Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Daewoo Nubira problems

Owners filed 63 complaints about the 1999 Daewoo Nubira with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and Apr 2010. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (47).

Complaints
63
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling47
  2. Suspension5
  3. Vehicle speed control3
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  5. Power train2
  6. Electrical system2
  7. Latches/locks/linkages1
  8. Tires1
  9. Structure1
  10. Parking brake1
  11. Air bags1
  12. Other / unknown1

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 Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19991
20004
20012
20027
20032
200437
20052
20067
20070
20080
20090
20101

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

47 reports1 fire2 related recalls
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: CAMSHAFT CENSOR - CAMPAIGN ID # 04V357000, THE CONTACT HAD THE TIMING BELT REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS AS WELL AS THE ENGINE INSTALLED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT ASKED THE MECHANIC IF THE TIMING BELT AND ENGINE MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECT. THE MECHANIC DENIED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE. WHEN THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ASKED THE SAME QUESTION THE DEALER DETERMINED THE CAMSHAFT CENSOR COULD ABSOLUTELY CAUSE THE TIMING BELT TO FREEZE UP AND AFFECT THE ENGINE AS WELL. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL WORK. THE MODEL WAS A NUBIRA.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10172178

Suspension

5 reports
“WHEN CHANGING LANES STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED. THE TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE DEFECTIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2004SuspensionODI 10081624

Vehicle speed control

3 reports
“CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE REIMBURSEMENT RECEIVED FOR RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE 1999 DAEWOO NUBIRA. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. RECALL CAMPAIGN#'S 04V357000 AND 04V394000. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON MANY TIMES, THERE WAS A BROKEN TIME BELT AND 6 BENT VALVES AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS LOOSE. *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlODI 10120411

Service brakes, hydraulic

3 reports
“CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V257001 CONCERNING BRAKE HOSE. DEALER WAS NOT IN OPERATION.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2004Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10097804

Power train

2 reports
“I OWN A 1999 DAEWOO NUBIRA. FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO IT DOES WHAT THE TOYOTAS ARE DOING. MORE SO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. THIS PAST SATURDAY WHEN I WAS STOPPED IT STARTED REVVING IN DRIVE, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, IT REVVED HIGHER, I PUT IT IN PARK AND IT SETTLED DOWN. THIS MORNING AT 2 AM. IN COOL WEATHER, IT EVEN WAS REVVING IN PARK, I HAD TO TURN IT OFF. WHAT SHOULD I DO. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS? THANK YOU *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2010Power trainODI 10326278

Electrical system

2 reports1 fire
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION CENTER ACTIVATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED HOWEVER THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THE CAMSHAFT LOT RANGE WAS OUT OF SCOPE.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2006Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10162997
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.