The Lemon Index$1,200 middle bill · most between $1,000 and $1,700
67 owner reports on 25 models
Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Volkswagen Passat
Owners reported paying a median of $1,200 for a heater core replacement, with the middle half of bills between $1,000 and $1,700. That's 67 owner reports on 25 models (65 complaints to NHTSA and 2 YouTube videos). Costs vary by shop and region.
What owners paid
- Under $5003%
- $500–$1,00021%
- $1,000–$2,50069%
- $2,500–$5,0007%
- $5,000 and up0%
Share of the 67 owner reports in each price band.
Cars where it comes up most
Owner reports per model. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more reports.
Every model, what owners paid
| Model | Reports | Middle bill | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler 200 | 10 | $1,200 | $1,100–$1,900 |
| Dodge Avenger | 9 | $1,100 | $1,000–$1,200 |
| Volkswagen Passat | 8 | $1,200 | $968–$1,500 |
| Honda CR-V | 6 | $1,100 | $714–$1,400 |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 4 | too few for a range | |
| Dodge Journey | 3 | too few for a range | |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3 | too few for a range | |
Models with 3+ reports. A model gets its own page and a range at 5+ reports. 18 more models with 1–2 reports count in the totals above.
Related repairs
Radiator replacement $1,300 · AC condenser replacement $800 · AC compressor replacement $1,400 · Water pump replacement $1,400 · Blend door actuator replacement $1,100 · AC evaporator replacement $2,000 · Thermostat replacement $1,000
The details
How we count
Every number here is a repair bill an owner reported, never a shop's price list. Two sources: the bills owners wrote in their own complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), and the dollar amounts owners said out loud in YouTube repair and ownership videos. A figure counts for a repair when that repair is the part named nearest to it. Left out: purchase prices, payments, rentals, towing, warranties and deductibles, amounts under $50 or over $15,000, parts-only prices ("the part was $80 on Amazon"), bills for two different repairs named together, and money someone else paid. One number per complaint (or video) and repair: the biggest, so it's the bill, not the diagnosis fee.
The range is the middle half of the bills (the 25th to the 75th percentile), so one wild number can't swing it. Owners who complain to the government often had expensive repairs, so a typical bill can be lower. Costs vary by shop and region, by dealer vs independent shop, by parts and by miles. This is what owners reported, not a quote for your car.
Check the bills yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11700645, 11693736, 11640450, 11626997, 11578531, 11570592, 11554601, 11443995, 11419543, 11396373, 11383058, 11378513 and more.
Quick answers
How much does a heater core replacement cost?
Owners reported a median of $1,200, and the middle half paid $1,000 to $1,700, from 67 owner reports on 25 models. Costs vary by shop and region.
Which cars need a heater core replacement most?
The most owner reports come from the Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Volkswagen Passat. These are raw counts: popular models get more reports, so this isn't a failure rate.
Why do heater core replacement costs vary so much?
Shop labor rates differ by region, dealers usually charge more than independent shops, new, used and rebuilt parts cost different amounts, and some bills include other work done at the same time.
Where do these numbers come from?
From 65 complaints to NHTSA and 2 YouTube videos: the repair bills owners themselves reported. Owner reports, not a price quote.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints and YouTube videos (amounts said out loud), sorted by The Lemon Index. Owner reports, not a price quote. Costs vary by shop and region.