Coolant Leak Repair Cost (2026)

Fixing a common coolant leak costs about $90–$315 at an independent shop in 2026: about $90–$140 for a radiator hose on a car, $115–$270 for a plastic thermostat housing on a truck, and $190–$315 for a thermostat on a car. Manufacturers’ warranty times are 0.7 hour for a radiator hose and 0.7–1.6 hours for thermostat jobs. A leaking radiator or water pump costs more (see those pages).

Sources: chain price pages, retailer and manufacturer list prices, official documents (below) · Prices checked 2026-11-09 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology

Coolant Leak Repair cost by service type

ServiceParts / fluidLaborTypical shop total
Radiator hose, car$19–$37Hose + 1 gal coolant0.7 hrGM radiator outlet hose$90–$140[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]Civic/Camry Gates hose + 0.7 hr × $100–$150/hr
Radiator hose, pickup (F-150 5.0L)$67–$1170.7 hr$135–$220[3],[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]Gates to Motorcraft hose + 0.7 hr × $100–$150/hr
Thermostat housing (plastic, GM 5.3L)$44–$105Thermostat + housing0.7–1.1 hrFCA housing/gasket times$115–$270[3],[4],[6],[7],[9],[10],[11]Silverado housing + 0.7–1.1 hr × $100–$150/hr
Thermostat, car$42–$751.5–1.6 hrMazda thermostat replacement$190–$315[3],[4],[6],[7],[12],[13]Camry thermostat + 1.5–1.6 hr × $100–$150/hr
Heater hose$7–$26—Labor not published — get a quote[14],[15]Hose list prices (Camry, Civic); no published labor time found
Leak inspection only (hose seated / clamps)—0.2–0.4 hr$20–$60[6],[7],[16]FCA inspect / reposition times × $100–$150/hr

Coolant is priced at one gallon of 50/50 premix; a job that drains more of the system needs more. A leaking radiator or water pump is a bigger repair with its own page. Before tax, shop-supply and disposal fees. Where we derive a total, labor is hours × $$100–$150 per hour[6],[7]. See the methodology.

DIY vs. shop vs. dealer

WhereCostWhat you get
DIY$5–$105Parts + coolantHoses and many thermostats are bolt-on parts, but the system must be refilled and bled of air afterward. Never open a hot cooling system.[3],[4],[9],[10],[14]
Chain / independent shop$90–$315Parts plus labor at $100–$150/hr. Some shops run free cooling-system diagnosis offers; one Christian Brothers Automotive store posts a free diagnosis through 2026.[6],[7],[17]
Dealer$185–$295GM housing, derivedACDelco thermostat housing and coolant at dealer labor rates ($125–$175/hr).[3],[4],[9],[10],[11],[18],[19]

Stop-leak products are a stopgap, not a repair: Bar’s Leaks says its radiator stop leak seals small leaks in radiators, heater cores and gaskets, and that if the leak continues, “mechanical attention is needed.”[20]

What drives the cost

  • Where it leaks: a hose seated wrong can take 0.3–0.4 hour to fix; a thermostat housing 0.7–1.3 hours; a radiator or water pump much more.[10],[11],[16]
  • Parts: truck hoses ($57–$99 on an F-150) cost several times car hoses ($9–$19).[1],[2],[8]
  • Plastic housings: GM’s 5.3L thermostat comes in a plastic housing ($34–$87), replaced as a unit.[9]
  • Access: on a 2016 Malibu, GM’s fix also replaced radiator brackets, adding 2.0–2.5 hours to the 0.7-hour hose job.[5]

When you actually need it

Coolant on the ground or steam from under the hood are the classic signs, as manufacturer bulletins describe them.[5],[16]

Don’t keep driving low on coolant: NHTSA’s recall record for Ford’s 1.6L engine says running with insufficient coolant can overheat and crack the cylinder head, which then leaks oil and can cause a fire.[21]

If your temperature light is on, stop and see the coolant temperature warning light.

Related: P0217 engine over temperature, P0128 coolant thermostat.

More repair costs

AC recharge (freon) costTransmission fluid change / flush costTPMS sensor replacement costBrake pad replacement costCar battery replacement costCoolant flush costSpark plug replacement costSerpentine belt replacement costTiming belt replacement costWater pump replacement costWheel alignment costTire rotation costShocks and struts replacement costWheel bearing replacement costCV axle replacement costAlternator replacement costStarter replacement costCatalytic converter replacement costFuel pump replacement costRadiator replacement costHybrid battery replacement costEV and Tesla battery replacement costHead gasket replacement costValve cover gasket replacement costOil pan gasket replacement costTransmission leak repair costIgnition coil / misfire repair costABS wheel speed sensor costOil change costAll repair costs →

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to fix a coolant leak?

About $90–$315 at an independent shop for the common fixes: $90–$140 for a car radiator hose, $115–$270 for a truck thermostat housing and $190–$315 for a car thermostat. Radiator, water pump and head gasket leaks cost more.

Is a coolant leak expensive to fix?

Usually not if it’s a hose, clamp or thermostat housing. It gets expensive when the radiator, water pump or head gasket is the source, or when the engine has overheated.

Does coolant stop-leak work?

For small leaks it can buy time. The maker of Bar’s Leaks says a second dose or mechanical repair is needed if the leak continues.

Can I drive with a coolant leak?

Only short distances with the level topped up and the temperature gauge normal. If the temperature light comes on or you see steam, stop: overheating can crack the cylinder head.

Sources

  1. RockAuto, 2018 Honda Civic 2.0L radiator hoses (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  2. RockAuto, 2018 Toyota Camry 2.5L radiator hoses (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  3. Walmart, Prestone Universal Antifreeze + Coolant, 50/50 Prediluted, 1 gal (listing), accessed 2026-11-09.
  4. Walmart, Prestone Platinum Antifreeze + Coolant, 50/50 Prediluted, 1 gal (listing), accessed 2026-11-09.
  5. General Motors (Bulletin 17-NA-120, via NHTSA), 2016 Malibu coolant leak / steam from under the hood: radiator bracket and outlet hose — labor times (2017-04), accessed 2026-11-11.
  6. Ratchet+Wrench, 2026 Ratchet+Wrench Industry Survey (posted labor rate distribution, p. 13) (2026-06-29), accessed 2026-11-09.
  7. Ratchet+Wrench, Industry Insights: U.S. Auto Repair Shops and Labor Rate Trends (PartsTech 2025 shop survey) (2026-08-19), accessed 2026-11-09.
  8. RockAuto, 2018 Ford F-150 5.0L radiator hoses (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  9. RockAuto, 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5.3L thermostats with integrated housing (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  10. FCA US (TSB 07-002-16 Rev. A, via NHTSA), 2016 Ram 1500 3.6L: thermostat housing inspect and replace — labor times (2016-08-16), accessed 2026-11-11.
  11. FCA US (TSB 07-001-24, via NHTSA), 2022 Jeep Wrangler 2.0L: thermostat housing manifold coolant leak, replace gasket — labor time (2024-01-19), accessed 2026-11-11.
  12. RockAuto, 2018 Toyota Camry 2.5L thermostats (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  13. Mazda North American Operations (Warranty Extension SSPD8, via NHTSA), Mazda3 / CX-3 / CX-30 / CX-5 / Mazda6 thermostat replacement — labor times (2025-12-10), accessed 2026-11-11.
  14. RockAuto, 2018 Toyota Camry 2.5L heater hoses (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  15. RockAuto, 2018 Honda Civic 2.0L heater hoses (catalog), accessed 2026-11-11.
  16. FCA US (TSB 09-015-23, via NHTSA), 2023 Jeep Gladiator: lower radiator hose not properly seated, coolant leak — labor times (2023-07-22), accessed 2026-11-11.
  17. Christian Brothers Automotive (Lake Pleasant, AZ store), Special offer: free cooling system diagnosis (2026-12-31), accessed 2026-11-11.
  18. Dealership Guy, Reynolds and Reynolds: repair orders, rates increase for shops (Fixed Operation Golden Metrics 2026) (2026-08-17), accessed 2026-11-09.
  19. Reynolds and Reynolds, The Fixed Operations Golden Metrics 2025 (dealer effective labor rate) (2025-08), accessed 2026-11-09.
  20. Bar’s Leaks, Radiator Stop Leak #1199: what it seals; mechanical attention if the leak continues, accessed 2026-11-11.
  21. NHTSA (Recall 17V-209, Ford 1.6L GTDI), Driving with insufficient coolant can overheat and crack the cylinder head (2017-03-27), accessed 2026-11-11.