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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.

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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.

13 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

50 reports
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55,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

BACK IN 2010, CAR SHUT OFF WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO FREEWAY. TOOK INTO CHEVY, COULD NOT DUPLICATE & DIDN'T FIX. HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES OVER 2 YEARS, FINALLY TOOK IT IN 2012. DEALERSHIP SHOP SAID IT WAS A FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR IN FUEL LINE. HAPPENED ON LISTED DATE OF INCIDENT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, DRIVING LESS THAN 20MPH. VEHICLE CO…

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BACK IN 2010, CAR SHUT OFF WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO FREEWAY. TOOK INTO CHEVY, COULD NOT DUPLICATE & DIDN'T FIX. HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES OVER 2 YEARS, FINALLY TOOK IT IN 2012. DEALERSHIP SHOP SAID IT WAS A FAULTY OXYGEN SENSOR IN FUEL LINE. HAPPENED ON LISTED DATE OF INCIDENT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, DRIVING LESS THAN 20MPH. VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAVE NOT TAKEN IT BACK TO BE LOOKED AT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588928

3,000 miles · Apr 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

GOT THIS CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT WITH ONLY 43 MILES ON IT. AROUND 3000 MILES I HAD MY FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM. I WAS GOING DOWN I-95 IN ST. PAUL, MN AT AROUND 75 MILES/HR AND THE CAR JERKED THEN CUT OFF. MIND YOU THIS IS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND I HAD 2 TODDLERS IN THE CAR WITH ME. WE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY AN 18 WHEELER BEFORE I C…

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GOT THIS CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT WITH ONLY 43 MILES ON IT. AROUND 3000 MILES I HAD MY FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM. I WAS GOING DOWN I-95 IN ST. PAUL, MN AT AROUND 75 MILES/HR AND THE CAR JERKED THEN CUT OFF. MIND YOU THIS IS RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND I HAD 2 TODDLERS IN THE CAR WITH ME. WE ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY AN 18 WHEELER BEFORE I COULD GET THE CAR TO DRIFT TO SHOULDER. TOOK 3 WEEKS TO FIX THE FUEL PUMP BC THE CAR WAS SO NEW THEY HAD NOT MADE EXTRA PARTS YET. ABOUT A YEAR LATER I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS- ONSTAR NOT WORKING OR RANDOMLY TURNING ON, CLOCK RESETTING ITSELF TO RANDOM TIMES, DASH LIGHTS EITHER GOING OUT OR ALL STAYING ON, HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY WORKING, AND OF COURSE I TOOK TO 2 DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALERS AND NEITHER COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG ONLY THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY =/ ONCE THE CAR TURNED 4 YEARS ON IT HAS BEGUN EATING FUSES AND COIL PACKS. THIS IS AFTER THE COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS/BOOTS PUT ON BY CHEVY AFTER THAT RECALL. IT IS EATING COIL PACKS EVERY 4-6 MONTHS AND AT 150-200$ A POP IT IS EXPENSIVE ESPECIALLY ONCE YOU FACTOR IN MECHANIC LABOR. I HATE THIS CAR AND WISH I NEVER GOT IT. I MISS MY 96 DODGE CARAVAN WITH THE OIL LEAK AND MANUAL WINDOWS. I FELT MUCH SAFER IN THAT OLD VAN AND IT WAS MORE RELIABLE- IT NEVER LEFT ME EVEN WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CHEVROLET SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR PUTTING THEIR NAME ON A NOW DEFUNCT POS FOREIGN DAEWOO CRAP AND SELLING IT TO US AS AMERICAN MADE. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING MADE IN NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE A FEW PARTS MADE IN MEXICO BUT MOST ARE KOREAN MADE. I WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN IT IF I HAD GLIMPSED THOSE DAEWOO STAMPS UNDER THE HOOD, TRUNK, AND CAR JAMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578565

77,600 miles · Mar 27, 2014
Electrical System

STALLED AT INTERSECTION. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AS REQUIRING ECM PROGRAMMED. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DEALERSHIP CHARGED A SERVICE FEE FOR REPROGRAMMING ECM AT A COST OF $250. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575134

36,000 miles · Mar 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

THE CAR LOST POWER FOR NO REASON . IT DID NOT FULLY STALL BUT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD, BARELY GO, THEN RECOVER SLIGHTLY. THIS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AND WAS FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. THE BATTERY LIGHT BEGAN TO GO OFF AND ON. MECHANICS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND BATTERY OK. IN NOVEMBER, CAR LOST…

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THE CAR LOST POWER FOR NO REASON . IT DID NOT FULLY STALL BUT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND. IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD, BARELY GO, THEN RECOVER SLIGHTLY. THIS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY AND WAS FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. THE BATTERY LIGHT BEGAN TO GO OFF AND ON. MECHANICS COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND BATTERY OK. IN NOVEMBER, CAR LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC, ALMOST HAD WRECK, BARELY MADE IT TO SHOP. "STRANGELY SWOLLEN" BATTERY FOUND AND REPLACED. COMPUTER AND ALL SYSTEMS CHECKED. INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN. BACK IN SHOP. CLUTCH REPLACED, TUBE REPLACED IN ENGINE, ETC. COST $ 1500. CAR SEEMED TO RUN FINE BUT ONLY FOR DAYS. BEGAN DOING SAME THING AGAIN. BUT WHEN I TAKE IT TO MECHANICS, CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE PROBLEM COMES AND GOES. IT SEEMED TO POSSIBLY BE TRIGGERED AND HAPPENED MORE OFTEN IF I USED ONSTAR BUILT IN PHONE. HAD IT TURNED OFF AND THOUGHT THAT SOMEHOW FIXED PROBLEM BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN YESTERDAY IN TRAFFIC WITH MY 93 YR OLD MOM IN CAR. TERRIFYING.. CAN'T GET OUT OF WAY IF CAR COMING IN INTERSECTION. NO ONE HELPS ME FIND A SOLUTION. I CONTACTED GM ONLINE THEY SAID THEY KNOW OF NO SUCH PROBLEM. HUNDREDS OF POSTS ONLINE FROM AVEO OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE IF THIS ISN'T MADE PUBLIC.. WE NEED A RECALL . HELP PLEASE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568002

22,600 miles · Aug 2, 2013
Electrical System

AFTER GETTING THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR FIXED(AFTER 3 MONTHS) I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. NO AIR CONDITIONING,90 DEGREE DAY. TOOK THE CAR TO COASTAL CHEVROLET IN PAWLEYS ISLAND SC WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 300.00 TO REMOVE DASH INSTRUMENTS TO JUST GET PART NUMBER FOR GAUGE.THEN THEY COULD …

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AFTER GETTING THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR FIXED(AFTER 3 MONTHS) I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOPPED WORKING. NO AIR CONDITIONING,90 DEGREE DAY. TOOK THE CAR TO COASTAL CHEVROLET IN PAWLEYS ISLAND SC WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 300.00 TO REMOVE DASH INSTRUMENTS TO JUST GET PART NUMBER FOR GAUGE.THEN THEY COULD TELL ME COST OF PART,ANOTHER 300.00 TO REMOVE INSTRUMENTS AGAIN TO REPLACE PART(OF UNKNOWN COST).GM ONCE AGAIN RELUCTANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH SHODDY DESIGN WORK,NO MORE GOOD WILL WORK FROM DEALERSHIP.RETIRED,HOW DO I PAY FOR A 700.00 TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON A CAR WITH 22,640 MILES? I AM SO STRESSED,THIS CAR IS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE,AND I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO KEEP IT IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.THERE HAS TO BE AN ANSWER FOR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE CAUGHT IN SUCH A MESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10533304

74,831 miles · Jul 18, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE AVEO LT WAS ON I-85 RAMP DOWNTOWN ATLANTA TRYING TO BUILD SPEED WHEN IT STALLED AT AN AREA WHERE THERE IS LITTLE SIDE ACCESS. CAR COOLED OFF AND WAS RE CRANKED AND BROUGHT TO NORTH END OF ATLANTA FOR FURTHER INSPECTIONS TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED. CAR RPMS WERE NOTED TO VARY UP AND DOWN AND THEN STALLED WITHOU…

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THE AVEO LT WAS ON I-85 RAMP DOWNTOWN ATLANTA TRYING TO BUILD SPEED WHEN IT STALLED AT AN AREA WHERE THERE IS LITTLE SIDE ACCESS. CAR COOLED OFF AND WAS RE CRANKED AND BROUGHT TO NORTH END OF ATLANTA FOR FURTHER INSPECTIONS TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM COULD BE DUPLICATED. CAR RPMS WERE NOTED TO VARY UP AND DOWN AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION WHERE IT WAS ALMOST T-BONED ON PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL BLVD NORCROSS, GA WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 55 MPH. MULTIPLE OBD CODES WERE EXTRACTED ( A TOTAL OF 6 ) . CAR WAS FURTHER EXAMINED BY ASE MECHANIC SHOP THAT STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ECM LOSES COMMUNICATION WITH SENSORS AND OTHER COMPUTERS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. ASE MECHANIC STATES THAT ECM SHOULD BE REPLACED. GM CAR DEALER ( RICK HENDRIX GMC - DULUTH, GEORGIA ) STATES THAT GM PROCEDURE IS TO APPLY SB PIP4789C REPLACING FRONT O2 SENSOR AS A STARTING POINT TO REPAIR CAR USING A NEWER O2 SENSOR THAT WAS MADE LATER THAN A CERTAIN DATE AND TO UPDATE ECM WITH NEWER SOFTWARE. GM DEALER STATES THERE IS NO NEED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND TO REVIEW USING A SCANNING TOOL AS THE GM PROCEDURE IS TO BE USED AND WILL BE ADEQUATE. THIS SITUATION IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS. IF A SIMPLE O2 SENSOR COULD SUDDENLY COULD CAUSE A KNOWN PROBLEM OF THIS TYPE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GM SB THEN IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE 8/80K EMISSIONS WARRANTY. IF THE ECM CAN LOSE COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS AND CAUSE A PROBLEM OF THIS TYPE THAT SHOULD NOT ONLY BE COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS BUT IT SHOULD ALSO BE PLACED ON RECALL. AS AN ENGINEER WITH 36 YEARS EXPERIENCE I AM APPALLED.AT A FAILURE OF THIS TYPE. A PERSON CAN BE PSYCHOLOGICALLY CONDITIONED THAT THEIR CAR IS RUNNING FINE AND THEN AT THE NEXT MOMENT IT COMPLETELY STALLS AND MAY NOT ALLOW THEM TO CLEAR AN INTERSECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525619

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVE THE ONSTAR SYSTEM BUT IT FAILED TO CONNECT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVE THE ONSTAR SYSTEM BUT IT FAILED TO CONNECT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10524192

62,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Electrical System

CAR WOULD NOT START, NEEDLE GAUGES FLICKERING, INSIDE LIGHTS ON, DASH LIGHTS ON, BUT WOULD NOT START OR ALLOW VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP. TRIED JUMPING VEHICLE TWICE BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ HAVE BEEN EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR FROM THE GAS SURGES WHERE I…

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CAR WOULD NOT START, NEEDLE GAUGES FLICKERING, INSIDE LIGHTS ON, DASH LIGHTS ON, BUT WOULD NOT START OR ALLOW VEHICLE TO MOVE OUT OF PARK. CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS LOCKED UP. TRIED JUMPING VEHICLE TWICE BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ HAVE BEEN EXACTLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR FROM THE GAS SURGES WHERE I HAVE PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THE CAR WOULD HAVE NO POWER AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE HIT, TO THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING AND THEN SPONTANEOUS COMING ON. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR WORK AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR INCIDENTALS. I AM FIXING TO TRADE THIS IN FROM ALL THE NEGATIVE RESPONSES I HAVE READ. I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL STARTING A FIRE, THE CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN! NEVER HAVE SEEN NEEDLES MOVING ON GAUGES WHEN CAR IS COMPLETELY DISENGAGED WITH NO KEYS EVEN IN IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522548

1,900 miles · May 8, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine

MY STEP DAUGHTER BOUGHT A BRAND NEW AVEO 2009 IS HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 13 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL RUN FINE THEN WILL NOT GO OVER 20MPH THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE SHE IS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH HAS ALMOST CAUSED HER AND MY YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER TO BE INJURED. WHEN SHE STARTS THE CAR THE CLOCK WILL RESE…

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MY STEP DAUGHTER BOUGHT A BRAND NEW AVEO 2009 IS HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS 13 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL RUN FINE THEN WILL NOT GO OVER 20MPH THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE SHE IS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH HAS ALMOST CAUSED HER AND MY YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER TO BE INJURED. WHEN SHE STARTS THE CAR THE CLOCK WILL RESET ITS SELF TO 7:23 NO MATTER WHAT TIME IT IS THAT IS USUALLY THE FIRST SIGN IT IS GETTING READY TO TURN INTO A DEATH TRAP. O2 SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED CAR IS AGAIN IN SHOP THEY ARE TELLING HER THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS BUT THINK IT COULD BE THE O2 SENSER WANT 600.00 TO REPLACE. HER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT COME ON. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY. WE HAVE CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHERE SHE BOUGHT IT NO HELP FROM THEM. CONTACTED CHEVY ASKING THEM TO ADMIT IT IS A LEMON AND DO THE RIGHT THING NO HELP FROM THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511125

200 miles · Jan 11, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200.

NHTSA ODI #10492238

Official recalls

1

14V460000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.