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Daewoo Lacetti Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Daewoo Lacetti car check

Is the Daewoo Lacetti reliable? We analysed 37,774 real MOT tests across 2,923 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 37,774 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.1%
Typical Mileage
48,796mi
Annual Mileage
5,383mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
22yrs

The Daewoo Lacetti is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Daewoo Lacetti.

Daewoo Lacetti Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Daewoo Lacetti. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Daewoo Lacetti MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Daewoo Lacetti to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

70.7%
2005
69.7%
2004

Daewoo Lacetti Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Daewoo Lacetti fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,635
Registration plate lamp not working 1,510
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 1,169
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,102
Stop lamp not working 1,044
brake binding 1,043
Macpherson strut has excessive movement at the upper attachment 1,004
position lamp(s) not working 911
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 780
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 609

Daewoo Lacetti Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Daewoo Lacetti owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,189 mi/yr
Typical
5,383 mi/yr
Average
6,227 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,269 mi/yr

Daewoo Lacetti MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Daewoo Lacetti year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2005 13,758 70.7% 31,688 48,569 69,719
2004 24,003 69.7% 32,227 48,889 68,745

How Long Does a Daewoo Lacetti Last?

Based on 2,923 Daewoo Lacetti vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.8 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
22 years

Daewoo Lacetti Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Daewoo Lacetti MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
48,796 mi
75th Percentile
69,194 mi
95th Percentile
102,651 mi
Max Recorded
989,862 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Daewoo Lacetti

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2005

70.7% MOT pass rate from 13,758 tests

Year to avoid
2004

69.7% MOT pass rate from 24,003 tests

The best year to buy a used Daewoo Lacetti is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.7% across 13,758 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Daewoo Lacetti Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Daewoo Lacetti THIS CAR 70.1% 37,774 48,796 mi 22 yrs
Daewoo Matiz 65.9% 724,041 47,634 mi 28 yrs
Daewoo Lanos 67.4% 343,953 59,771 mi 29 yrs
Daewoo Kalos 69.7% 139,896 49,806 mi 23 yrs
Kawasaki GPZ500S 79.3% 24,333 23,283 mi 39 yrs

Compared to the Daewoo Matiz (65.9% pass rate) and the Daewoo Lanos (67.4% pass rate), the Daewoo Lacetti outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Daewoo Lacetti?

The Daewoo Lacetti has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.1% across 37,774 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Daewoo Lacetti are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,635 recorded failures), registration plate lamp not working (1,510), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (1,169). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Daewoo Lacetti owner drives around 5,383 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Daewoo Lacetti models stay on UK roads for around 22 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Daewoo Lacetti — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Daewoo Lacetti reliable?
Based on 37,774 MOT tests, the Daewoo Lacetti has a 70.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Daewoo Lacetti?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, registration plate lamp not working, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Daewoo Lacetti do per year?
The typical Daewoo Lacetti does around 5,383 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Daewoo Lacetti last?
Most Daewoo Lacetti models stay on UK roads for around 22 years based on our analysis of 2,923 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Daewoo Lacetti?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Daewoo Lacetti?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Daewoo Lacetti is 2005 with a 70.7% pass rate across 13,758 tests.