NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 169 owner complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. Most complaints involve electrical system (50) and engine (36). The EPA rates it 28–30 mpg combined.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle shut off independently. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that they could not diagnose the vehicle because the vehicle failed to start. The dealer informed the contact that an unknown wiring harness might need to be installed to restart the vehicle; however, the part had been discontinued. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to GM Campaign Number: N110290. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.”
“MY 2009 CHEVY AVEO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE! THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH 89,000 MILES. IN IDLE, AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES, THE CAR WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY WITH NO PROBLEM THEN THE CAR SURGES, LOOSES POWER, THEN STALLED IN TRAFFIC. AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES OF SITTING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED THEN AFTER ABOUT 4 BLOCKS, LOST POWER AGAIN. THE CAR KEPT DYING & RESTARTING. FINALLY GOT HOME. TURNED THE CAR BACK ON , THE IDLE WAS GOING UP & DOWN, SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHILE IDLING IN PARK. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CHANGED, O2 SENSOR CHANGED, MASS AIR SENSOR CHANGED. AIR FILTER CLEAN. THIS CAR IS TERRIBLE. I WILL NEVER TRUST & BUY A CHEVY AGAIN!!!!! SHAME ON YOU CHEVY.! GET YOUR QUALITY CONTROL IN CHECK. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW TO STAY CLEAR OF CHEVY CARS!!!!!”
“I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT SOUTHBOUND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M. THE AVEO MALFUNCTIONED ON TURNING. I ENDED UP GOING SOUTHBOUND IN THE NORTHBOUND TURNING LANE AND WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED. I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR, CHANGE GEARS, TURN ON HEADLIGHTS, OR TURN ON FLASHERS TO WARN OTHER DRIVERS OF IMPENDING DANGER. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY STALLED WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WORKING - CONFIRMED BY POLICE, A FRIEND, AND WRECKER OPERATOR. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN PUSH THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION AS THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE/TURN. A MANUAL OVERRIDE WAS REQUIRED BY THE WRECKER OPERATOR TO EVEN LOAD THE CAR ONTO THE WRECKER. I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE A GOOD SAMARITAN PULL UP BEHIND ME AND PUT ON FLASHERS AND WAIT UNTIL THE POLICE ARRIVED AS WITHOUT LIGHTS OR FLASHERS, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE CAR STALLED IN THE WRONG LANE OF TRAFFIC - CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. IN THE WEEKS PRECEDING THIS COMPLETE MALFUNCTION, I HAD REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUB BEARINGS, BRAKES, TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. SHORTLY AFTER THE LAST REPAIR - REPLACING THE TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP - THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED WORKING AND RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE OF APPROX…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aveo Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 34 | 30 | $2,100 | 296 |
| Aveo 5 Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 34 | 30 | $2,100 | 296 |
| Aveo Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 28 | $2,200 | 317 |
| Aveo 5 Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.6 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 34 | 28 | $2,200 | 317 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 169 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (50), engine (36), engine and engine cooling (29). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo at 28–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).