This question is asked because mode of heat transfer in radiator is forced convection so why it is called radiator? is there any way related to radiation?
at stagnant state (no air flowing over it) it is a radiator to those who stands in an effective distance. But when the car moves, the role will change and it will not be a radiator anymore.
Radiator is used in space/room heating too (as a heater). Before people knew the real phenomenon, they thought that the heat transfer mechanism between the outer part of heater and the air in the room was in the form of radiation. It is rather logical. We know that the real mechanism is free or natural convection. For common people, the difference between natural convection and radiation is not so clear. Maybe this in one of the reason, I guess.....