2000 Daewoo Leganza Problems

What owners report

Nearly all sampled complaints for this model year centre on the camshaft position sensor and the 2004 recall campaigns covering it, with owners describing check-engine lights, a burning smell, and difficulty finding anyone to perform the recall work after Daewoo's US operations ended. A smaller share describe brake problems such as a pedal that sinks to the floor or warped rotors, and engine belt or gasket failures that led to costly repairs.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Camshaft position sensor recall service not completed

   • 141 complaints (64%)
   • median 49,600 mi at 5.0 yrs old (56 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2010

   Owners received recall notices for the camshaft position sensor and then could not get the work done: dealerships were closed, refused the vehicle, said parts were unavailable, or said the sensor's lot or VIN fell outside the covered range. Several paid for the sensor themselves and sought reimbursement, often without success. A few report the check-engine light still comes on after the recall repair was performed. Mostly reported between about 5,000 and 90,000 miles, with many filed in 2004-2005 shortly after the recall letters went out.

   Recall 04V357000Recall 04V394000

   What to check: Ask for documentation showing whether the camshaft position sensor campaigns 04V357000 or 04V394000 were completed on this vehicle, and check whether the check-engine light stays off after a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer received recall 04v357000 concerning cam shaft position sensor. Consumer took the vehicle to a Daewoo dealership. Consumer was told that although the VIN fell within the range the parts used to repair the defect had part numbers that did not include this vehicle, and dealership was not allowed to repair this vehicle, as per Daewoo.”

   NHTSA complaint #10094635, filed 2004-09, 53,000 miles

   “Consumer received recall 04v357000 concerning cam shaft position sensor. Camshaft position sensor. Consumer was told by the dealer that they were unable to get parts to service the vehicle. They have tried to contact the manufacturer, however, no one was answering the phones, andthere was no projected date as to when they may be available.”

   NHTSA complaint #10094076, filed 2004-10, 39,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Burning smell, smoke or wiring damage at the sensor

   • 13 complaints (6%)
   • median 44,100 mi at 4.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2006

   Complaints describe a burning smell or visible smoke, and in some cases the sensor melting with damage to the wiring harness, camshaft cover or timing chain area. One owner reported a no-start after a burning smell and a tow to the dealer, and another reported an engine fire while driving. Reported across a wide mileage range, roughly 5,000 to 66,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 04V357000Recall 04V394000

   What to check: Inspect the sensor and nearby wiring harness for melted or discoloured connectors, and ask whether the sensor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The gas tank was leaking, the vehicle smelled of gas and the engine light is on. Camshaft sensor 04v357000. The engine light and oil lights illuminated intermittently. The fan motor on the air conditioning system failed. The consumer has not been able to find anyone to repair the vehicle. She has also had a hard time finding the recalled part for the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10092499, filed 2004-10, 103,000 miles

   “Recall 04v357000 was issued for the cam shaft position sensor. The consumer was unable to find an authorized dealer to repair the vehicle. The camshaft position sensor had a malfunction, which would cause the camshaft position sensor to crack and the wiring to melt resulting in a burning smell and visible smoke.”

   NHTSA complaint #10092097, filed 2004-09, 49,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Check-engine light on and stalling

   • 37 complaints (17%)
   • median 44,200 mi at 4.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2009

   Owners describe the check-engine light coming on and staying on, sometimes followed by rough running, loss of power or stalling at speed. Dealers reportedly replaced sensors, fuel-injection parts and grounds without resolving it in some cases; a sensor-related trouble code is mentioned in several complaints. Spread from roughly 5,000 to 65,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 04V357000Recall 04V394000

   What to check: Have a diagnostic scan done before purchase and check whether stored codes return after a long test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The check engine light is on. No dealers in the area to make repairs. Cam shaft sensor recall 04v357000 dealer repaired two vehicles at no cost for other consumers. The consumer was told he would have to pay. . Consumer was charged $77.61 while two other consumers were not charged for the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10094480, filed 2004-09, 56,788 miles

   “Intermittently while driving vehicle suddenly surged forward and experienced electrical system failure. This caused the dashboard components to malfunction, and gave incorrect reading. This was followed by the vehicle running rough , loss of power, and stalling. Consumer was unable to restart the vehicle when this occurred. Dealership replaced map and oxygen sensor, fuel injection, ground wires and the battery. The failure recurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #10092054, filed 2004-09, 28,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Timing belt and engine damage

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the timing belt breaking while driving, with subsequent valve and piston damage in some cases, and one owner reported a belt replaced at the recommended interval that failed anyway. Another describes a head gasket failure that recurred after dealer repair. Mostly reported between about 41,000 and 103,000 miles, including one failure at a claimed regular service interval.

   What to check: Ask for records of the last timing belt replacement and its mileage, and budget for one if the history is unclear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine head gasket blew out while driving for the second time after the dealership repaired it. The vehicle had to be towed once, but the problem had not been resolved. The consumer wanted to add as of 1/31/05 the dealership is still unable to resolve the failure. This was a continual problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10101680, filed 2004-12, 41,666 miles

   “Timing belt failure while driving. Causing approximately $1500 damage to engine(valves). Timing belt replaced at regular interval as recommend by Daewoo. Failure occured at 84,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093668, filed 2004-10, 84,000 miles

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.