Problems · by component

2009 Chevrolet Aveo engine and engine cooling problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo cite engine and engine cooling, 17% of all 169 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
17% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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
“2011 CAR LOST ACCELERATION HOLD LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON HAD TO PUMP GAS PEDAL TO PREVENT CAR FROM CUTTING OFF . TOOK CAR TO CHEVY DEALER HAD TO PURCHASE WATER OR FUEL PUMP I FORGOT WHICH ONE. THEN RECEIVE RECALL FOR COIL. HAD THAT REPLACED FREE AT DEALER. 2012 INCIDENT, CAR LOST ACCELERATION AT SPEEDS OF 40MPH AGAIN HAD TO PUMP GAS PEDAL TO PREVENT CUT OFF. DID NOT TAKE TO DEALER ADDED GAS TREATMENT TO FUEL AND CHANGED GASOLINE BRANDS. PROBLEM SOLVED FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. LOST ACCELERATION AGAIN. CHANGED AIR FILTER CAR WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 2 DAYS. CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAR FOR NEXT SEVERAL YEARS WITH SAME PROBLEM. 2013 CAR NOT PRODUCING ANY HEAT ADDED ANTI-FREEZE, HEAT CAME OUT RIGHT AFTER. NEXT DAY NO HEAT AGAIN ANTI-FREEZE CONTAINER WAS EMPTY AGAIN. CONTINUED TO ADDED ANTI-FREEZE TO PREVENT CAR FROM RUNNING HOT. 2014 TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR ANTI-FREEZE PROBLEM THEY REPLACED THE CONTAINER AND CAP (PURCHASED SEPARATELY) AND FLUSHED THE RADIATOR COST $312. TWO WEEKS LATER CAR RAN HOT STEAM SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ANTI-FREEZE CONTAINER EMPTY AGAIN. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER WHERE IT IS NOW THEY TOLD ME I HAD BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND THAT IT WOULD COST…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10594059
“VEHICLE HAD OPEN RECALL ON OCTOBER 13TH, 2012; TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET TO FIX RECALL 11290, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING DUE TO AN OXYGEN INTAKE RELATED ISSUE. THE OPEN RECALL, WHICH IS WAS A DEFECTIVE EMISSIONS COMPONENT, IS, IN ADDITION TO THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, COVERED UNDER THE FEDERAL EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY AND FEDERAL EMISSIONS DEFECT WARRANTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE U.S FEDERAL CLEAN AIR ACT, AND BACKED BY CHEVROLET'S PROMISE TO "REPAIR AND/OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS IN MATERIAL AND WORKMANSHIP WHICH CAUSE VEHICLE TO FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THOSE REGULATIONS" (P20, 21), AND COVER "EMISSION RELATED DEFECTS IN THE GENUINE GM PARTS LISTED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY PARTS LIST, INCLUDING RELATED DIAGNOSTIC COSTS, PARTS, AND LABOR" (21). (CHEVROLET LIMITED WARRANTY AND OWNER ASSISTANCE INFORMATION). THE OXYGEN INTAKE RELATED ISSUE HOWEVER, WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND DIAGNOSTIC COSTS AND REPAIRS FOR THESE PARTS WERE, ACCORDING TO JOHN ELWAY CHEVROLET, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. SINCE OCTOBER 13TH, 2013 I HAVE HAD SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO NOT ONLY ABIDE BY THE CHEVROLET OWNER'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2013Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10552285
“DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION, MECHANIC NOTICED SLIGHT LOOSENESS IN THE TIE ROD CONNECTION; PASSED INSPECTION AND ASKED ME TO HAVE HIM CHECK DURING NEXT OIL CHANGE. WE DISCUSSED REPLACING THE TIE ROD IN ANY CASE WITH A BRAND WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY IN TWO MONTHS WHEN I WAS OFF FROM WORK. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAD TO HAVE RECALL WORK DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE ALL SPARK PLUG BOOTS AND PLUGS. (CHEVROLET 5-DOOR AVEO). ASKED THE DEALER FOR AN OPINION ON THE TIE ROD. DEALER MECHANICS LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WAS OF NO CONCERN. WENT BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC AND ARRANGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD ANYWAY. DURING THE WORK, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE THREADS ON THE OUTER TIE ROD WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED DOWN TO SHINY METAL. THE NUT SLID OFF WHEN PULLED GENTLY WITH HIS FINGERS. REPLACED BOTH PARTS AND THEN HAD TO HAVE A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. OTHER THAN THE LOOSENESS NOTED DURING ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS USED FOR COMMUTING IN WELL-MAINTAINED STATE AND US HIGHWAYS ONLY. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN MARCH 2011. I TRIED TO REPORT TO GM USING THEIR WEBSITE, BUT THERE IS NO PART…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2012Steering, Engine and engine coolingODI 10467018
“WENT TO AN APPOINTMENT, CAME BACK AND CAR WOULD NOT START. HAD TO HAVE IT JUMPED. A FEW MONTHS LATER WENT TO A STORE, CAME BACK OUT CAR WOULD NOT START HAD IT JUMPED AGAIN. HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED AND IT SHOWED A DRAIN ON THE BATTERY BUT COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE. AFTER HAVING IT JUMPED THE NEXT TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR A BRIEF TIME THEN WENT OUT. NEXT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED RUNNING. HAD IT JUMPED AGAIN, IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT DIE AGAIN. FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. TOOK IT TO ONE SHOP AND THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW IT IS BEING CHECK AT ANOTHER SHOP. SINCE THIS IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE, I HAVE HAD TO CANCEL APPOINTMENTS AND RELY ON OTHERS FOR OVER A WEEK. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND I FEEL THAT I WAS SOLD A LEMON. UPDATED 05/02/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVROLET AVEO. UPDATED 05/04/12 *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10456144

Showing 6 of 29 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.

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