Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Daewoo Lanos problems
Owners filed 30 complaints about the 2002 Daewoo Lanos with NHTSA between Jun 2002 and Apr 2014. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (19).
Complaints
30
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling19
- Air bags5
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Visibility2
- Equipment2
- Engine1
- Electrical system1
- Power train1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
5
20
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 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
19 reports1 crash2 related recalls
“DECEMBER 2007 TOOK, CAR TO SEARS TO HAVE RADIATOR FLUSHED. TECHNICIAN CHECKED CAR INFORMED ME INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING (EVAPORATING ANTI-FREEZE) THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T SEE IT LEAKING. TOLD ME TO HAVE FIX. 12/21/2007, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS REACHING ITS HIGH POINT. SHUT IT DOWN WALKED CAR X AND ASKED TO PURCHASE ANTIFREEZE. TECH. SAID BET I CAN TELL YOU WHAT CAR IT IS A CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. ASKED HIM HOW DID HE KNOW? HE SAID GET THEM ALL THE TIME. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FROM GM BUT COULDN'T FIND IT. CONTACTED GM 1/7/2008, REP. INFORMED ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON INTAKE MANIFOLD AND SHE TOLD ME TO TAKE MY CAR TO DEALER, GIVE THEM REFERENCE NUMBER 03034. DROPPED CAR OFF 1/8/2008, JOSEPH CHEVROLET GAVE INFORMATION REP. TOLD ME TO GIVE. 1/9/2008, I RECEIVED CALL FROM DEALER ABOUT 7:05 A.M. HE SAID, "HE TRIED CONTACTING GM LINE WAS BUSY AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO SIT ON PHONE WITH THEM ALL DAY AND I NEED TO CALL THEM". I CALLED IMMEDIATELY AFTER I HUNG UP FROM TALKING TO DEALER I EXPLAINED INFORMATION TO REP. I ALSO GAVE HER VIN NUMBER SHE TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR AND THAT THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND FIX IT. DURING CONVERSATION WITH…”
Air bags
5 reports2 related recalls
“CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALLS 02V131001/FMVSS 201 CONCERNING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, AND 04V357000 REGARDING CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER IN HIS AREA THAT WERE WILLING TO HONOR THESE RECALLS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THE ENGINE LIGHT TO GO OFF. *JB”
Service brakes, hydraulic
3 reports1 crash
“CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V257001 CONCERNING BRAKE HOSE. DEALER WAS NOT IN OPERATION. *AK *TC”
Visibility
2 reports
“WINDSHIELD WIPER HOUSING FELL OUT/ TRANSMISSION GRINDS IN THIRD GEAR.*MR CONSUMER COULDN'T TURN WIPERS ON OR OFF. *PH”
Equipment
2 reports1 crash
“ROLL OVER SAFETY DEVICE FOR FUEL TANK MALFUNCTIONED WHICH ENABLED CONSUMER TO FILL THE TANK. *AK”
Engine
1 report
“SOMETHING WRONG I CAN FEEL IT. *JS”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.