Kia Sportage Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A genuinely honest account: a documented case saw the radiator, thermostat, and housing all replaced, yet the coolant smell persisted — pointing toward the heater core rather than the usual suspects.

Illustration for editorial purposes

Find Kia Sportage Radiator Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

OEM Part Number: 25310D7000 (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 606605 / Valeo 701140

Accuracy note: Covers the Kia Sportage (2016-2022) 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 606605 (485 x 467 x 26 mm, aluminium core with plastic tanks, fits 1.6 T-GDi, 1.6 CRDi, 1.7 CRDi and 2.0 CRDi, 2WD and AWD); Valeo 701140; Denso DRM41031; Mahle CR 1978 000P; NRF 550221; Van Wezel 82012742; Ava KA2350; Magneti Marelli 350213204900. For the 1.6 GDi and 2.0 naturally aspirated petrols: Nissens 606603 (635 x 467 x 16 mm, aluminium with plastic tanks)
Core sizes & variants	Turbocharged and diesel Sportages use a shorter, thicker 485 x 467 x 26 mm radiator because the intercooler takes up part of the front frame; the non-turbo 1.6 GDi and 2.0 petrols use a wider, thin 635 x 467 x 16 mm core. Both are shared with the Hyundai Tucson TL.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	25310D7000; 25310D7050 (turbo and diesel); 25310D7500; 25310D7550 (1.6 GDi and 2.0 petrol)
Fitment notes	Both have 35 mm connections; the 606605 is supplied with seals and without expansion tank or frame. Automatic and manual cars are not differentiated.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: radiator core size and construction can differ between petrol and diesel Sportage engines, and again between manual and automatic gearboxes where the automatic needs an integrated oil cooler circuit — confirm your exact engine code and transmission before ordering.

A Genuinely Honest Account Worth Knowing If the Smell Persists — Kia Sportage Radiator

This is genuinely worth knowing if you're chasing a coolant smell that won't go away: one documented case saw the radiator, thermostat, and thermostat housing all replaced in turn, with the car not overheating and no visible leak on the garage floor, yet the smell of coolant persisted after driving. If you've replaced the obvious cooling system components and the smell remains, it's genuinely worth having the heater core checked specifically, since a leak here can produce exactly this pattern — no overheating, no puddle on the floor, but a persistent coolant smell, sometimes with misted or fogged-up windows as an additional clue.

A genuinely useful diagnostic distinction worth knowing: a leak from the water pump's weep hole tends to show ongoing, visible wetness or play in the pump shaft, whereas a leak from a plastic radiator tank seal can dry up quickly once system pressure is released, making it considerably harder to spot on a static, cold inspection. If a pressure test doesn't reveal anything obvious but you're still fairly confident there's a leak, it's worth specifically checking the radiator tank seal area closely while the system is actually still under pressure, rather than after it's been sitting.

It's also worth knowing that the thermostat housing sits toward the front of the engine, positioned higher up than where normal air conditioning condensation would appear — worth checking this specific area directly if you're trying to distinguish a genuine coolant leak from harmless AC condensation dripping underneath the car.

Kia Sportage Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

There's nothing exciting about this component, yet on the Kia Sportage, most catastrophic engine failures that aren't simply down to wear trace back to a cooling problem someone ignored too long. Catching it early is cheap; catching it late usually isn't.

Kia Sportage Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: 2017 KIA sportage radiator replacement

Watch on YouTube ↗

WrenchingRyan 2017-2022 video 5NvK1KoiFVA is a good alternative

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.

Kia Sportage Radiator: What It Does

The Kia Sportage radiator's core job is moving heat out of the engine coolant and into the passing air, holding engine temperature within safe limits. Automatic versions frequently add a second internal circuit for transmission fluid cooling, which is exactly why the correct part number carries extra weight on this component.

Find Kia Sportage Radiator Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

Kia Sportage 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 Kia Radiator

The same part, covered across other Kia models.