Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Chevrolet Aveo problems

Owners filed 169 complaints about the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo with NHTSA between Jul 2009 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (50).

Complaints
169
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system50
  2. Engine36
  3. Engine and engine cooling29
  4. Suspension22
  5. Vehicle speed control22
  6. Air bags16
  7. Power train14
  8. Fuel system, gasoline12
  9. Exterior lighting10
  10. Steering9
  11. Tires9
  12. Wheels7
  13. Fuel/propulsion system6
  14. Service brakes6

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20096
201019
201119
201216
201317
201443
201516
201616
20175
20185
20195
20201
20210
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

50 reports3 crashes1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2024Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 11567280

Engine

36 reports1 fire
“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!!!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2020EngineODI 11302225

Engine and engine cooling

29 reports
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2014Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10606850

Suspension

22 reports1 crash
“LAST YEAR I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED, ON I85 COMING FROM DURHAM THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME GO NO MORE THAN 20MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN GONE BAD REPLACED IT SEVERAL TIME AND I'M STILL HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE BREAK LINE RUPTURING WHILE COMING FROM RALEIGHI KEEP GOOD MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR TO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND YESTERDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN PLEASE PUT THIS CAR ON RECALL. THIS CAR HAS STRESSED ME TO THE MAX AND I CAN'T GO PLACES I WANT ANYMORE!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2019Suspension, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11207031

Vehicle speed control

22 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MOST OF THE TIME OR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2018Vehicle speed controlODI 11139608

Air bags

16 reports10 crashes2 fires
“OUR SON HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGH I -49 N, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BREAK. HE SUBSTAINED HEAD ,NECK TRAUMA , BACK AND LEG IN THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 22, 2019Air bags, WheelsCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11281877
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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