HAD TO REPLACE SUSPENSION TIE RODS, PO171 STRUTS, TIRES 3 TIMES AND NOW A VACUUM LEAK. BOUGHT CAR IN 2010. CAR HESITATES WHEN DRIVING AND TAKE OFF.
2009 Chevrolet Aveo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 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
144 reports with mileage · 25 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 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
50 reportsMY DASHBOARD LIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT, AT THE SAME TIME THE RIGHT TAILGATE LIGHT AND THE FRONT RIGHT LIGHT WENT OFF. I CHECKED ONLINE AND A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A WIRING ISSUE
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAIN ON AND BRINKS, ALSO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS WENT OUT IT EFFECTS DOORS AND PANEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND REMOVING THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAG…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND REMOVING THE KEY OUT THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
SINCE I GOT MY AVEO5 LS IN 2013. I HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS SINCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THINKING MY AIR BAGS DON'T WORK AT ALL. THE CLOCK DOESN'T KEEP SET. THE FLEX TUBE NEEDS BE REPLACED EVERY MONTH. MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS NEED TO REPLACE TWO TIMES A MONTH OR MORE. THEN TO FIND OUT I ALMOST HAD A FIRE WITH MY HEADLIGHT PLUG IS…
Read full complaint
SINCE I GOT MY AVEO5 LS IN 2013. I HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS SINCE THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THINKING MY AIR BAGS DON'T WORK AT ALL. THE CLOCK DOESN'T KEEP SET. THE FLEX TUBE NEEDS BE REPLACED EVERY MONTH. MY HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS NEED TO REPLACE TWO TIMES A MONTH OR MORE. THEN TO FIND OUT I ALMOST HAD A FIRE WITH MY HEADLIGHT PLUG IS MELTED CRISPY BLACK, NOW MY HEADLIGHT DON'T WORK AS WELL. THE MODULE BEHIND PASSENGER SIDE BACK ALWAYS NEED TO REPLACE ESPECIALLY IN WINTER. I HAD MY CAR FOR 3 YEARS AND MY PAINT HAS BEEN COMING OFF DUE TO FACTORY PAINT PROBLEM. NOW I CAN NOT KEEP ENGINE LIGHT OFF SINCE I GOT MY CAR, I THINK I PUT MORE MONEY IN BUYING PARTS THEN I PAID FOR THE CAR. GM DID A VERY POOR DESIGN FOR THIS MODEL
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE COPY OF A LETTER TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARDING A COMPLAINT AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN MARCH 2011, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY…
Read full complaint
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM CONSTITUENT RE COPY OF A LETTER TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARDING A COMPLAINT AGAINST GENERAL MOTORS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN MARCH 2011, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER STEERING AND THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED INTO 2012. IN MAY 2014, DUE TO THE EXISTING PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. ALSO, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB UPDATED 10/05/15.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO MOVE FROM THE ON POSITION INTO THE OFF POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THA…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO DISENGAGE FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY FAILED TO MOVE FROM THE ON POSITION INTO THE OFF POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOUSING CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,087.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH TURNED TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
LETS START FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR MY AIR BAG LIGHT AND CLOCK LIGHT WILL GO IN AND OUT OVER BUMPS MORE THE AIR BAG LIGHT. NOW AND STILL THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH IS ON AND PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ABOVE THE CLOCK SAYS OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. 2ND MY TAIL LIGHTS I GO THREW THEM LIKE WATER. 3R…
Read full complaint
LETS START FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR MY AIR BAG LIGHT AND CLOCK LIGHT WILL GO IN AND OUT OVER BUMPS MORE THE AIR BAG LIGHT. NOW AND STILL THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH IS ON AND PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ABOVE THE CLOCK SAYS OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. 2ND MY TAIL LIGHTS I GO THREW THEM LIKE WATER. 3RD THE THING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK RIGHT NEXT TO THE TIRE EVERY WINTER I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WIRES OR THE WHOLE THING BRAKING. 3RD ITS SAYS GOOD GAS MILEAGE YA RIGHT. THE GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK PROPER RAN OUTTA GAS A FEW TIMES. I HAVE REPLACE BATTERY AND SPARK PLUGS NOW I HAVING ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE LIGHT ON THE ENGINE IS RIDING ROUGH MY WHOLE CAR IS SHAKING I CAN NOT GO TO SPEED EVEN WHEN THE GAS PETAL IS TO THE FLOOR. I SEE A RECALL AND NOW ITS CLOSED THE RECALL SAYS DEGRADED CONNECTION BETWEEN IGNITION COIL SPARK PLUG BOOTS AND SPARK PLUGS. PRETTY SURE THAT'S THE CAUSE. MY BODY PAINT IS COMING OFF. IT STARTED COMING OFF NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT . SOMETIMES THE RADIO AND CLOCK WITH AIR PASSENGER LIGHT SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE ONSTAR STOP WORKING ALL TOGETHER. THE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK TO WELL UNLESS HIGH. MY OVERALL OF THIS CAR IS A MONEY HOG TO KEEP FIXING PARTS. *TR
1ST INCIDENT: WAS ON INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR IN ST. PAUL, MN W/ 2 TODDLERS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED BUCKING AND THEN SHUT OFF. I WAS IN THE 2ND LEFT LANE ON 4 LANE SO I HAD TO COAST TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER W/ NO POWER STEERING AND NO ACCELERATION ALMOST GETTING HIT BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES. TOOK FOUR HOURS F…
Read full complaint
1ST INCIDENT: WAS ON INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR IN ST. PAUL, MN W/ 2 TODDLERS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED BUCKING AND THEN SHUT OFF. I WAS IN THE 2ND LEFT LANE ON 4 LANE SO I HAD TO COAST TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER W/ NO POWER STEERING AND NO ACCELERATION ALMOST GETTING HIT BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES. TOOK FOUR HOURS FOR TOW TRUCK. . 3 WEEKS FOR THE FUEL PUMP TO BE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW W/ LESS THAN 3000 MILES ON IT AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE SPARE PARTS FOR IT. ALSO, DISCOVERED THAT THE ONSTAR WASN'T CONNECTED EVEN THOUGH I WAS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE A FREE YEAR. IT WOULDN'T EVEN COME ON. THEY FIXED THAT AT THE SAME TIME AS THE FUEL PUMP BUT THEN WHEN I GOT IT BACK I NOTICED MY CLOCK WOULDN'T KEEP TIME AND THE ONSTAR WASN'T SHOWING THE FREE YEAR WHICH NEVER GOT RESOLVED. THE DEALER SAID THEY WASN'T SURE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CLOCK BUT THE REPLACED SOME FUSES, ETC. TO THIS DAY IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. 2ND INCIDENT WHICH IS STILL ONGOING: DASH AND RADIO FUSES RANDOMLY BLOW, CAR EATS COIL PACKS AND SPARK PLUGS EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. AT RED LIGHTS/EXTENDED STOPS IT WILL START IDLING ROUGHLY AND USUALLY WILL SHUT OFF. CAR WILL SOMETIMES NOT ACCELERATE AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL SHOOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET W/ A MILD PRESS OF GAS PEDAL. GAS MILEAGE IS A JOKE, I'M LUCKY TO GET 20/MPG. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO 3 CHEVY DEALER MECHANICS AND 2 INDEPENDENTS AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG OTHER THAN 'ELECTRICAL' SAYING I COULD REPLACE THE COMPUTER AND WIRING HARNESS BUT THAT IS NOT A GUARANTEED FIX AND AT ALMOST $2500 NOT WORTH IT AT THIS POINT. I WILL JUST BE SO GLAD TO HAVE THIS THING PAID OFF IN A FEW MONTHS (BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW W/ 43 MILES ON IT) SO I CAN SELL OR TRADE IT IN THOUGH EVERY DEALER I'VE APPROACHED ABOUT TRADING IT IN TELLS ME THEY DO NOT ACCEPT THEM B/C OF 'KNOWN' PROBLEMS IN THE AUTO COMMUNITY. 2 WRECKS, AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, FRONT & REAR. *TR
Official recalls
114V460000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid
Jul 29, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 Pontiac G3 vehicles. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the valves inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, affecting the closing motion of the valves.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the ABS valve corrodes it may result in longer brake pedal travel or reduced performance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module, free of charge, in any vehicle that did not have its module replaced under a previous customer satisfaction campaign. The recall began in late September 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac). GM's number for this recall is 14505.
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.
Illustration