Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Daewoo Nubira, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 44 | 69% |
| Suspension | 5 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 3% |
| Structure | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I OWN A 1999 DAEWOO NUBIRA. FOR THE LAST YEAR OR SO IT DOES WHAT THE TOYOTAS ARE DOING. MORE SO IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. THIS PAST SATURDAY WHEN I WAS STOPPED IT STARTED REVVING IN DRIVE, I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, IT REVVED H
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: CAMSHAFT CENSOR - CAMPAIGN ID # 04V357000, THE CONTACT HAD THE TIMING BELT REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS AS WELL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
1999 DAEWOO NUBIRA WILL NOT START. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR RECALL REPAIRS AND BAD PARTS. *KB *JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION CENTER ACTIVATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIG
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE CAMSHAFT MODULE VALVE THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT A FOLLOW UP LETTER STATING THAT REIMBURSEMENT WOULD BE MADE FOR ANY PARTS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE 1999 NUBIRA CAMSHAFT SENSOR RECALL. *TS THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE CAMSHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR AND REQUEST REIMBURSE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED IN MAY 2006 REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 04V357000; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. THE CONTACT LOCATED A DEALERSHIP HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL BECA
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ENGINE WARNING SIGN SOMETIMES KEPT COMING AND GOING OR BLINKING. WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE THOUGHT IT WASN'T THE PROBLEM OF THE ENGINE SINCE THERE WAS NO RECORD IN THE MEMORY IN THE CAR. AFTER A FEW WEEKS LATER, CAR STOP
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1999 Daewoo Nubira. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
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 DE
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.
Risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
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.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 64 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 44 of them (69%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.