Daewoo Kalos
Registered from 2003 to 2005.
About this model
The Daewoo Kalos is a subcompact automobile initially launched in 2002. The Kalos was developed by the initially-independent South Korean manufacturer Daewoo, later GM Korea. Originally marketed as the Daewoo Kalos across most of the world, it was later marketed as the Chevrolet Aveo. The car thus became the first generation of the Chevrolet Aveo nameplate from the Chevrolet division of the American manufacturer General Motors. The model received the T200 internal codes during the car's development. The T250 code was designated for the model's major facelift.
From the Wikipedia article Daewoo Kalos, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2003 1.4 petrol. 87 of 280 tests failed, 31%.
Better than 21% of 2003 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 639 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 55% | 48 |
| Lights and electrics | 32% | 28 |
| Body and structure | 31% | 27 |
| Brakes | 31% | 27 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 20% | 17 |
| Visibility | 20% | 17 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
Where it stands out against its peers
- Seat belts and airbags: failed more often than 93% of 2003 cars — 20% of its 87 failed tests, where an ordinary 2003 car has 3%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 55% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brakes — 31% of its failures
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Lights and electrics — 32% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Body and structure — 31% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Seat belts and airbags — 20% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Visibility — 20% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 27% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 34% | 17% | 32 | |
| 40–60k miles | 27% | 22% | 73 | |
| 60–80k miles | 33% | 25% | 78 | |
| 80–100k miles | 27% | 28% | 55 |
238 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.