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Daewoo NUBIRA VIN Check

NHTSA holds 325 owner complaints on the Daewoo NUBIRA from 140 production runs; the worst run has 11, the typical one 2.3.

NHTSA complaint records · 325 complaints · 140 runs · 1998–2002 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported NUBIRA run is KLAJC52Z6YK (2000 builds) with 11 complaints, 4.8× the typical run. Engine and engine cooling problems make up 51% of reports; 2000 is the worst model year at 3.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for NUBIRA model years 1998–2002.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Daewoo NUBIRA has 140 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 14% of every NUBIRA complaint on file.

FIG.01·Daewoo NUBIRA — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
KLAJC52Z6YK••••••2000111—
KLAJC52Z1YK••••••20001011
KLAJC52Z9YK••••••20009——
KLAJC52Z5YK••••••20009——
KLAJC52Z8YK••••••20008——
KLAJC52ZXYK••••••20007——
KLAJB82Z3YK••••••20007——
KLAJC52Z2YK••••••20006——
KLAJB82Z2YK••••••20006——
KLAJC52ZX1K••••••20016——
KLAJC52Z31K••••••20016——
KLAJC52Z3YK••••••20005——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 128 NUBIRA runs has 5 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Daewoo NUBIRA the gap between build years is 3.1×: a 2000 car draws 3.1 complaints per run, a 1998 one 1.

FIG.02·Daewoo NUBIRA — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20021.222181
2001279393
20003.1177585
19991.242341
1998155—
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2000 at 3.1 complaints per run; lightest is 1998 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 51% of everything Daewoo NUBIRA owners report: Engine And Engine Cooling, 209 of 325 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Daewoo NUBIRA — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Engine And Engine Cooling20915
Service Brakes702—
Hydraulic672—
Suspension29——
Vehicle Speed Control121—
Air Bags107—
Electrical System8—1
Power Train7——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 3 recall campaigns on the Daewoo NUBIRA; the 3 below cover build years 1998 to 2002. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Daewoo NUBIRA — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
04V357000Engine And Engine Cooling1998–2002
04V394000Engine And Engine Cooling1998–2002
02V257000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings2000–2002
ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

04V357000 was opened in 2004 on cars built from 1998: 6 years on the road before the recall.

The NUBIRA against its rivals

The NUBIRA draws 2.3 complaints per production run; the Ford Escort 2.5, the Mazda Protege 2.3 and the Infiniti G20 1.3.

FIG.05·Daewoo NUBIRA VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Daewoo NUBIRA3251402.33.1%
Ford Escort2,8501,1602.511.9%
Mazda Protege7873452.317.4%
Infiniti G2070541.314.3%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 325 reports on the Daewoo NUBIRA, 3.1% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Daewoo NUBIRA — complaint severity
OutcomeDaewoo NUBIRAAll vehicles
Complaints filed3251,115,966
Involved a crash10 (3.1%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire6 (1.8%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported658,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 47% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Daewoo NUBIRA share of that is 325 complaints over 140 runs, 0.03% of everything on record.

Everything on the Daewoo NUBIRA
Recalls13 campaignsFuel economy25 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems507 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space19 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1997–2002

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Daewoo NUBIRA VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 325 NHTSA complaints from 140 NUBIRA runs and 3 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which NUBIRA production run has the most complaints?

KLAJC52Z6YK, a 2000 build, with 11 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical NUBIRA run has 2.3.

Which NUBIRA years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2000 is heaviest at 3.1 complaints per run and 1998 lightest at 1.

Does the NUBIRA get more complaints than the Ford Escort?

No: 2.3 complaints per production run for the NUBIRA against 2.5 for the Ford Escort.

How many NUBIRA complaints involve a crash?

3.1% of 325 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 6 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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