Ford Ka+ Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

The Ka+'s Fiat-sourced engine sidesteps the 1.0 EcoBoost's well-documented cooling issue seen elsewhere in Ford's range — here's what genuinely applies instead.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: AE818005AB (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 66859 / Denso DRM10113

Accuracy note: Covers the Ford Ka+ (2016-2019) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Radiators are sold by engine, gearbox and air-conditioning fitment, and one model usually has two or three different cores — a thicker core for diesels and automatics, a thinner one for small petrols — with different hose positions, so a radiator for the wrong engine will not connect up. The references below are UK aftermarket listings whose fitment lists name this generation, labelled by brand with the core size in mm; genuine numbers are those quoted against the listing. Check your engine code and whether the car has air conditioning against your VIN, and replace the coolant and bleed the system after fitting.

Radiators (aftermarket)	Nissens 66859 (352 x 544 x 24 mm, aluminium core with plastic tanks, mechanically jointed fins, all 1.2 petrol engines); Denso DRM10113; Mahle CR 2427 000S; NRF 59317; Van Wezel 18002605; Hella 8MK 366 303-591
Core sizes & variants	The 352 x 544 mm radiator covers every Ka+ 1.2 (70, 85 and Ti-VCT 85) and is the same unit fitted to the 2008-2017 Fiesta and the B-MAX. No diesel Ka+ was sold in the UK.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	1772874; AE818005AB; 5054660
Fitment notes	Hose connections are 28 mm and the Nissens unit is supplied with gaskets and seals. Because it is a Fiesta Mk7 part, stock is plentiful and prices are low.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: automatic gearbox Ka+s typically need a radiator with a built-in transmission oil cooler that manual versions don't have — ordering the manual-spec part for an automatic car will fit, but won't cool the gearbox oil properly.

The Ka+'s Cooling System Considerations Are Genuinely Different From Other Fords — Ford Ka+ Radiator

Unlike most other Fords on this site, the Ka+'s 1.2-litre engine is Fiat-sourced rather than a Ford EcoBoost design (see our Timing Belt guide for the Ka+ for more on this shared platform), so the well-documented 1.0 EcoBoost degas bottle cracking issue discussed across much of Ford's range doesn't directly apply here. That said, plastic cooling system components on any engine can age and develop leaks over time — checking for coolant weeping around hose connections and the thermostat housing is still a sensible part of any pre-purchase inspection, regardless of which engine family is under the bonnet.

Ford Ka+ Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

It's an unglamorous part, but on the Ford Ka+, the cooling system is behind almost every serious non-wear engine failure that could have been prevented. Spotting trouble here early is about as cheap an insurance policy as exists against a genuinely expensive repair bill.

Before you buy: radiator size and design vary significantly by engine size, transmission type, and whether your car has air conditioning. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Ford Ka+ Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: VEJA COMO TROCAR RADIADOR FORD KA 2018! ISSO NINGUÉM MOSTRA (non-english)

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Brazilian Portuguese; the 2018 Brazilian Ka is the same B562 car as the UK Ka+

Ford Ka+ Radiator: What It Does

On the Ford Ka+, heat from the engine coolant is shed to the surrounding air through the radiator, keeping engine temperature in a safe range. On automatic gearboxes, it often doubles up, cooling transmission fluid through a separate internal circuit too — which is why getting the exact part number right matters more here than on a simple heat exchanger.

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Ford Ka+ Radiator: Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Radiator Guide for the three common failure modes, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.

More Ford Radiator

The same part, covered across other Ford models.