±138%
Front Bumper
$272median
$13$765
04wide ±129%
Rear Bumper
$243median
$25$650
05wide ±129%
Hood
$401median
$100$1,132
06wide ±642%
Fender
$137median
$40$1,800
07wide ±2633%
Headlight Assembly
$476median
$30$25,100
08wide ±1110%
Tail Light
$125median
$25$2,800
09wide ±224%
Alternator
$88median
$30$425
10wide ±126%
Starter
$110median
$30$307
11wide ±604%
Radiator
$146median
$35$1,800
12wide ±209%
AC Compressor
$133median
$44$600
13
Transfer Case
Price data updating
14wide ±189%
Axle Shaft
$101median
$19$400
15wide ±148%
Strut
$75median
$35$257
16wide ±273%
Steering Rack
$283median
$40$1,587
17wide ±264%
Grille
$140median
$19$759
18wide ±11384%
Side Mirror
$132median
$20$30,075
19wide ±111%
Turbocharger
$474median
$100$1,155
20wide ±317%
AC Condenser
$110median
$25$723
21wide ±272%
Wheels
$125median
$19$700
22wide ±492%
Fuel Pump
$115median
$40$1,172
23wide ±237%
Water Pump
$75median
$20$375
24wide ±108%
Power Steering Pump
$125median
$30$300
25wide ±169%
ABS Module
$175median
$40$631
26
Differential
Price data updating
27wide ±5661%
Engine Computer
$102median
$25$11,573
28wide ±142%
Throttle Body
$73median
$20$228
29wide ±2048%
Brake Caliper
$50median
$12$2,060
30spread ±48%
Drive Shaft
$300median
$75$361
31wide ±127%
Tailgate
$335median
$50$900
32wide ±147%
Intake Manifold
$131median
$30$415
33wide ±21781%
Control Arm
$72median
$20$31,385
34wide ±162%
Blower Motor
$116median
$30$405
35wide ±170%
Exhaust Manifold
$454median
$54$1,600
36wide ±455%
Transmission Control Module
$110median
$25$1,025
37wide ±213%
Steering Column
$195median
$51$880
38wide ±142%
Fuel Tank
$143median
$40$445
39wide ±167%
Window Regulator
$114median
$30$410
40wide ±159%
Instrument Cluster
$85median
$10$280
41wide ±380%
Torque Converter
$125median
$50$1,000
42wide ±80%
Steering Wheel
$150median
$35$275
43wide ±385%
Ignition Switch
$100median
$30$800
44wide ±421%
Car Radio
$177median
$10$1,500
45wide ±150%
Rear View Mirror
$100median
$25$325
46wide ±527%
Sunroof
$126median
$46$1,375
47wide ±113%
Master Cylinder
$99median
$20$243
48wide ±166%
Fog Light
$110median
$20$386
49wide ±1238%
Center Console
$100median
$25$2,500
50wide ±288%
Air Bag
$125median
$35$755
51wide ±140%
Door Assembly
$250median
$50$750
52wide ±86%
Quarter Panel
$400median
$55$740
53wide ±119%
Rear Bumper Assembly
$300median
$20$731
54wide ±389%
Front Seat
$176median
$30$1,400
Price comparisons
Compare Kia Optima heater core prices
Heater Corecompare
NissanSentravsKiaOptima
Sentra$116
Optima$116
$0 diff1,642 listings
Heater CorecompareHyundaiSonatavsKiaOptima
Sonata$100
Optima$116
$16 diff1,549 listings
Heater CorecompareKiaTelluridevsKiaOptima
Telluride$116
Optima$116
$0 diff1,494 listings
Heater CorecompareHondaCivicvsKiaOptima
Civic$116
Optima$116
$0 diff1,340 listings
Heater CorecompareKiaSportagevsKiaOptima
Sportage$116
Optima$116
$0 diff1,315 listings
Heater CorecompareHyundaiElantravsKiaOptima
Elantra$116
Optima$116
$0 diff1,293 listings
Compare fitments
What do similar vehicles charge for this part?
Acurawide ±181%
Acura MDX
$116median
$70$490
Acurawide ±148%
Acura RDX
$101median
$101$400
BMWwide ±116%
BMW X3
$266median
$31$650
BMWwide ±200%
BMW X5
$116median
$35$500
Chevywide ±360%
Chevy Colorado
$66median
$35$510
Chevywide ±163%
Chevy Equinox
$116median
$46$425
Kiawide ±172%
Kia Forte
$116median
$45$445
Kiawide ±144%
Kia Sorento
$116median
$66$401
Kiawide ±178%
Kia Soul
$116median
$61$475
Kiawide ±198%
Kia Sportage
$116median
$40$500
Kiawide ±190%
Kia Telluride
$116median
$75$515
Kia
Kia Seltos
Price data updating
Common questions
Kia Optima heater core FAQ
How much is a used heater core for a Kia Optima?
Based on 593 priced salvage yard listings, a used Kia Optima heater core lists between $61 and $401, with a median asking price of $116.
How much does it cost to replace a Kia Optima heater core?
Using a used part, a Kia Optima heater core replacement typically runs $590–$1,615 all-in: the median used heater core for this model lists at $116, and independent-shop labor for heater core replacement typically takes 5–10 hours at $95–$150/hr ($475–$1,500). The labor figure does not include coolant refill, and dashboard reassembly on vehicles requiring full dash removal. Labor is a national part-level estimate, not a quote for your vehicle.
What affects the price of a used Kia Optima heater core?
Condition grade, mileage, model year, and fitment variant all move the price. Our data covers 2 distinct trims/variants for this part. Check the variant table above, since interchange differences can change the price substantially. Always confirm fitment against your VIN or part number before buying.
Which Kia Optima model years does this price guide cover?
This guide currently has year-level pricing for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017. Other model years contribute to the overall range where sellers listed them without a year breakdown.
Which Kia Optima heater core years are interchangeable?
Based on salvage-yard interchange data, Kia Optima heater core listings appear across model years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, suggesting these years share compatible fitments. Shopping across all 8 years may surface better prices or grades. Always verify the exact part number and VIN before buying — interchange compatibility can vary by trim or drivetrain.