How the price estimate was built
What it shows: Our default range is $80 to $167; 0 of 2 published ranges overlap it.
What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($107)MiddleHigher-cost states ($137)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $137 and AR the lowest at $107, across 51 states.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 50,000 (36%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
205 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 40%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 205 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
Outcomes owners reported in complaints about this part. Towed: 12; Injury reported: 3; Fire reported: 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 205 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2024 is the largest at 34 (17%), followed by 2015 at 26 (13%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 5 (2%).
Which engine sizes show up most in complaints about this part?
Among 203 owner complaints about this part where the VIN identifies the vehicle, 40% involve engines of 2.1 to 3.0 L, against 25% of complaints about all the parts we track.
Engine size of the vehicles in complaints about this part, against all tracked parts. 2.1 to 3.0 L: 40%; 1.6 to 2.0 L: 31%; 3.1 to 4.0 L: 14%.
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 6 foreign recall campaigns that name radiator hose with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Nissan North America in 2021-03.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-03 | Nissan. | 042 | Description of the Defect On the subject X-trail HEV vehicles, the radiator is secured to the vehicle by an air guide (mounting bracket) with two bolts and clips on top, and a pin on the bottom. |
| 2020-11 | Volvo Car | 214 | 20590 Submittal of TREAD report form per 49 CFR, Part 579, subpart B Subject: R10030 � BLEEDER HOSE Dear Mr. |
| 2020-09 | Volvo Car | 172 | 20590 Submittal of TREAD report form per 49 CFR, Part 579, subpart B Subject: R10028 � BLEEDER HOSE Dear Mr. |
| 2020-08 | Volvo Car | 156 | 20590 Submittal of TREAD report form per 49 CFR, Part 579, subpart B Subject: R10027 � BLEEDER HOSE Dear Mr. |
| 2020-07 | Volvo Car | 122 | 20590 Submittal of TREAD report form per 49 CFR, Part 579, subpart B Subject: R10025 � BLEEDER HOSE Dear Mr. |
| 2020-07 | Volvo Car | 123 | 20590 Submittal of TREAD report form per 49 CFR, Part 579, subpart B Subject: R10026 � BLEEDER HOSE Dear Mr. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 1 NHTSA recalls that name radiator hose filed 2015 to 2024, 94.8% of the 8,038 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 418 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Volkswagen Golf R, Gti | 8,038 | 94.8% | cooling system radiator assembly |
If this part was recalled, is the repair free?
Federal law (49 U.S.C. 30120) requires a maker to fix a recalled defect without charge for cars first bought within 15 calendar years (tires within 5), and NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for parts matched to a radiator hose replacement since model year 2015, covering about 6,176 vehicles.
| Rule or count | What it says |
|---|---|
| Age limits | The free-remedy duty does not apply to a car first bought more than 15 calendar years, or a tire first bought more than 5 calendar years, before the recall notice. |
| Failure to fix | A repair not done adequately within 60 days of presentation is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time; the maker must then replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price less depreciation. |
| Free remedy | A maker must fix a recall defect without charge. |
| NHTSA recalls matched to a radiator hose replacement since model year 2015 | 2 recall campaigns covering about 6,176 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V-828 | Alfa Romeo Giulia 2017–2018 | 6,136 | Brake fluid leaking onto the exhaust can increase the risk of a fire. |
| 25V-398 | Ford F-150 2025 | 40 | An engine stall increases the risk of a crash. |
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIA | Niro EV 2023–2024 | TSB_ELE332 | Apr 3, 2024 | Technical service bulletin: Ewp coolant hose replacement - This bulletin provides information to replace the Electric Water Pump (EWP) coolant hose on some 2023-2024MY Niro EV (SG2 EV) vehicles produced from July 11, 2022 through January 24, 2024, which may. |
| Volkswagen | Id.4 2023–2024 | V1923012072064_1 | Dec 4, 2023 | Coolant hose improper assembly. |
| Jeep | Gladiator 2023 | 0901523 | Jul 22, 2023 | Lower Radiator Hose not Properly Seated Customers may experience the following: ? |
| Nissan | Leaf 2022 | NTB23-034 | Apr 17, 2023 | Coolant smell or leak from coolant hose clamps if you confirm The customer states they smell coolant or have seen signs of coolant leaking, OR There are signs of a coolant leak from any one or more coolant hose clamps. |
| Jeep | Wrangler 2021–2023 | 9100116 | Jan 6, 2023 | Valve - Coolant JL PHEV Hoses to 3-Way valve coolant hoses misroute causes P0E80-00. |
| Cadillac | Escalade 2021–2024; Escalade ESV 2021–2023 and 1 more | 21-NA-271 | Nov 9, 2022 | This bulletin advises the technician of a possible coolant hose that might be kinked causing the customers concern. |
22 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
Manufacturer warranty extensions naming this part (2)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Colorado 2023–2026; Traverse 2024–2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | N262546590 | Coolant leak at radiator hose quick connect. |
| GMC | Acadia 2024–2026; Canyon 2023–2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | N262546590 | Coolant leak at radiator hose quick connect. |
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Coolant leak, upper radiator hose, TSB issued PIT6494A over $500 repair.
Dealer claimed than a coolant hose was bad and required an $1100 repair.
The coolant hose came loose, which your team tried to charge $4,000 to fix, despite it being clearly related to poor installation of the engine.
Less than 74,000 miles and coolant hoses split.
Check your car
Replacing one upper radiator hose costs $80 to $167 at $90/hr labor. Price depends on which hose failed and what you drive. On the largest vehicles, one hose runs $160 to $289.
The most complaints came from the Chevrolet Colorado (24 complaints, most from 2023, 2024, 2025 models). Owners also named the radiator in many hose reports: the radiator is named in 57% of these complaints (145), far more often than in complaints overall. If your quote adds a radiator, that pairing is common in owner reports.
Chevrolet Colorado leads radiator hose complaints with 24 reports, mostly on 2023-2025 trucks
The Chevrolet Colorado has more radiator hose complaints than any other model. Most of them are on the newest trucks: the peak model years are 2023, 2024 and 2025. The Chevrolet Traverse follows with 17 reports concentrated on 2024 and 2025. The GMC Canyon, the Colorado's twin, peaks on 2023 and 2024, and the GMC Acadia shows up on 2024.
A 2024 Colorado owner told NHTSA: "The upper radiator hose on some huge percentage of these trucks fail (mine has failed at just over 20K miles)." (NHTSA complaint #11703437) This means a leak on a nearly new GM truck is a warranty or coverage question before it is a price question.
Outside GM, the Volkswagen Golf has 14 complaints, peaking on 2015, 2022 and 2023. The Volvo XC90 reports cluster on 2016-2018 with a median of 20,000 miles, which is unusually early.
Radiator named in 145 radiator hose complaints: why a hose quote often grows
More than half of radiator hose complaints also name the radiator. The water pump and the thermostat each show up in 6% of reports. When a hose splits and the engine overheats, owners often end up with a second part on the bill. If your quote has only the hose, ask the shop whether they pressure-tested the radiator. If it includes a radiator, the owner data shows that pairing is common.
For a car with a radiator that is already suspect, the calculator puts both radiator hoses at $143–$323, compared with $80–$167 for the upper hose alone.
If the shop adds a radiator to your hose quote, you are not alone: the radiator is named in 57% (145) of the 255 radiator hose complaints, so price the radiator replacement before you approve the bill.
Ford Escape radiator hose reports come at 138,000 miles, with a $600 owner median
The Ford Escape is the high-mileage exception in this data. A quote several times that figure usually includes other cooling-system work, so ask the dealer for an itemized list before you approve it.
42% of radiator hose failures happen at 55 mph or faster, and 6% ended in a tow
No owner reported a radiator hose failure while parked. The median speed at failure was 45 mph. A split hose drops coolant fast at highway speed. A 2020 Kia Telluride owner said the hose "burst without any warning" on the freeway at 40k miles. Leaks (55%) and overheating (32%) are the most common symptoms. A warning light appears in about a quarter of reports, so many drivers get little notice.
Engine damage is mentioned in 35 reports. Five reports mention a fire and five mention injuries. A report on its own does not prove the hose caused the fire or injury.
Radiator hose bulletins for the Jeep Gladiator, VW ID.4 and Kia Niro EV point to assembly faults
If you own one of these models, give the shop your VIN before you pay. A bulletin repair on a car still under warranty is normally done at the dealer.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA recall file file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- NHTSA owner complaint files with VINs decoded by NHTSA vPIC data from 2025
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause. Rule: a published legal rule, not a measurement; whether it covers a given repair depends on the car and the facts.
Owner complaints quoted
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Checked against 2 established price guides on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 0% above the middle of RepairPal's range ($498–$558). Methodology