Daewoo Recall Check by VIN: Lanos, Nubira and Leganza Recalls and Who Fixes Them Now

To check a Daewoo for recalls, look up the Lanos, Nubira or Leganza by model year in NHTSA's recall data instead of typing the VIN, because every US-market Daewoo is a 1999-2002 car (NHTSA also files some under 1998) and NHTSA's VIN look-up only covers the last 15 years. The recall that matters most is the 2004 camshaft position sensor campaign, which covers all three models. Getting it fixed now is harder, since Daewoo Motor America's support site and recall phone line no longer seem to work.

I ran all three models through NHTSA's recall API for 1998 through 2003 on Oct 19, 2026. 2003 came back empty, which fits the history below. I also read the period news coverage to work out who, if anyone, still handles these cars.

Daewoo in America, quickly

The Los Angeles Times reported in December 1998 that Daewoo had entered the US that September with three models, selling through company-owned stores and a crew of "advisors" who bought cars at steep discounts and talked them up on college campuses. Sales started slow: 1,750 cars in the first three months, only about 700 of them to the public. The car lineup was announced as 1999 models that same month.

It didn't last. F&I and Showroom magazine reported in May 2002, citing Bloomberg, that GM was buying the Korean parent's car assets but leaving out the US arm, Daewoo Motor America. At that point there were 525 dealers and an estimated 160,000 to 170,000 Daewoos on US roads, and dealers said they couldn't get parts. Daewoo Motor America filed Chapter 11 on May 16, 2002. A press release on The Auto Channel says it came out of bankruptcy in October 2003 as a parts and warranty administrator for about 180,000 owners and 450 dealers, with agreements with the new GM Daewoo.

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The recalls NHTSA lists

04V357 (1998-2002 Lanos, Nubira, Leganza; 11,576 cars): the camshaft position sensor could melt, causing a burning smell and smoke. Dealers were to replace the sensor and add a fuse, starting Sept. 7, 2004. A twin campaign, 04V394, covered Puerto Rico.
02V257 (2000-02 Nubira): the front brake hose's outer rubber could crack. New redesigned hoses were the fix.
02V131 (Lanos): failed the interior head-impact standard; dealers added energy-absorbing air bag mounting brackets.
01V180 (Leganza): another interior impact failure, fixed with padding on the A-pillar.
01V020 (2000-01 Lanos): wiring under the front passenger carpet could be worn through by feet.
99V336 (Lanos with alloy wheels): wheels built without steel bushing inserts, so the bolts could lose torque.
99V090 (early Lanos): side impact pad in the wrong spot, so the car didn't meet the side door strength rule.
98V305 (early Lanos): the steering wheel center bushing could slip; a revised wheel was the fix.

Look, the cam sensor one is the only item here that could start a fire, and it came out after Daewoo Motor America was already in bankruptcy. Some of these cars were sold, scrapped or flipped before an owner ever got the letter. Assume it's open unless you see a receipt or a new sensor with an added fuse.

Who fixes it now

Honestly, I couldn't find anyone. The 2004 recall told owners to call Daewoo at 1-877-362-1234, option 6, and the 2003 release pointed to daewoous.com. On Oct 19, 2026, daewoous.com didn't respond from my end, and I found no current statement from GM or anyone else taking over open Daewoo Motor America recalls. If you own one, an independent shop can replace the sensor, and NHTSA itself is the place to ask whether a remedy is still on offer.

Don't confuse these cars with the later GM Daewoo models. Car and Driver's Aveo road test says the Aveo is the Daewoo Kalos built in Bupyong, Korea, and that GM also sold three other Daewoo products under Suzuki badges. Autoweek reported in 2005 that GM Daewoo was formed in 2002 from the bankrupt Daewoo Motor's assets, with Suzuki as a partner, and that Suzuki blamed its poor J.D. Power initial quality score partly on those cars. Recalls on an Aveo, Forenza or Verona sit with Chevrolet or Suzuki, so use our Chevy recall check or Suzuki recall check for those.

Checking a Daewoo you're about to buy

First, confirm the model and year with our Daewoo VIN decoder, since several recalls split by year or trim. Then match that against the list above. Our NHTSA recall check guide covers the 15-year limit in more detail.

A Daewoo that's still running in 2026 is cheap transportation at best, and parts are scarce. So the history matters more than usual. Run the VIN through NMVTIS for salvage, junk or flood brands, and a CARFAX report or AutoCheck for mileage and title records. Recall work done at a Daewoo dealer may show up in service history, but records from 20-plus years ago can be thin.

About cost: CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian, GM or Daewoo. Mid October 2026 prices were around $5.50 for a guest report, $4.50 for members and $6.75 for a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle, compared with about $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Prices move, so confirm price at checkout before you pay.