Problems · by component

2008 Chevrolet Aveo electrical system problems

44 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo cite electrical system, 27% of all 163 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
44
27% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“There was no prior warnings or notices that there was an issue. While diving on a major road with my children, smoke started coming into the cabin from the vents, and around the stereo. Luckily I was near a very vacant parking lot and immediately pulled over. I removed the kids from the car safely and did open the hood to try troubleshoot the problem. There was no smoke anywhere under the hood. Immediately after, sparks started falling from under the steering wheel to the gas pedal. Immediately after that the car was engulfed in flames. The car is currently located at my local police impound and is available for inspection upon request. From the time the smoke started to when the car was engulfed, it was approximately 5 minutes. This could have been dangerous had we been on a highway and unable to pull over and get out of the car safely within that time. It was only inspected briefly by the fire department who arrived to put out the fire and they reported it was an electrical issue that caused the fire.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2024Electrical system, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11609379
“In-dash clock module contains the vehicle 'Check Engine Light' - required to pass inspection. Solder joints are defective ('cold' or cracked) creating intermittent electrical connections. Prevents warning of engine defects to driver. Solder defects eventually cause destruction of the module incurring unreimbursed denial of transport and expense to driver to repair.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2022Electrical systemODI 11449748
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM UNDER THE STEERING PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO AN ABNORMAL CHEMICAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO LUBRICATE THE WIRES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, REMOVE THE FUSES FROM THE FUSE PANEL, AND DO THE SAME WITH THE PROPER DI-ELECTRIC GREASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE PERFORMING THE LUBRICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2019Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11280257
“TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THEIR MOTHER WHO OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A WHITE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE RPMS VIOLENTLY INCREASED AND DECREASED. THE HAZARDS WERE ENGAGED AND MOMENTS LATER SMOKE WAS SCENE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2019Electrical system, EngineFire reportedODI 11218247
“CHEVROLET 4 DOOR AVEO. THE PASSENGER REAR TAILLIGHT WON'T WORK, THE LEFT SIDE WORKS, WAS LOOKING IT UP AND PEOPLE WAS SAYING THAT THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FUSEBOX UNDER THE HOOD WIRES, NEED TO SPLICE WIRES ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11132117
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. FURTHERMORE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GREY CHEVROLET (4949 HOVDE RD, PORT ORCHARD, WA 98367, (800) 803-8091) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND UNDERHOOD BUSSED ELECTRICAL CENTER FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,396. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2018Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11111925

Showing 6 of 44 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2008 Aveo problem areas