Head-to-head reliability
Daewoo Lanos vs Toyota Camry
How the Daewoo Lanos and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Daewoo Lanos vs Toyota Camry: The Lanos has 369 complaints over 3 years (123.0 per year) and 15 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6 per year) and 31 recalls. Lanos owners report brake failure and unfixable air bag recalls; Camry owners report key sticking and delayed acceleration. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Daewoo Lanos or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Daewoo Lanos
The Daewoo Lanos is a compact car from a brand that no longer exists, which makes parts and recall repairs hard to get. Owners report serious engine cooling leaks and air bag recalls they cannot fix because dealers are gone. Brake problems where the pedal sinks to the floor without stopping the car are also common. With 369 complaints over 3 years, this is a high-maintenance vehicle with limited support.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a long production history and many dealers, so repairs are easier to arrange. Complaints often involve power train shuddering, delayed acceleration, and electronic parking brake failures. With 2,056 complaints over 10 years, the yearly rate is higher than the Lanos, but the issues are spread across many systems and model years. Overall, it is a more supported vehicle but not trouble-free.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Daewoo Lanos | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 369 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 123.0 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 16 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 3 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Daewoo Lanos
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING242
- 02AIR BAGS75
- 03SERVICE BRAKES30
- 04HYDRAULIC29
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
Owners report coolant leaks from the intake manifold that evaporate before dripping, causing overheating and temperature gauge spikes. This can lead to expensive engine damage if not caught early.
Recalls for passenger air bag deployment and camshaft position sensor exist, but owners say no authorized service centers will perform the repairs. That leaves a known safety defect unfixed.
Drivers describe the brake pedal going to the floor without engaging, requiring them to lift and reapply pressure; one crash resulted. This intermittent failure is dangerous and hard to diagnose.
With 10 complaints, electrical issues are less common but still present. They can affect sensors and warning lights, adding to the list of hard-to-source parts.
“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 P…”
“TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE 2002 DAEWOO LANOS ON 05/2006. BUT BECAME DRASTICALLY ILL FROM A HEART ATTACK AND COULDN'T HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRS DONE IMMEDIATELY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO STEVE'S REPAIR IN IDAHO FALLS FOR THE…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners of recent Camrys report the ignition key getting stuck in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove it. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving, often with a check engine light.
Complaints include delayed throttle response where pressing the gas does nothing for several seconds. This can be a safety concern when merging or pulling out into traffic.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow. Owners also hear clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area, which the manufacturer calls normal but owners find concerning.
Multiple systems like stability control, power steering, and blind spot monitoring can malfunction at once. This suggests complex electronic issues that may be difficult to diagnose.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Daewoo Lanos — 15 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO AT 1-877-362-1234, OPTION 6, OR FIND A LOCAL DEALER THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.DAEWOOU…
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO PUERTO RICO AT 1-877-362-1234 OPTION 6.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR MAY MELT RESULTING IN A BURNING SMELL AND VISIBLE SMOKE, WHICH MAY SUBSEQUENTLY LEAD TO THE MELTING OF THE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WIRE HARNESS.
The risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL FUSE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAEWOO PUERTO RICO AT 1-877-362-1234 OPTION 6.
The defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT."
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SHOULD CONTACT WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COVER OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ENERGY ABSORBING AIR BAG MOUNTING BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 23, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Daewoo Lanos or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Daewoo Lanos has fewer complaints per year (123.0) than the Toyota Camry (205.6), but the Lanos issues are more severe and harder to fix due to the brand's exit. The Camry's higher yearly rate reflects more vehicles on the road and a wider range of electronic problems. In practice, the Lanos may leave you stranded with no dealer support, while the Camry is more repairable but still needs careful inspection.
Key differences
- The Daewoo Lanos has 15 recalls and no dealer network, while the Toyota Camry has 31 recalls but widespread dealer support.
- Lanos owners report brake pedal sinking to the floor and coolant leaks; Camry owners report key stuck in Park and delayed acceleration.
- The Lanos has 3 deaths and 16 injuries in its complaint data, compared to 1 death and 158 injuries for the Camry over a longer period.
- Camry complaints span 10 years and many systems, while Lanos complaints are concentrated in engine cooling and air bags over just 3 years.
- Check for coolant leaks around the intake manifold and look for white residue or low coolant levels, as owners report evaporating leaks that cause overheating.
- Test the brakes thoroughly for a pedal that sinks to the floor; if it does, walk away, as this intermittent failure has caused a crash.
- Try removing the key from the ignition after parking; if it sticks, you may need a battery disconnect, which is a reported defect.
- Test the electronic parking brake and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal; if present, it may indicate ABS issues.
Before you buy
- Ask for proof that all open recalls have been completed, especially air bag and sensor recalls on the Lanos and Camry.
- Take a test drive that includes braking from different speeds and parking on a slope to check brake and parking brake function.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine cooling system on the Lanos for intake manifold leaks and the Camry for transmission shudder.
- Check for warning lights on the dashboard and scan for stored trouble codes, especially for power train and brake systems.
- Verify availability of parts and service for the specific model year, as Lanos support is very limited.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Daewoo Lanos or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Daewoo Lanos vs Toyota Camry
- Daewoo Lanos total complaints
- 369
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Daewoo Lanos total recalls
- 15
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Daewoo Lanos avg complaints/year
- 123.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Daewoo Lanos
- Daewoo Lanos top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN