Daewoo models we see most
| Model | US model years | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Lanos | 1999-2002 | Daewoo's small car; GM later sold its Kalos successor here as the Chevrolet Aveo from the 2004 model year. |
| Nubira | 1999-2002 | Offered as a sedan, hatchback and wagon; 2000-2002 cars were recalled for cracking front brake hoses (02V257000). |
| Leganza | 1999-2002 | The largest Daewoo sedan sold in the US and part of the 2004 camshaft sensor recall, 04V357000. |
| Chevrolet Aveo (Daewoo-built) | 2004-2011 | Built by GM Daewoo from the Kalos, so it is a Daewoo under a Chevrolet badge. |
| Suzuki Forenza (Daewoo-built) | 2004-2008 | A rebadged Daewoo Lacetti built in South Korea by GM Daewoo and sold through Suzuki dealers. |
| Suzuki Verona (Daewoo-built) | 2004-2006 | Suzuki's version of the Daewoo Magnus, notable for a transversely mounted inline six-cylinder. |
Known Daewoo problems that end up at the scrapyard
Melting camshaft position sensor on Lanos, Nubira and Leganza
Daewoo Motor America recalled its US cars in 2004 because the camshaft position sensor could melt, producing a burning smell and smoke and possibly melting the cam cover and sensor wiring, with a risk of an underhood fire (04V357000). Dealers replaced the sensor and added a fuse. With Daewoo dealers long gone, many cars may never have had the fix. source
Chafed floor wiring that stalls 2000-2001 Lanos
Recall 01V020000 covers 2000-2001 Lanos sedans. A wiring harness under the front passenger carpet can rub against a floor-pan seam as passengers step on it, and once damaged it can cause sudden stalling. On a 25-year-old Lanos with an intermittent no-start or stall, this harness is worth checking before you assume the engine is gone. source
Orphan-brand parts after Daewoo left North America
The Lanos was phased out after the 2002 model year and Daewoo ceased its North American operations; GM, which bought most of Daewoo's assets in 2002, brought the replacement car in as the Chevrolet Aveo instead. Owners of the original three models now depend on used and aftermarket parts, so a failed transmission or engine usually ends the car's road life. source
Daewoo’s short run in America
Daewoo sold cars under its own name in the US for only a few model years, 1999 through 2002, with three nameplates: the small Lanos, the compact Nubira and the midsize Leganza. After the Daewoo Group ran into financial trouble, General Motors bought most of the carmaker’s assets in 2002, and the Daewoo brand disappeared from American showrooms. Daewoo Motor America was still around to run one last safety recall in 2004, for a camshaft sensor that could melt, telling owners to call its customer line or look up a dealer on its website.
The cars didn’t disappear as quickly, and some are still parked in Chicago garages and side yards. They also lived on under other badges. The Chevrolet Aveo, sold here from 2004 to 2011, was a Daewoo Kalos built by GM Daewoo, and Suzuki’s Forenza and Verona came out of the same Korean plants. So an old Aveo, Forenza or Verona belongs on this page too.
What we look at on a Daewoo
These are light cars, so weight alone won’t carry the offer. Completeness matters more: a car with its catalytic converter, wheels, glass and interior intact is worth more than a shell, and a Lanos or Nubira that still starts beats one with a seized engine. If the car smelled of burning plastic before it was parked, the 2004 camshaft sensor recall is a likely suspect, and it doesn’t stop us from buying it.
Paperwork for a car this old
A Daewoo that has sat for a decade often has paperwork gaps. If you have the title, have it ready. If it’s lost, tell us what you do have, such as an old registration card, a bill of sale from when you bought it, or an insurance card, along with your ID. Illinois rules decide which papers can be used for a scrap sale, and we’ll confirm on the call. Our guide to junking a car without a title in Illinois explains the options, including applying for a duplicate first. For other makes, start at our vehicle brand list.
Selling a junk Daewoo: questions
Is a Chevrolet Aveo really a Daewoo?
Mechanically, yes. The Aveo sold in the US from 2004 was the Daewoo Kalos built by GM Daewoo in Korea, and the Suzuki Forenza and Verona were Daewoo-built too. We buy all of them as junk cars regardless of the badge.
My Lanos has sat for years and the tires are flat. Can you still take it?
Yes. Flat tires, a dead battery and years of sitting don't stop a pickup. Tell us if it's inside a garage or blocked by other cars, and whether the steering wheel turns, so the driver can plan how to load it.