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Daewoo carsCode T100Also sold as Chevrolet Lanos

Daewoo Lanos problems (1997–2008)

We have documented 2 engines for the Daewoo Lanos and none has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. The safest option is the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II, with a «Buy» verdict.[1][2]

Outside the engine: Beyond the engine, what is documented for the Lanos is wear in the steering and suspension (ball joints, wheel bearings, rear springs), corroded brake lines, and brakes that seize with age, along with faults in the airbag warning light and ABS sensors. The data comes from the Dutch APK roadworthiness test and from the Polish press, not from official recalls.[2][3]

02468107.9out of 10

Daewoo Lanos rating: good reliability

Calculated using only 4 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: it is based on few sources or few documented faults, so it is not included in the rankings. Having few documented faults does not mean it is reliable: it may simply be little studied. How it is calculated

  • Engine9.6From 9.3 to 10.0 depending on the engine
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension7.91 fault
  • Brakes7.91 fault
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering10.0No documented faults
  • Electrical system10.0No documented faults
  • Headlights and lights10.0No documented faults
  • Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior10.0No documented faults
  • Airbags and safety7.91 fault

The weak points of the Daewoo Lanos

  1. 1High severity: Corroded brake lines and brakes that seize with ageBrakes
  2. 2High severity: Airbag warning light on and ABS sensor faultsAirbags and safety
  3. 3Medium severity: Worn steering ball joints and wheel bearings, and broken rear springsSuspension
  4. 4Medium severity: Water pump seizes or leaks (driven by the timing belt)1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1) engine

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

8 sourcesHow we work

1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)

GM Family 1 de 8 válvulas: Opel 1.2/1.4/1.6 (C12NZ, C14NZ, X14SZ, X16SZR, Z16SE) and Chevrolet 1.0/1.4/1.8 (VHC, Econo.Flex) · Petrol

In the Lanos
1997–2002[2][4][5][6][7]
Names
Lanos 1.4 8v 75 · Lanos 1.5 8v 86
Faults that affect it
1
Risk index on this car
7
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • 1.4 and 1.5 8v SOHC 75-86 hp (A14SMS/A15SMS, Daewoo Lanos, 1997-2008)1997–2008 · 75–86 hp · A14SMS, A15SMS

    Buy

    AutoCentrum recommends the Lanos's 8-valve 1.5: it is sufficient, tolerates LPG, and its parts and repairs cost less than those of the 16-valve. It considers the engines durable (taxis with 300,000-400,000 km), although its ancillaries, such as the coils and the starter motor, fail.[2]

Faults that affect the Lanos

Only those that affect the versions and years that this car used. The 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1) has 3 documented faults in total.

  1. Medium severityFrequency: RareCoolingWater pump seizes or leaks (driven by the timing belt)On the Family 1 the water pump is driven by the timing belt and also acts as the tensioner: with poor-quality or missing coolant, corrosion can seize it in its housing. A Brazilian buying guide also cites pump leaks on the Corsa Wind.

Lanos 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1) pageAll versions and faults of the 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1)

1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II

Safest option

GM Daewoo E-TEC II 1.4 and 1.6 16v (Lacetti/Optra and Aveo de primera generación) · Petrol

In the Lanos
1997–2002[2][4][5][6][7]
Names
Lanos 1.4 8v 75 · Lanos 1.5 8v 86 · Lanos 1.5 16v 100 · Lanos 1.6 16v 106
Faults that affect it
0
Risk index on this car
0
Low risk

Verdict for the version it uses

Faults that affect the Lanos

None of the documented faults of the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II affects the versions and years that the Lanos used.

Lanos 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II pageAll versions and faults of the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II

Faults of the Daewoo Lanos outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

Checklist for buying a used Daewoo Lanos

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1) (1997–2002)

Water pump seizes or leaks (driven by the timing belt)

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Daewoo Lanos

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Daewoo Lanos?

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Own a Daewoo Lanos? Tell us what faults you have had, at what mileage and how much you paid. Report your fault.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Daewoo Lanos reliable?

We have documented 2 engines for the Daewoo Lanos and none has high or critical severity faults in the versions it is fitted to. The safest option is the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II, with a «Buy» verdict. Beyond the engine, what is documented for the Lanos is wear in the steering and suspension (ball joints, wheel bearings, rear springs), corroded brake lines, and brakes that seize with age, along with faults in the airbag warning light and ABS sensors. The data comes from the Dutch APK roadworthiness test and from the Polish press, not from official recalls.

Which Daewoo Lanos engine is the most reliable?

Among the 2 engines we have documented, the safest option is the 1.4 / 1.6 16v E-TEC II, with a «Buy» verdict. Auto Świat considers the Nubira's engines durable, with oil leaks from the rocker cover on high-mileage cars. AutoCentrum adds that the Lanos's 1.6 16-valve uses more oil, and that its parts and repairs cost more than those of the 8-valve.[1][2]

What problems does the Daewoo Lanos have apart from the engine?

Beyond the engine, what is documented for the Lanos is wear in the steering and suspension (ball joints, wheel bearings, rear springs), corroded brake lines, and brakes that seize with age, along with faults in the airbag warning light and ABS sensors. The data comes from the Dutch APK roadworthiness test and from the Polish press, not from official recalls. The most important documented faults are: corroded brake lines and brakes that seize with age (brakes, high severity), airbag warning light on and ABS sensor faults (airbags and safety, high severity) and worn steering ball joints and wheel bearings, and broken rear springs (suspension, medium severity).[2][3]

What faults does the Daewoo Lanos have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: water pump seizes or leaks (driven by the timing belt) (1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 8V (Family 1), medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Daewoo Lanos?

According to our rating by year, the best are 2002 and 2001 (8.2/10); the worst rated is 1997 (7.9/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Daewoo Nubira: zwawa, pakowna i taniaAuto Świat · Motoring press · published 20 February 2006 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  2. Gdy koszty grają rolę - Daewoo/FSO Lanos (1997-2008)AutoCentrum.pl · Motoring press · published 4 January 2012 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  3. Autozine: fiabilidad del Daewoo Lanos (defectos de la ITV holandesa, APK)Autozine · Reliability study · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Dutch
  4. GM Family 1 engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  5. Daewoo LanosWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026
  6. Daewoo Lanos (motores, códigos y producción en Polonia)Wikipedia (pl) · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  7. Daewoo Lanos (motorizaciones, potencias y opiniones)AutoCentrum.pl · Other source · consulted 2 November 2026 · in another language
  8. Da oficina: Chevrolet Celta e o polêmico VHCWebmotors WM1 (Oficina Brasil) · Motoring press · published 11 September 2007 · consulted 2 November 2026 · in Portuguese