AI Damage2002 Daewoo Nubira: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Daewoo Nubira filed 32 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 32
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 56% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 34% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 3% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 3% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 3% of all complaints
- 6 Tires 3% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 18 complaints (56% of all).
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (34% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 1 complaints (3% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (3% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (3% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 32 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 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 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.
While traveling at 10 mph the brakes failed to operate, causing a crash. Consumer was informed by the dealer that the rubber brake hoses needed repairs for the second time.
The consumer has been involved in three accidents whereby the brakes failed. A recall letter for the brake hose was issued. Nhtsa recall 02v257000.
Car jerks to the sides at speeds as low as 15 miles per hour and up. I was driving 55 when my car jerked real hard to the left.have to have the whole arm replaced to fix this problem lowest price I recieved is 500.00. Have been told by service station they have been replacing a lot of these
Daewood developed rattling sounds. The consumer was told that the recall could not be honored due to not being able to get parts from daewoo regarding the cam shaft position sensor.
Consumer received recall 02v131000 concerning air bag failure. Dealer was not in operation.
However, the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but mechanic could not duplicate the problem.
The mechanic informed the driver that the brake line tubing needed replacement due to corrosion. Please fill in additional information.
The engine caught on fire this afternoon and now it's a piece of junk. I have been doing my oil change every 3000 miles and so far I've put about 39000 miles on it. As far as I know, this should not have happened but it did!!! I hope this is not one of those things daewoo is trying to hide.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,635 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Nubira has 100 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 32, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Daewoo Nubira?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, service brakes, air bags. Total complaints: 32. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (6%), warning lights, check engine (6%), A/C or heater (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Daewoo Nubira?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2002 Daewoo Nubira from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2002 models
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.