Kia Optima radiator price snapshot
- Low
- $35
- Average
- $136
- High
- $500
Vehicle-specific price guide
How much is a used Kia Optima radiator?
Asking prices from 513 salvage yards in 43 states, broken down by model year, condition grade, and fitment variant.
SKWritten bySaurabh Kumar · Co-Founder & CTO
SK
Saurabh Kumar
Co-Founder & CTO, Part Price Guide
Built the pricing pipeline that collects and normalizes used OEM part listings from salvage yards and online marketplaces across the US.
ASReviewed byAmbika Sharma · Co-Founder & COO
Last updatedOct 31, 2026AS
Ambika Sharma
Co-Founder & COO, Part Price Guide
12 years of project management and technical operations experience. Reviews price guides for sample size, fitment accuracy, and data freshness.
Part overview
About the Kia Optima radiator
What the radiator does, common failure signs, and prices across all vehicles: used radiator price guide →
Also known asEngine RadiatorRadiator Assembly
Price summary
A used Kia Optima radiator costs $35 to $500, with a median asking price of $110. Based on 1,442 priced salvage yard listings across the US, compatible across 2011–2020 (10 model years), updated Oct 31, 2026. Prices exclude shipping, core charges, and installation.
Grade A (excellent)$117
Grade B (good)$105
Grade C (fair)$85
USD
Condition comparison
Price by part grade
Grade AClean / low wear$35–$3331,068 listings
Grade BStandard used$44–$316171 listings
Grade CVisible wear$75–$1008 listings
Grade XUngraded$40–$500195 listings
| Grade | Price range | Relative range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade AClean / low wear | $35–$333 | 1,068 | |
| Grade BStandard used | $44–$316 | 171 | |
| Grade CVisible wear | $75–$100 | 8 | |
| Grade XUngraded | $40–$500 | 195 |
Median by grade
Grade price comparison
Grade A$117
Grade B$105
Grade C$85
Ungraded$100
Median asking price by seller-reported condition grade · $35–$500 overall range
Regional supply
Where the Kia Optima radiator is listed
We found priced Kia Optima radiator listings at 513 salvage yards across 43 states. California supplies the most, with 470 listings (16% of the total) from 44 yards. Location matters: yards in Illinois ask a median $88, while Kentucky yards ask $169, 92% more for the same part. Shipping usually costs less than that gap for smaller parts, so it can pay to buy out of state.
| State | Listings | Yards | Median ask |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 470 | 44 | $100-9% |
| Illinois | 269 | 34 | $88-20% |
| Georgia | 253 | 24 | $168+53% |
| Florida | 237 | 37 | $125+14% |
| North Carolina | 169 | 27 | $125+14% |
| Texas | 151 | 29 | $104-5% |
| Kentucky | 124 | 15 | $169+54% |
| Indiana | 119 | 19 | $100-9% |
States with at least 10 priced listings. % is versus the $110 national median.
Replacement cost
What is the Kia Optima radiator replacement cost?
- Used part
- $110
- Kia Optima median asking price
- Labor
- $190–$600
- 2–4 hours at $95–$150/hr
- Estimated total
- $300–$710
- median used part + labor
Labor is a typical independent-shop range for radiator replacement, not a quote for your vehicle; it does not include coolant refill and system bleed. The part price is the live median from the salvage-yard listings on this page. Full radiator replacement cost breakdown
Sources
- Labor time estimates: Part Price Guide labor database
Korea built (VIN K, 1st digit), (2.0L), lower (inverter)44 listingsInterchange 2016–2018$98$44 – $305
Model-year comparison
What does a Kia Optima radiator cost by year?
Market analysis
How much does a used Kia Optima radiator cost?
Asking prices for a used Kia Optima radiator are unusually spread out: the top listing asks more than ten times what the cheapest does, so which unit you pick matters more than the median. Condition matters: grade-A units (lowest mileage, best condition) carry roughly a 38% premium over grade-C stock, with grade-A medians at $117.
Fitment variant moves the price more than most buyers expect. The most affordable variant we track, Korea built (VIN K, 1st digit), (2.0L), upper (engine), lists at a $95 median, while US built (VIN 5, 1st digit), 2.0L commands $162, a 71% gap inside the same part category. Confirm which variant your VIN requires before comparing quotes.
Model year matters too: 2015 units carry the lowest median at $75, while 2018 tops the table at $125. Parts from 2011–2016 are interchangeable, so if the 2015 fits your vehicle, it offers the best value across 6 compatible years.
Against comparable vehicles, the Kia Optima sits 63% below the Mercedes GLE Class ($300), 45% below the Mercedes S Class ($200), and 27% below the Ford Explorer ($150) for the same part. The “similar vehicles” cards below open each comparison guide.
Buying a used radiator: what to check
- Inspect for bent fins, crusted seams, and dried coolant trails, all signs of leaks.
- Confirm automatic vs manual transmission versions; auto radiators include cooler lines.
- Plastic end tanks age badly. Favor low-mileage donors.
- Pressure-tested units are worth the premium; ask.
Keep browsing this vehicle
What other Kia Optima parts are priced?
01wide ±151%
Tail Light
$124median
$26$400
02wide ±228%
Side Mirror
$136median
$30$650
03wide ±242%
Wheels
$119median
$25$600
04wide ±217%
Grille
$140median
$30$638
05wide ±202%
Axle Shaft
$105median
$25$450
06wide ±173%
Headlight Assembly
$450median
$110$1,670
07wide ±280%
Transmission
$431median
$75$2,486
08wide ±93%
Engine
$3,000median
$450$6,017
09wide ±173%
AC Condenser
$110median
$40$420
10wide ±201%
Strut
$75median
$20$321
11wide ±148%
AC Compressor
$125median
$40$410
12wide ±157%
Steering Rack
$150median
$40$510
Price comparisons
Compare Kia Optima radiator prices
Radiatorcompare
MercedesGLEClassvsKiaOptima
Class$300
Optima$110
$190 diff8,456 listings
RadiatorcompareMercedesSClassvsKiaOptima
Class$200
Optima$110
$90 diff6,767 listings
RadiatorcompareMercedesEClassvsKiaOptima
Class$201
Optima$110
$91 diff5,568 listings
RadiatorcompareMercedesCClassvsKiaOptima
Class$227
Optima$110
$117 diff5,094 listings
RadiatorcompareChevyCamarovsKiaOptima
Camaro$171
Optima$110
$61 diff4,030 listings
RadiatorcompareHyundaiSonatavsKiaOptima
Sonata$143
Optima$110
$33 diff3,810 listings
Compare fitments
What do similar vehicles charge for this part?
BMWwide ±281%
BMW X3
$183median
$40$1,069
BMWwide ±302%
BMW X5
$219median
$40$1,364
Chevywide ±164%
Chevy Equinox
$168median
$45$595
Chevywide ±164%
Chevy Malibu
$137median
$40$488
Chevywide ±133%
Chevy Silverado 1500
$209median
$57$615
Chevywide ±152%
Chevy Tahoe
$225median
$65$749
Chevywide ±222%
Chevy Traverse
$162median
$40$760
Dodgewide ±329%
Dodge Challenger
$130median
$44$900
Dodgewide ±339%
Dodge Charger
$120median
$44$857
Kiawide ±160%
Kia Forte
$130median
$40$455
Kiawide ±268%
Kia Sorento
$163median
$50$925
Kiawide ±146%
Kia Soul
$140median
$40$450
Common questions
Kia Optima radiator FAQ
How much is a used radiator for a Kia Optima?
The median asking price is $110 across 1,442 priced listings from 513 yards. Grade-A units, the cleanest stock, have a median of $117. 2015 is the cheapest model year we track, with a median of $75.
How much does it cost to replace a Kia Optima radiator?
Using a used part, a Kia Optima radiator replacement typically runs $300–$710 all-in: the median used radiator for this model lists at $110, and independent-shop labor for radiator replacement typically takes 2–4 hours at $95–$150/hr ($190–$600). The labor figure does not include coolant refill and system bleed. Labor is a national part-level estimate, not a quote for your vehicle.
Which Kia Optima model years does this price guide cover?
This guide currently has year-level pricing for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015. Other model years contribute to the overall range where sellers listed them without a year breakdown.
Which Kia Optima radiator years are interchangeable?
Salvage-yard interchange data links Kia Optima radiator fitments across 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. Searching all 10 years widens the pool of units; confirm the part number against your VIN, since trim or drivetrain can split an interchange group.