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Daewoo Lanos Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Daewoo Lanos car check

Is the Daewoo Lanos reliable? We analysed 343,953 real MOT tests across 41,564 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 343,953 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
67.4%
Typical Mileage
59,771mi
Annual Mileage
4,663mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Daewoo Lanos is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Daewoo Lanos.

Daewoo Lanos Number Plates

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

Daewoo Lanos MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

70.9%
2004
69.2%
2003
70.7%
2002
70%
2001
68.7%
2000
66.8%
1999
65.1%
1998
64.8%
1997

Daewoo Lanos Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Brake pipe excessively corroded 50,738
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 21,902
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 14,729
position lamp(s) not working 13,511
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 12,389
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 12,182
coil spring incomplete 10,135
Stop lamp not working 9,673
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault 7,762
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 6,833

Daewoo Lanos Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
2,661 mi/yr
Typical
4,663 mi/yr
Average
5,473 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,275 mi/yr

Daewoo Lanos MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 395 70.9% 25,040 40,004 58,634
2003 5,820 69.2% 30,897 44,799 60,736
2002 30,606 70.7% 34,699 49,807 67,380
2001 34,163 70.0% 38,141 53,335 70,715
2000 84,012 68.7% 42,759 57,901 74,901
1999 82,046 66.8% 45,417 60,797 78,128
1998 91,743 65.1% 50,271 65,585 82,344
1997 15,094 64.8% 52,416 68,021 85,588

How Long Does a Daewoo Lanos Last?

Based on 41,564 Daewoo Lanos vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.9 years
Median
10.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Daewoo Lanos Mileage Distribution

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

Median
59,771 mi
75th Percentile
77,326 mi
95th Percentile
106,738 mi
Max Recorded
997,758 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Daewoo Lanos

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

Best year
2004

70.9% MOT pass rate from 395 tests

Year to avoid
1997

64.8% MOT pass rate from 15,094 tests

The best year to buy a used Daewoo Lanos is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 70.9% across 395 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Daewoo Lanos Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Daewoo Lanos THIS CAR 67.4% 343,953 59,771 mi 29 yrs
Daewoo Matiz 65.9% 724,041 47,634 mi 28 yrs
Daewoo Kalos 69.7% 139,896 49,806 mi 23 yrs
Daewoo Nubira 64.4% 130,499 61,516 mi 29 yrs
Rover 618 64.6% 114,474 93,181 mi 30 yrs

Compared to the Daewoo Matiz (65.9% pass rate) and the Daewoo Kalos (69.7% pass rate), the Daewoo Lanos sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Daewoo Lanos?

The Daewoo Lanos has an overall MOT pass rate of 67.4% across 343,953 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Daewoo Lanos are brake pipe excessively corroded (50,738 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (21,902), and track rod end ball joint has excessive play (14,729). 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 Lanos owner drives around 4,663 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 Lanos models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Lanos — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Daewoo Lanos reliable?
Based on 343,953 MOT tests, the Daewoo Lanos has a 67.4% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Daewoo Lanos?
The most common MOT failures are brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and track rod end ball joint has excessive play. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Daewoo Lanos do per year?
The typical Daewoo Lanos does around 4,663 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Daewoo Lanos last?
Most Daewoo Lanos models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 41,564 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Daewoo Lanos?
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 Lanos?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Daewoo Lanos is 2004 with a 70.9% pass rate across 395 tests.