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2011 Chevrolet Aveo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo are lower than the model-year median of 169.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

64 reports with mileage · 13 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.

  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

15 reports
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76,000 miles · Jan 2, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

I HAVE BEEN TO THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME OUT OF NOWHERE IT STARTED SMOKING WHITE SMOKE AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE AND COME TO FIND OUT THE TUBING IN THE CAR HAD EXPLODED. THEN GOT EVERYTHING FIXED AND NOW STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING AND WHITE SMOKE BUT NOW A BURNING SMELL. I…

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I HAVE BEEN TO THE SHOP SO MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME OUT OF NOWHERE IT STARTED SMOKING WHITE SMOKE AND OVERHEATED THE ENGINE AND COME TO FIND OUT THE TUBING IN THE CAR HAD EXPLODED. THEN GOT EVERYTHING FIXED AND NOW STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OVERHEATING AND WHITE SMOKE BUT NOW A BURNING SMELL. IT'S SOMETHING NEW EVERY TIME. I FOUND THIS RESPONSE O. YOUR WEBSITE WITH ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAS THIS CAR AND THIS HAPPENED TO MINE AS WELL: ' HOSES TO MY COOLING SYSTEM ALL BUSTED ONE AFTER ANOTHER WITH IN 5 DAY WE COULD SEE THE WEEK SPOT IN THE HOSE AFTER THY BUSTED,HAD THE THERMOSTAT CHANGED , IT ALSO BLOW MY HEAD GASKET' THIS IS ALSO HAPPENED AND I BARELY DRIVE IT. IT'S 5 MILES DOWN THE STREET WHERE I WORK WITH A 45MPH MAX SPEED LIMIT. I HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEOS AS WELL BUT CAN'T ATTACH IT

NHTSA ODI #11296778

131,996 miles · May 8, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

ARRIVED AT HOME PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND MY KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND UNABLE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF. HAD TO PULL FUSE TO THE COMPUTER AND DISCONNECT NEGATIVE SIDE OF BATTERY. TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY ADVISED NO COMMUNICATION WITH SHIFTER. SHOP DRILLED OUT MY OLD IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND REPLACED WITH A NEW KEY LOCK CYLINDER. S…

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ARRIVED AT HOME PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND MY KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND UNABLE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF. HAD TO PULL FUSE TO THE COMPUTER AND DISCONNECT NEGATIVE SIDE OF BATTERY. TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY ADVISED NO COMMUNICATION WITH SHIFTER. SHOP DRILLED OUT MY OLD IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND REPLACED WITH A NEW KEY LOCK CYLINDER. SEEMS TO BE WORKING AS OF NOW AFTER A $518.74 BILL.

NHTSA ODI #11206278

180,000 miles · Jul 9, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE IGNITION SWITCH SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUSE OR THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND THE IGNITION SWITCH SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FUSE OR THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA ODI #11110281

82,000 miles · Jun 26, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AND WORSENED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SHELLWORTH CHEVROLET, 631 ORANGE DRIVE, VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95687) WHERE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED AND WORSENED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (SHELLWORTH CHEVROLET, 631 ORANGE DRIVE, VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA 95687) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI #11104108

80,000 miles · Jul 28, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 4 TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIVING IT WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN. SO THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENS I AM ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENTIRE CAR JUST …

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I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING 4 TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE DRIVING IT WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN. SO THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENS I AM ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENTIRE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN AND I AM TRYING TO COAST TO SAFETY. IMAGINE THAT NOT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. RECENTLY I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ANOTHER PERSON WHO OWNS THE SAME EXACT CAR AND HE TOLD ME THAT HIS CAR HAS SHUT DOWN JUST LIKE THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SO IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME AND ANOTHER RANDOM PERSON THAT I AM SPEAKING WITH I AM WONDERING WHY THIS CAR IS NOT BEING RECALLED. I AM AFRAID THAT I AM GOING TO DIE IN THAT CAR HOW SAFE CAN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND HAVE YOUR CAR SUDDENTLY SHUT DOWN WITH CARS FLYING PAST YOU AT 70 OR 80 MILES AN HOURS BE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR. I SEE BELOW THAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR SPECIFIC DATES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED I DO NOT KNOW THOSE EXACT DATES SO I WILL PICK A DATE.

NHTSA ODI #11011216

66,000 miles · Apr 27, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OTHER WARNING INDICATORS THAT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OTHER WARNING INDICATORS THAT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 07/11/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10981122

54,100 miles · Jun 9, 2016
Electrical System

ALL MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND MY AC WENT OUT ABOUT THE SAME TIME I TOOK IT FOR A OIL CHANGE AND THIS IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME WHEN THE CHECKED OUT MY CAR I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN ON A FIXED INCOME AND DID NOT WANT TO HEAR THIS I'M WONDERING IF MY WARRANTIES IS STILL VALID.

NHTSA ODI #10873528

68,000 miles · Apr 7, 2016
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR STRUGGLES TO ACCELERATE AND CAN BARELY GO OVER 40 MPH. WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE GAR SHAKES AND STUTTERS UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE CAR RANDOMLY STUTTERS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS TERRIBLE FUEL ECONOMY AND LITERALLY YOUR FOOT CAN HAVE THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND YOU CAN BARELY REACH OVER 30 MPH, THE …

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THE CAR STRUGGLES TO ACCELERATE AND CAN BARELY GO OVER 40 MPH. WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL THE GAR SHAKES AND STUTTERS UNCONTROLLABLY AND THE CAR RANDOMLY STUTTERS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS TERRIBLE FUEL ECONOMY AND LITERALLY YOUR FOOT CAN HAVE THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND YOU CAN BARELY REACH OVER 30 MPH, THE ISSUE PROGRESSES AND GETS WORSE WITH TIME. THE CAR IS BARELY DRIVABLE AND PLACES THE DRIVER AT RISK OF BEING RUN OFF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10853952

98,350 miles · Jan 6, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN ERRATIC SIGNAL, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,350…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING AN ERRATIC SIGNAL, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,350.

NHTSA ODI #10818543

75,980 miles · Jul 26, 2014
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10616549

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.