Used car guide · 2003–2005

Daewoo Kalos common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Daewoo Kalos, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 1,532 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

1,532MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
738on the UK register

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

200520042003

What usually goes wrong with a Daewoo Kalos?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Daewoo Kalos in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Daewoo Kalos MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes

    up to 9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Front struts

    up to 8.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Braking performance

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Daewoo Kalos MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200548%57% -9114 (small sample)
200448%57% -9890
200351%57% -6528

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Daewoo Kalos

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the front strut mounts and bushes? (Flagged at MOT 9× as often on the Daewoo Kalos as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Daewoo Kalos as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the Daewoo Kalos as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Daewoo Kalos?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score