Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Aveo engine problems

36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo cite engine, 21% of all 169 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
36
21% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, US ROUTE 93 AT EXIT 33, SOUTH IN MASSACHUSETTS, AND BURNT AND THE GAS TANK EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT PRECEDING THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2018Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11082677
“YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT ANYWHERE IT RUNS RIGHT THEN FOR NO REASON IT LOOSE POWER AND WON'T ACCALRATE WHILE DRIVING IT WILL DROP BELOW 10 MPH IN TRAFFIC OR LOSE ALL POWER WHILE CROSSING ROAD OR TURNING I'M AFEEAD I'LL B HIT IN SIDE OR RAN OVER IN TRAFFIC.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2017Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 10991383
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO STALL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,432.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2016Electrical system, EngineODI 10934685
“ENGINE KEEPS OVERHEATING. TWO BLOWN HEAD GASKETS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. HOSES BURST WITH NO WARNING OR PRIOR DAMAGE, CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. ENGINE IS BUILDING PRESSURE FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON. MECHANIC IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE ROOT OF THE OVERHEATING. REPLACED THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, MULTIPLE HOSES, TWO HEAD GASKETS AND IT IS STILL OVERHEATING AND RUNNING HOT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2016EngineODI 10917478
“LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. PERSISTENT PROBLEM (SINCE 2012): ENGINE SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD BEFORE EACH OCCURRENCE. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. ON 08/17/2016 AROUND 11:45 A.M. CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING ON THE MIDDLE OF A MULTI-LANE (6+) HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL DOWN THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW (IT WORKED ) ON THE DRIVER SIDE, I PRESSED THE WARNING LIGHT (IT WORKED). AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS CAR STARTED, AND I DROVE AWAY. THE CAR WORKED WELL FOR A WHILE, TOOK SIDE ROADS(35MPH SPEED LIMIT). CAR SHUT OFF BY ITSELF A SECOND TIME. I WAS ABLE TO RESTARTED AND MADE IT TO A SAFE LOCATION. I HAVE REPORTED THIS LAST SITUATION TO CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, AND ONLY AFTER PRESSURING THEY PROVIDED A 100.00 DOLLAR COUPON TO GET THE CAR CHECKED. CHEVROLET CLAIMS THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ON MY CAR'S RECORD OF SHUTTING DOWN BY ITSELF, THAT THEY DEALER ONLY REPORTS THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE DEALER INVOICES FROM 2012 READS: "VEHICLE STALLED", " ANOTHER INVOICE READS "CAR DIED ONCE", ETC. AND ON THE NOTES IT INCLUDES "UNABLE TO REPLICATE CLIENTS CONCERNS". JUST BECAUSE THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2016Electrical system, Unknown or other, EngineODI 10897291

Showing 6 of 36 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.