PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF STAYS ON ALL THE TIMES.
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 →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
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.
What owners actually said
163 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED RIBS INJURIES, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE AND HEAD INJURIES, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT HAND AND NECK INJURIES. MEDICAL …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED RIBS INJURIES, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE AND HEAD INJURIES, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT HAND AND NECK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,164.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WAS TOLD PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG PROBLEM ARE COMMON ON THE 2008 CHEVY AVEO. I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR A COMMUTER CAR. LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 25,000 MILES. HARDLY EVER HAVE A PASSENGER IN THIS CAR. CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BY THE INCREDIBLE LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, IT…
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AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WAS TOLD PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG PROBLEM ARE COMMON ON THE 2008 CHEVY AVEO. I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR A COMMUTER CAR. LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 25,000 MILES. HARDLY EVER HAVE A PASSENGER IN THIS CAR. CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BY THE INCREDIBLE LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
DRIVERS SIDE WIPER IS COMMING LOOSE. HAS AN INCH OF TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH ON ITS SPINDLE. HAS 3 INCHES OF TRAVEL AT THE WIPER END. UNKNOWN DATE OF OCCURENCE.
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. THERBY DISABLING AIRBAG FUNCTIONALITY. DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A RECAL ALREADY. BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED A RECALL ON PRIOR YEARS. HEADLIGHT PLASTIC DETERIORATION. PLASTIC HAS CRUMBLED AND WILL SOON MAKE VISIBILITY UNSAFE.
THIS 2008 CAR HAD 30,985 MILES ON IT WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE MAIN DASH WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. ON 10/19/16 THE GM DEALER SAID THAT IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY (CHECKED OUT OK IN LATE JULY) AND POSSIBLY A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER…
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THIS 2008 CAR HAD 30,985 MILES ON IT WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE MAIN DASH WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. ON 10/19/16 THE GM DEALER SAID THAT IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY (CHECKED OUT OK IN LATE JULY) AND POSSIBLY A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE (THE ENTIRE SEAT BOTTOM). THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE LIGHTS WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL 11/12/16. THE SENSOR/SEAT HAD TO BE PREPAID FOR $1,195 AND THE WORK WAS DONE BY THE DEALER ON 11/15/16 FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1,386. I SAVED THE OLD PART. AS OF 12/9/16 THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. THE CAR WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS WHEN THIS OCCURED. IT WAS PARKED ON FRIDAY AND NOT USED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. ON THAT MONDAY MORNING, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON SINCE THEN.
THE KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION EVEN WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND DRIVING. I DROVE THE CAR AND THOUGHT I TURNED IT OFF ALL THE WAY - TURNS OUT THERE WAS ANOTHER 'CLICK' TO TURN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY OFF. ENGINE ALSO CLICKS AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, REPLACED BULBS ONLY TO REALIZE THE CONNECTORS WERE MELTED…
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THE KEY COMES OUT OF THE IGNITION EVEN WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND DRIVING. I DROVE THE CAR AND THOUGHT I TURNED IT OFF ALL THE WAY - TURNS OUT THERE WAS ANOTHER 'CLICK' TO TURN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY OFF. ENGINE ALSO CLICKS AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, REPLACED BULBS ONLY TO REALIZE THE CONNECTORS WERE MELTED, BULBS BEING BLOWN ARE NOT THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM I CAME ACROSS RECALLS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE MODEL I CAME ACROSS A RECALL FROM 2014 (DOCUMENTS ON THIS SITE) THAT SAID ALL 2008 CHEVY AVEO'S WERE AFFECTED. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP IN MAY, 2014 - I DON'T BELIEVE THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD GIVEN THE ISSUES AND RECALL NOTICES OUT AT THE TIME. I ONLY FOUND OUT THIS WEEK (SEPT 2016) ABOUT THE ISSUES. HOWEVER WHEN CALLING GM AND A CHEVY DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUE CAN CAUSE FIRES. THIS IS A PROBLEM! THE CAR GOES INTO BRYNER CHEVROLET TOMORROW SEPT 29, 2016 FOR A SERVICE APPOINTMENT.
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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