← New search

2008 Chevrolet Aveo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 169.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

133 reports with mileage · 30 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports16 fire reports14 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

44 reports
Clear category filter
34,000 miles · Sep 27, 2012
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE DRIVER AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE AIRBAG IS NO LONGER ENGAGED, WHICH IS INDICATED BY THE DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING ON WHILE THE ENGINE IS TURNED ON. THE DASH LIGHT, PASSENGER TAIL LAMP AND THE PASSENGER FOG LIGHT ALL STOPPED WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY. PASSENGER TAIL LAMP DOESN'T WORK EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE BULB…

Read full complaint

THE DRIVER AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE AIRBAG IS NO LONGER ENGAGED, WHICH IS INDICATED BY THE DRIVER AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINING ON WHILE THE ENGINE IS TURNED ON. THE DASH LIGHT, PASSENGER TAIL LAMP AND THE PASSENGER FOG LIGHT ALL STOPPED WORKING SIMULTANEOUSLY. PASSENGER TAIL LAMP DOESN'T WORK EVEN AFTER REPLACING THE BULBS, WHICH SUGGESTS THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477235

50,000 miles · Apr 19, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE WHERE MY HUSBAND WORKS, A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR. THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE, THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. A GIANT HOLE - BIGGER THAN A BOWLING BALL WAS LEFT IN THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WE STILL HAD 23 PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. SINCE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DESTRO…

Read full complaint

WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE WHERE MY HUSBAND WORKS, A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR. THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE, THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. A GIANT HOLE - BIGGER THAN A BOWLING BALL WAS LEFT IN THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WE STILL HAD 23 PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. SINCE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED, NO DIAGNOSTICS WERE RUN, AND NO ASSISTANCE WITH TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAPPENED OR IF IT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WAS OFFERED. PRIOR TO THIS, NOTHING INDICATED A PROBLEM. I'M JUST GLAD WE WEREN'T DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OR I MIGHT NOT BE HERE TO WRITE THIS. UPDATED 05/17/12 *BF *JS

NHTSA ODI #10455733

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2011
Electrical System

SINCE PURCHASE OF MY 2008 CHEVY AVEO I HAVE EXPERIENCED STRANGE AND INCONSISTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM NO LONGER DRIVING THE CAR, AND GM NEVER FIGURED OUT THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO YOU GUYS TAKING THE CAR, FINDING THE CENTRAL ISSUE (BECAUSE NOBODY CAN) TO FIND OUT IF IT IS WORTH…

Read full complaint

SINCE PURCHASE OF MY 2008 CHEVY AVEO I HAVE EXPERIENCED STRANGE AND INCONSISTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM NO LONGER DRIVING THE CAR, AND GM NEVER FIGURED OUT THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD LEAD TO YOU GUYS TAKING THE CAR, FINDING THE CENTRAL ISSUE (BECAUSE NOBODY CAN) TO FIND OUT IF IT IS WORTHY OF A NATIONAL RECALL!

NHTSA ODI #10414328

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2009
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

CHEVY AVEO 2008 BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY 18 2009 STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A DEFECT IN IT AND THE CAR SALESMAN DID NOT REPORT IT TO US WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE FAILURE IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. I CAN NOT SEE AT NIGHT HOW FAST I AM GOING, CAN'T SEE MY GA…

Read full complaint

CHEVY AVEO 2008 BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY 18 2009 STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A DEFECT IN IT AND THE CAR SALESMAN DID NOT REPORT IT TO US WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE FAILURE IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. I CAN NOT SEE AT NIGHT HOW FAST I AM GOING, CAN'T SEE MY GAUGES, OR WHEN I AM SHIFTING INTO DRIVE ETC. I FEEL IT IS VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY DRIVING AT NIGHT. I DID READ THAT CHEVY AVEO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL AFTER BUYING THE CAR. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE IS THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND IT WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION HERE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. THE FAILURE TO FIX THE NEEDED REPAIR CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND BE DANGER TO OTHERS. CORRECT THE PROBLEM......I REPORTED IT TO THE SALESMAN ON MAY 20 AND WAS REFERRED TO SERVICE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED DOWN AND 2 MONTHS LATER THE SERVICE DEPT. OPEN. THE WRONG PART WAS ORDERED AND IT IS OVER 3 MONTHS THE CAR STILL NOT FIXED...THE SERVICE DEPT WILL CLOSE DOWN THIS FRIDAY ON NOV. 13 2009. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH COSTUMER ASSISTANCE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE SERVICE DEPT LOCALLY BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING AS IT MIGHT TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS OR A YEAR NO TIME FRAME ACCORDING TO CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FROM GMC. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291907

Official recalls

1

14V261000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.