2000 Daewoo Matiz SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Radio/Tape deck (Phillips) malfunctioned (replaced).

Dash lights not working (replaced).

Front windscreen cracked in lower RH corner (replaced).

This last one is what concerns me... I have since seen two other Matizs with cracks to the bottom corners of the windscreen - does it indicate poor build or suspension/shock absorption problems over the front wheels? Are there any other reports of this problem and is there likely to be a recall if the problem is aired publicly?

Good car for what you pay for it - the spec is high and while you might want more storage or power you should not really expect it for the price.

I had a problem recently with my Matiz - a crack in the middle of the wind screen at the bottom, which I attributed to vandalism, but now it seems it could be a poor design feature.

There are many humps in the roads near me in London which might have caused stresses on the car and thus the wind screen cracked. Would like to know of any other cars this has happened to.

Regards.

Lucy Bostock

http://www.mymatiz.com/

I bought a new Matiz in January. Yesterday I went out to the car to find large cracks had appeared from both lower corners of the front wind-screen. My opinion is that they are stress cracks not caused by impact from a stone or other object. There is no evidence of such an impact upon examination nor can I recall any impact while driving. I spoke to Daewoo locally and await their examination and decision on whether they accept this as a fault. On discovering that there are others who have experienced this problem I find it worrying that replacement wind-screens too could stress and break meaning that repeat replacements could become necessary.

I have just bought a Matiz (2001 model) and also my windscreen has cracked at the bottom on the right-hand side! Very curious that it seems to be so common...

I too have a 2000 Matiz that has developed a crack in the lower right side of the windscreen. I was informed that this might be a design fault, so I entered "daewoo matiz cracked windscreen fault" into google and found this page. It is beyond coincidence that these cracks have occurred without an underlying design flaw. The question I have is has Daewoo acknowledged this as a problem yet and if not, why not.

I also have a 2000 w matiz and this morning discovered a crack in the windscreen at the bottom corner (drivers side). Cannot see any impact from vandalism and suspect that these speed road humps are a possible contributing factor.

Thank heavens for insurance. I think these little cars do sustain bodywork bending. The other week I was driving in an exceptional strong wind and got a few really weird noises which I attributed to body flexing.

I have a 1999 Daewoo Matiz se plus. Last year I had to have the windscreen replaced as it developed a crack in the windscreen at the bottom centre.

I have just purchased a used 99 matiz and on my way home noticed that there is two large cracks at the bottom left hand side of the windscreen! I am obvisouly reluctant to purchase a new windscreen if this is going to happen again, but what choice is there. surely Daewoo should replace these. Does anyone know if they are or at least contributing to the cost?

Don't expect Daewoo or Chevrolet to replace anything free of charge! Don't take your car to a main dealer - you'll pay through the nose for everything.

I have just brought a used Daewoo Matiz SE 2000 (V) model. After 2 days I noticed a 3" long crack had appeared in the bottom right hand corner of the windscreen. Over the following week this has grown and is now approx 12" long.

Since this seems to be a common problem I am going to complain to Daewoo, may I suggest that everyone else who has this problem does the same.

A bit of advice that may be helpful. There are two small plastic blocks in each lower corner of the windscreen aperture. When the windscreen is fitted, the blocks support the screen while the adhesive dries. Once the adhesive is dry enough to support the screen, the blocks are to be loosened and moved away from the edge of the glass. If the blocks are not moved away, they can rub on the edge of the glass and as the body flexes over bumps/cornering, the screen can crack. If you are getting a replacement screen fitted, make sure the fitter knows about this and makes sure there is a clear gap between the blocks and the edge of the screen.

I have had my matiz 200 w reg for 3 months now and 1 day woke up to find my windscreen craked in the bottom right hand side.

K anjum in liverpool decone@hotmail.co.uk.

After a good old cleaning session the other day, I may add there was absolutely nothing wrong with my windscreen, I made a short trip to my mothers house. On leaving her house I noticed an 8" crack had appeared, on the drivers side bottom corner. Suprise suprise. The car is a used 51 plate and I was not insured for windscreen damage so had it replaced at a cost of £130 all in at Bradford Car Glass. It seems that it is a common fault with the car!!

Just to make my commercial interests clear, please note that I work for a company associated with Daewoo. However, I enter these comments as a private individual. I only do so to hopefully be of assistance to Matiz owners (I own one too).

In April 06 I posted comments regarding the two plastic blocks used to mount the glass.

These blocks are there to support the screen DURING INSTALLATION ONLY. Once the adhesive is dry, the blocks MUST BE MOVED AWAY FROM THE EDGE of the glass. If they are not, the new screen will crack where the block rubs against the edge of the new screen when the car is driven.

If the fitter fails to move the blocks away after installation and the screen cracks, its the fault of the fitter, no one else.

These cars are not faulty and the screens are not faulty. The fault lies with incorrect installation. Therefore, of course Daewoo won't pay. If you experience a crack following installation, suggest you take it up with the fitter. It's very easy to prove, just remove the lower cover and look closely at the blocks. If they're touching the screen and the crack is coming away from where the blocks are, it was installed incorrectly.

If you are having a new screen fitted, it would be wise to make sure the fitter knows about the blocks in advance so that this concern can be avoided.

Hope this helps owners of these great little cars.

My daughter had a W reg Matiz which seemed to self destruct in 2006. After spending a lot of money on repairs she finally traded it in. The main problems were with the alternator which left her stranded without even hazard lights, in the dark on a roundabout in rush hour, and then at traffic lights in the centre of town in the early hours of the morning. Having had this repaired she then had a gasket which needed replacing and cost a fortune as it is so inaccessible. Even after it was fixed the problem recurred soon after. I have now heard from a friend with the same model who is having exactly the same problems. Anyone else had this problem with a W reg Matiz?

Reading the above comment is like having Deja Vu! My Matiz is W reg and is going into the garage for the 4th time over the same problem (after a rash of other problems to boot!)

I was debating whether to keep this car as I cannot really afford a new one, but I think you have just persuaded me to stretch myself a bit and get something a bit reliable that won't leave me stranded in rush hour on my own!

Thank you!