Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the Santa Fe, a leak specifically from the weep hole near the A/C compressor genuinely points toward a failing water pump seal.

Illustration for editorial purposes

Find Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: OEM Part Number

Manual gearbox, all engines	Standard radiator with no transmission cooling circuit
Automatic, most generations	Transmission oil cooler built into the radiator itself as an internal chamber, shared across the wider Hyundai/Kia platform family — genuinely a different radiator from the manual version

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: some Santa Fe engines pair the radiator with an integrated oil cooler or a separate charge-air cooler depending on turbocharging — these aren't interchangeable, so confirm your exact engine spec before ordering.

A Genuinely Useful Diagnostic Detail Worth Knowing — Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator

If you're trying to pin down exactly where a coolant leak is coming from, this is genuinely worth knowing: a leak specifically from the small weep hole in the engine block near the A/C compressor points toward a failing water pump seal rather than a more general leak elsewhere.

A genuinely honest point worth knowing even after a recent water pump replacement: if a leak returns despite a relatively recent replacement, internal seals or bearings within even a new pump can occasionally be compromised, or the pump can be damaged by an unrelated issue. It's worth checking the timing belt tensioner and pulleys for wear at the same time, since improper belt tension can itself damage an otherwise sound water pump.

It's also worth knowing that the thermostat housing sits toward the front of the engine, higher up than where normal AC condensation would appear — worth checking this specific area if you're unsure whether water underneath the car is genuine coolant or harmless condensation.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

Unglamorous as it is, the Hyundai Santa Fe's cooling system sits behind nearly every serious engine failure that isn't just ordinary wear — and one that went unaddressed for too long. Noticing early warning signs here is a small cost against a potentially very large one.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator reference plate

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.

Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator: What It Does

On the Hyundai Santa Fe, engine coolant sheds its heat into the passing air via the radiator, which is what keeps engine temperature in a safe working range. On automatics, it frequently pulls double duty cooling the transmission fluid through its own internal circuit — a detail that makes getting the exact part number right especially important.

Find Hyundai Santa Fe Radiator Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

Hyundai Santa Fe 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 Hyundai Radiator

The same part, covered across other Hyundai models.