Head-to-head reliability
Daewoo Leganza vs Toyota Camry
How the Daewoo Leganza 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 Leganza vs Toyota Camry: The Leganza has 122 complaints per year, mostly engine and brake issues, while the Camry has 214 per year, with transmission and brake failures. The Leganza's engine problems often stem from a camshaft sensor recall, while the Camry has sudden acceleration reports. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Daewoo Leganza or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Daewoo Leganza
The Daewoo Leganza, a compact sedan from the late 1990s and early 2000s, shows a heavy concentration of engine and cooling complaints, with 303 of 366 complaints in that area. Owners report check engine lights, burning smells, and stalling, often linked to the camshaft position sensor recall. Brake issues, including ABS lights and wheel lockups, add to the concern. With an average of 122 complaints per year over just three model years, this car demands careful inspection and a willingness to address recurring issues.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a popular midsize sedan, has a broader complaint profile spread over ten years, averaging 214 complaints per year. Owners report transmission grinding and failures, sudden acceleration incidents, brake failures, and electrical glitches. While the Camry has more total complaints, its longer production run and higher sales volume mean these issues are spread across many vehicles. Still, the severity of some reports, including crashes and injuries, warrants attention.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Daewoo Leganza | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 366 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 122.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
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 Leganza
- 01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING303
- 02SERVICE BRAKES27
- 03HYDRAULIC26
- 04AIR BAGS15
- 05POWER TRAIN10
The most frequent issue involves the camshaft position sensor, causing the check engine light to illuminate and a burning odor. Some owners report stalling or loss of power, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Owners report the ABS light coming on and front wheels locking during braking, leading to at least one front-end collision. This suggests a potential hydraulic or sensor problem that compromises braking control.
The airbag light illuminates consistently, often due to a faulty airbag control module. This indicates a possible failure of the supplemental restraint system, meaning airbags may not deploy in a crash.
“IN SEPTEMBER 2004 I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL RELATING TO THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN MY 2001 DAEWOO LEGANZA. THE FAULTY DEVICE WAS SUPPOSED TO CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE (WHICH IT DID), AND A BURNING SMELL AND/OR VISIBLE…”
“RECALL 04V357000 CONCERNING CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, AND A BURNING ODOR WAS SMELLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission issues are prominent, with grinding noises and failures requiring replacement. Some owners mention recalls for similar problems, but not all vehicles are covered, leaving owners with costly repairs.
Reports include sudden unintended acceleration, which led to a crash and total loss. Other engine problems involve coolant valve bypass codes that may not be covered by recall, affecting safety and performance.
Brake failure is reported, such as no response when pressing the pedal on a downhill slope. This is a critical safety issue that could lead to accidents.
While not detailed in the sample, electrical issues are common, potentially affecting various systems. Owners may experience intermittent failures that are hard to diagnose.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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 Leganza — 8 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. 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.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
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…
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…
Buyer analysis
Daewoo Leganza or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Daewoo Leganza has fewer complaints per year (122 vs 214) but its issues are more concentrated in critical areas like engine and brakes. The Camry's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the severity of some incidents (crashes, injuries) is concerning. In practice, the Leganza may require more frequent repairs, while the Camry might have more widespread but less frequent issues.
Key differences
- The Leganza's engine complaints are dominated by a specific camshaft sensor recall, while the Camry's engine issues include sudden acceleration and coolant valve problems.
- Brake problems on the Leganza involve ABS lockups, whereas the Camry has reports of complete brake failure.
- The Camry has a higher number of crash-related complaints (181 vs 10), indicating more severe incidents.
- The Leganza has fewer total complaints but over a shorter period, suggesting a higher rate of issues per model year.
- Check for any open recalls, especially the camshaft position sensor recall (04V357000), and verify it was performed.
- Test the brakes at various speeds to ensure the ABS does not activate unexpectedly and wheels do not lock.
- Listen for grinding noises from the transmission during acceleration and have the transmission fluid and system checked.
- Test the brakes on a hill to ensure they respond properly, and check for any warning lights related to the braking system.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for recalls and previous accidents.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine, transmission, and brakes on both vehicles.
- Test drive at highway speeds and in stop-and-go traffic to feel for any hesitation or unusual behavior.
- Check all dashboard warning lights, including ABS, airbag, and check engine, to ensure they function correctly.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for the camshaft sensor on the Leganza and transmission service on the Camry.
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 Leganza or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Daewoo Leganza vs Toyota Camry
- Daewoo Leganza total complaints
- 366
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Daewoo Leganza total recalls
- 8
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Daewoo Leganza avg complaints/year
- 122.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Daewoo Leganza
- Daewoo Leganza top complaint area
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN