Mercedes-Benz GLA Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults
On the GLA, a water pump and thermostat housing failing together on related models has genuinely been quoted at around £550 — Mercedes-Benz UK offered a 50% goodwill discount specifically on the water pump.
Illustration for editorial purposes
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Mercedes-Benz GLA Radiator: OEM Part Number
| Manual gearbox (older/entry variants, where fitted) | No dedicated transmission cooling circuit required |
|---|---|
| 7G-Tronic/9G-Tronic automatic, standard engines | A separate, standalone transmission oil cooler is fitted ahead of the main radiator and air conditioning condenser — confirmed as a genuinely distinct component from the radiator itself, not a tank integrated into it |
| AMG/higher-output engines | Larger-capacity cooling package overall, including a bigger dedicated transmission cooler to cope with the increased heat generated by the more powerful engine and harder-working transmission |
| 4MATIC (four-wheel drive) variants | The transfer case shares the same transmission fluid, adding an additional heat load compared to rear-wheel-drive variants |
Mercedes-Benz GLA Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking
Few parts get less attention than this one, but on the Mercedes-Benz GLA, a neglected cooling system is behind the vast majority of avoidable serious engine failures. Noticing the early warning signs costs nothing and can save a genuinely large repair bill down the line.
Mercedes-Benz GLA Radiator: What It Does
On the Mercedes-Benz GLA, coolant runs through the radiator to shed engine heat into the airflow, keeping temperatures in check. On many automatics, a separate internal circuit inside the same unit also cools the transmission fluid — one more reason a mismatched part number causes more than just a cooling problem.
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A Genuinely Alarming, Honest Real Account Worth Knowing — Mercedes-Benz GLA Radiator
If a water pump and thermostat housing have both been found leaking at the same time, this is genuinely worth knowing: a water pump and thermostat housing failing together has been documented on genuinely young, low-mileage related models, with a combined repair cost of around £550 in one documented case. Mercedes-Benz UK offered a genuine 50% goodwill discount specifically on the water pump element, on the basis it had failed earlier than would reasonably be expected, worth directly asking for this kind of discount if facing a similar early failure.
It's also genuinely worth knowing that a slow water pump seal leak can drip coolant directly onto the spinning pulley behind it, which flings the coolant off, making a genuine leak surprisingly difficult to trace for some time.
Mercedes-Benz GLA 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 Mercedes-Benz Radiator
The same part, covered across other Mercedes-Benz models.