2006 CHEVROLET AVEO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS FAILED, RS TAIL LIGHT FAILED, RF PARKING LAMP FAILED, SHIFTER LIGHTS FAILED, AND HEADLAMP ON WARNING INDICATOR FAILED. DUE TO A WIRE SHORT THAT APPEARS TO BE COMMON IN THIS YEAR/MODEL. CREATED DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR MY WIFE. WIRES MELTED TOGETHER, COULD HAVE BEEN FIRE HAZARD. *TR
2006 Chevrolet Aveo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Aveo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 169.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Aveo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
148 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
189 reportsPARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING SPOT AT A STORE, WENT INSIDE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, CAME BACK OUT TO HAVE THE SHIFTER NOT SHIFT FROM PARK AFTER BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. I'VE ALREADY TRIED REPLACING THE BRAKE SWITCH NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REPLACED THE BRAKE TRANSAXLE SOLENOID. NEITHER OPTION HAS WORKED. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAV…
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PARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING SPOT AT A STORE, WENT INSIDE FOR A LITTLE WHILE, CAME BACK OUT TO HAVE THE SHIFTER NOT SHIFT FROM PARK AFTER BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. I'VE ALREADY TRIED REPLACING THE BRAKE SWITCH NEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REPLACED THE BRAKE TRANSAXLE SOLENOID. NEITHER OPTION HAS WORKED. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. $80 LATER, THEY WANT OVER 400 TO FIX THE SHIFTER BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE SHIFT ASSEMBLY. FROM WHAT I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE, THIS IS NOT THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY TAKEN CARE OF BY THE DEALERSHIP AT NO COST TO US. IT STILL IS NOT FIXED BECAUSE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO SPEND ANOTHER 400 DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT FAILED RIGHT AFTER THE 36,000 MARK. *TR
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS (SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, ETC.) LIGHTS ON SHIFTER, AND RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHTS ALL WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. FUSES WERE ALL STILL GOOD, LIGHT BULBS STILL GOOD. EVENTUALLY TRACKED IT DOWN TO A BURNT OUT WIRING SPLICE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LOSS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS IS A SERIOUS HAZAR…
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INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS (SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, ETC.) LIGHTS ON SHIFTER, AND RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHTS ALL WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME. FUSES WERE ALL STILL GOOD, LIGHT BULBS STILL GOOD. EVENTUALLY TRACKED IT DOWN TO A BURNT OUT WIRING SPLICE, WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE LOSS OF INTERIOR LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD - ESPECIALLY WHEN THE FIX REQUIRES HUNTING DOWN BAD FACTORY WIRING. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 AVEO. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR LOSS OF POWER TWICE, THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED. BATTERY REPLACED, HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT WITHIN MONTHS OF BEING REPLACED. IGNITION GETS EXTREMELY HOT. RADIO BLEW OUT, A/C NO LONGER WORKS, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOW BURNED OUT, INSTRUMENT PANEL/SHIFT…
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I HAVE A 2006 AVEO. IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR LOSS OF POWER TWICE, THROTTLE SENSOR REPLACED. BATTERY REPLACED, HEADLIGHTS BLOW OUT WITHIN MONTHS OF BEING REPLACED. IGNITION GETS EXTREMELY HOT. RADIO BLEW OUT, A/C NO LONGER WORKS, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS NOW BURNED OUT, INSTRUMENT PANEL/SHIFTER LIGHTS GOING OUT. AND THE CAR IS NOW BACK IN THE SHOP WITH A BAD ALTERNATOR. THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS IS RIDICULOUS...NOT TO MENTION THE TOWING, THE STRANDEDNESS AND STRESS. I ALSO HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA COROLLA THAT HAS NEVER BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE I PURCHASED IT OTHER THAN ROUTINE REPAIRS.....THE AVEO IS NOT WORTH THE MONEY, EVEN WHEN PURCHASED USED. *TR
2006 CHEVY AVEO HATCH BACK MY WIFE HAD PURCHASED THE 2006 CHEVY AVEO AND JUST ONE MONTH AGO IT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS 1- BATTERY WENT DEAD PURCHASED 2 NEW ONE BEFORE IT W OKAY 2- LIGHTERS DID NOT WORK HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM COULD BE WIRING 3- ALTERNATOR GOES OUT LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED 4-A…
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2006 CHEVY AVEO HATCH BACK MY WIFE HAD PURCHASED THE 2006 CHEVY AVEO AND JUST ONE MONTH AGO IT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS 1- BATTERY WENT DEAD PURCHASED 2 NEW ONE BEFORE IT W OKAY 2- LIGHTERS DID NOT WORK HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM COULD BE WIRING 3- ALTERNATOR GOES OUT LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED 4-ALTERNATOR GOES THE NEXT WEEK AGAIN LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED FOR AT LEAST AN HOURS AND A WEEK BEFORE THE ITEM COULD BE FIXED 5- THERMOSTAT HAS BROKE IN HALF AND NOW SINCE I LIVE ON GUAM ITEM IS NOT IN STOCK HELP US ON GUAM *TR
THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY 2006 CHEVY AVEO. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING (MADE OF PLASTIC) COMPLETELY BROKE APART AND ALL THE ANTIFREEZE FLOWED OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I HAVE ORDERED A NEW HOUSING AND THERMOSTAT, WHICH CHEVY HAS RE-DESIGNED TO ALUMINUM....NO LONGER PLASTIC,…
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THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC EVENT LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN MY 2006 CHEVY AVEO. THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING (MADE OF PLASTIC) COMPLETELY BROKE APART AND ALL THE ANTIFREEZE FLOWED OUT. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I HAVE ORDERED A NEW HOUSING AND THERMOSTAT, WHICH CHEVY HAS RE-DESIGNED TO ALUMINUM....NO LONGER PLASTIC, AND MY HUSBAND WILL BE REPLACING. OBVIOUSLY, CHEVY KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE OR THEY WOULD HAVE STUCK WITH THE PLASTIC VERSION. I BELIEVE THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. THANK YOU *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2006 CHEVROLET AVEO CAME ON AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. I WORRY THAT THE BAG COULD SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOY, OR FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD. HAVING READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF DEALERS NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I HESITATE TO SPEND MONEY I CAN'T SPARE ON A "FIX" THAT DOESN'T WORK. CHE…
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THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2006 CHEVROLET AVEO CAME ON AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. I WORRY THAT THE BAG COULD SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOY, OR FAIL TO DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD. HAVING READ THE OTHER COMPLAINTS OF DEALERS NOT BEING ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I HESITATE TO SPEND MONEY I CAN'T SPARE ON A "FIX" THAT DOESN'T WORK. CHEVROLET SHOULD SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR MODELS THAT USE THIS TYPE OF AIRBAG. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL MOMENTARILY BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO ABNORMALLY JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL MOMENTARILY BEFORE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTING. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVEO. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET AVEO. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
I HAVE A CHEVY AVEO 2006 AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER IS ON, THAT MEANS IT HAS AN ISSUE. FOR ALMOST 7 WEEKS THE GM DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX IT WITHOUT ANY RESULTS. THEY GAVE ME THE CAR BACK A COUPLE TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IN 2007. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND IT LOOKS…
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I HAVE A CHEVY AVEO 2006 AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE DRIVER IS ON, THAT MEANS IT HAS AN ISSUE. FOR ALMOST 7 WEEKS THE GM DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX IT WITHOUT ANY RESULTS. THEY GAVE ME THE CAR BACK A COUPLE TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IN 2007. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND IT LOOKS LIKE MY AVEO IS NOT ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS, I?D LIKE GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OR TO TAKE THE CAR BACK, I DON?T FEEL SAFE ANYMORE WITH DRIVING THIS CAR! THANK YOU! *TR
Official recalls
114V261000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 19, 2014
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo vehicles equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the center console in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the DRL module melts due to the heat generation, it could cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a revised DRL module, inspect the wiring connector for heat damage, and clean the DRL circuit grounds. Owners were sent interim notices on August 14, 2014. The recall began on February 6, 2015. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14236.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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