AI DamageDaewoo Lanos: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Daewoo Lanos across 5 model years: 435 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 66% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 19% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 3% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 2% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 2% of all complaints
- 7 Seats 1% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 1% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 289 complaints (66% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 83 complaints (19% of all), 9 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 37 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (3% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 8 complaints (2% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1998–2002
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1998–2003
- automatic, 4-speed 1998–2003
- manual, 5-speed 1998–2003
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 435 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 289 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 83 | 9 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 37 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The consumer stated her son had an accident in the vehicle and the air bags didn't deploy. Updated 04/09/07.
The vehicle was rear ended and pushed into another vehicle and subsequently the air bags did not deploy. The drivers side seat broke as well. (recall 02v131001).
Vehicle turned on its headlights, causing the driver to swerve. The vehicle turned over and ejected the driver. Upon impact airbags failed to deploy. Currently, the vehicle is being recalled by the manufacturer for defective airbags. Campaign id number : 02v131001.
While driving the vehicle at 45 mph, the driver lost control of the vehicle which resulted in the vehicle crashing into an embankment. The consumer stated that neither of the frontal air bags deployed upon impact. The driver sustained minor injuries.
The switch underneath the break pedal that controls the brake lights going on is continually malfunctioning to the point that the majority of the time I have no break lights, which resulted in me getting rear-ended.
There is an intermittent brake failure whereby the pedal goes to the floor but the brakes do not engage -- raising the foot and reapplying pressure usually solves the problem but one wreck has resulted.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.