Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Daewoo Lanos problems
Owners filed 129 complaints about the 2001 Daewoo Lanos with NHTSA between Sep 2001 and Jun 2015. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (79).
Complaints
129
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling79
- Air bags37
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Seats4
- Electrical system2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Engine1
- Seat belts1
- Steering1
- Exterior lighting1
- Interior lighting1
- Equipment1
- Power train1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
19
4
98
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 19 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 98 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
79 reports2 related recalls
“THERE ARE TWO RECALL ON THE DAEWOO LANOS'S CAM POSITION SENSOR. I'M GETTING ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS WITH A FAULT CODE CALLING OUT THE CAM POSITION SENSOR. MY MECHANIC SAYS I SHOULD TAKE IT INTO A DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE. MY DEALER SAYS THE SENSOR DOES NOT FALL IN THE RIGHT DATE CODE OR MANUFACTURER OF SAID SENSOR. IT COST ME 100 DOLLARS TO "CHECK" FOR THE RECALL WHICH I FIND OUT I DON'T NEED. BUT MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON. THE DEALER SAYS MY SENSOR DOESN'T WORK AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT ANY WAY. WHICH I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PART AND NOW LABOR WHEN IT COMES IN. SO, BECAUSE OF A RECALL WHICH I DON'T NEED, I'VE PAID 100 FOR INVESTIGATION, 114 FOR PART AND NEXT IS LABOR FOR THE PART TO BE INSTALLED. I FEEL LIKE A SHEERED SHEEP. THEN I FIND OUT THAT THE DEALER GETS 55 DOLLARS FROM DAEWOO FOR CHECKING THE RECALL ALSO. *TR”
Air bags
37 reports6 crashes2 related recalls
“CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V131001 FOR AIR BAGS, AND TO DATE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A DEALER IN THE AREA TO DO THE REPAIRS. *AK FRONT SAFETY BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND AND RETRACT PROPERLY WHICH SOMETIMES RESULTED IN A VERY TIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE FIT. *BF *NM”
Service brakes, hydraulic
9 reports
“CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES 02V131002 CONCERNING AIR BAGS, AND 02V257001 REGARDING BRAKES HOSE. DEALER WAS NOT IN OPERATION.*AK”
Seats
4 reports1 crash
“SAFETY RECALL ON DAEWOO LANOS PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AFTER HER DAUGHTER HAD ALREADY BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. 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). *JB”
Electrical system
2 reports1 related recall
“CONSUMER REPLACED DEAD BATTERY IN 2001 DAEWOO LANOS. WHEN CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *KB THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE SMOKE MAY HAVE BEEN A RESULT OF THE RECALLED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT STILL SITS TO DATE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE. *NM”
Vehicle speed control
2 reports
“PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. IDLE SPEED CHANGES AT WILL, SO FAST I WAS GOING 45 MPH IN 2ND GEAR. BEEN TO DEALER 5 TIMES. STILL NOT RESOLVED. DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. DEALER ONE TIME INSTALLED A LONGER WIRING HARNESS, TO NO AVAIL. CAR JUST SITTING AND ENGINE SPEED WILL RAISE AT DROP WITHOUT ME TOUCHING ANYTHING.*AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.