2004 Chevrolet Aveo Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine8332.0%
- Electrical3613.9%
- Airbags238.9%
- Seat belts186.9%
- Powertrain (other)124.6%
- Exterior lighting114.2%
- Brakes114.2%
- Fuel system114.2%
- Steering93.5%
- Transmission83.1%
- Driver assistance72.7%
- Body & structure62.3%
- Visibility51.9%
- Suspension51.9%
- Interior & seats51.9%
- Tires & wheels41.5%
- Other / unspecified41.5%
- Heating & air conditioning10.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP HOUSING FRACTURED AND COOLANT LEAKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
WHILE BACKING UP MY VEHICLE I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 500 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND TURN THE IGNITION TO OFF. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART TO VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TWO OR THREE TIMES. ONETIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BREAK AND SHUT OFF IGNITION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I SEEMS LIKE IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE ( IN THE 30"S F) . I THINK THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION SWITCH IS OVERHEATING. THE LONGER THE CAR IS DRIVEN (10-15 MILES) THE HOTTER IT IS BECOMING. IT HEATS UP SO MUCH THAT THE IGNITION KEY BECOMES QUITE HOT AS WELL...BUT THE SWITCH ITSELF IS EVEN HOTTER. I FEAR THERE WILL BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTING SOON, AND HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO STOP AT INTERVALS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF SO IT COOLS DOWN. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF IT'S DRIVEN FAST OR SLOW, DRIVING STILL HEATS UP THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE ONLY ODD OCCURRENCE THAT MIGHT BE SOMEHOW CONNECTED IS THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB NEEDED REPLACED SINCE THIS STARTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALEY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP DEALER LOCATED IN RICHMOND, VA BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. ...UPDATED 08/31/17 *BF *JS
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL. ON OCTOBER 13TH 2018 I WAS IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WAS AN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT MY TIRE SHREDDED BUT STILL MAINTAINED AIR AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE AND I GOT A BROKEN NOSE AND A FEW FACIAL FRACTURES. NOW I HAVE SEVERE HEADACHES EVERYDAY SINCE THEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,390. UPDATED 09/22/16*LJ *JS
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS JUST ONE PROBLEM...THE CAR HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE PAST LIKE DYING TOTALLY ON A HIGHWAY BUT THAT'S NOT MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW. THE BACK SEAT BELT IS LOCKED UP & IT WILL NOT RETRACT. I HAVE A CHILD SO IT'S REALLY INCONVENIENT.
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FROZE UP AND THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THIS BUCKLE HAS EXHIBITED DIFFICULTY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. MANY TIMES WOULD HAVE TO PUSH BELT INTO SLOT 2X OR 3X BEFORE THE BUCKLE WOULD CATCH. NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A ISSUE. THANK GOD MY DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND THE THING LOCKED UP OR SOMETHING. NOW, IT WILL COST APPROX. $200 TO HAVE JUST THE BUCKLE REPLACED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AVEO SEAT BELTS STARTING FROM 2004. I LIKED THIS LITTLE CAR BUT I AM DONE. I THINK I'LL STICK WITH DODGE. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE OVER 1800 COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE BETWEEN 2004 AND 2011; THE MOST BEING 2004 AND 2005. I THINK MY ISSUE JUST SLIDE PAST THEM. *TR
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT WHICH I INTENDED TO TAKE CARE OF AND DRIVE FOR YEARS TO COME, IN FACT INTO THE GROUND. THE MANUAL I RECEIVED WITH THE CAR INDICATED THAT THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 100,000. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE YOU REALLY NEED A VEHICLE. I HAD DRIVEN TO ANOTHER TOWN FOR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT. WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE CAR JUST DIED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A 55 MPH ZONE. I WAS LUCKY THAT A GOOD SAMARITAN HELPED ME OUT OF THE DANGEROUS CONDITION I WAS IN ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAD 65,321 MIIES ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING VALVE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO REPAIR IT WHICH IS WHAT I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE. I DID NOT HAVING $5,000 SO I JUNKED THE CAR. THIS ORDEAL CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR ME FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. I WAS 62 AT THE TIME. THE WEBSITE CARCOMPLAINTS HAS 56 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RELATED TO 2004 CHEVY AVEOS. ALL OF THE TIMING BELTS FAILED BELOW 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2005 CHEVY AVEO. WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I WOULD NOT LOSE MY SHORTS ON MY VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE EVENT WAS TERRIBLY FRIGHTENING. I SUFFER FROM HEART FAILURE. MY NEW CAR PAYMENT IS VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH ON A FIXED INCOME. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF THE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT SUCH DANGEROUS CONDITION. I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS.
THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS NHTSA INCIDENT 10393028 (SNAPPED PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT). DRIVING ON A MULTIPLE LANE FREEWAY AT ~65MPH AND THE TIMING BELT SNAPPED (HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE LIKE THE CAR WINDOW WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN). IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECELERATING. THANKFULLY, WAS IN RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I BEEN IN ANY OTHER LANE IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED BACK ON AND WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL TURNED INTO ACC MODE WHERE IT FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO BE TOWED, EVENTUALLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. ENGINE DAMAGE WAS CATASTROPHIC AND REQUIRED EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (3 WEEKS AND APPROXIMATELY $2,700). SNAPPED TIMING BELT ALSO BENT PISTONS AND VALVES AND REQUIRED THE WATER PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET, RATHER THAN HIDING BEHIND THE 60,000 MILE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS LAUGHABLY LOW FOR A TIMING BELT. FURTHER - MY TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES AND THUS NOT ONLY DID A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP LIE TO ME, THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK BY KNOWING THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WOULD INEVITABLY OCCUR LONG BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED BELT REPLACEMENT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ONLY 5,000-10,000 MILES DRIVEN/YEAR. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP OTHER THAN BEING A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR MONTHS AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT URGENT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, GRAY SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH QUICKLY AND HAD A PASSENGER DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. HOWEVER, A FIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY THAT IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S BREATHING. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
OVERALL, AN EXCELLENT SMALL CAR! MY CAR HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING OCCASIONALLY. THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES AND YOU HAVE TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR! KNOWING THIS(THE PEDAL IS SUPER HARD WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN GEAR) I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP AND THE CONDITION HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT! THIS CONDITION USUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER A FEW MILES AND THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL! BY THE TIME I CAN GET TO A GARAGE, EVERYTHING IS FINE AND IT DOESN'T DO IT CONSISTENTLY! WEATHER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR AND IT ONLY DOES IT ON STARTUP AFTER IT SITS OVERNIGHT! *TR
MY PASSENGER REAR SHOE BROKE IN HALF. IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY WEEK TO TWO WEEKS MY SPRINGS AND SELF ADJUST FALL OFF. WHEN THE DRUM IS PULLED OFF THEY ARE EITHER COMPLETELY DETACHED OR HANGING BY A HAIR. THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED NOR ARE THEY DOING ANY GOOD FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 7 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR, I HAVE HAD IT WORKED ON 18 OR MORE TIMES ON THE EXACT SAME BRAKE. *TT
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL TANK CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PNEUMONIA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WENT TO TURN IGNITION ON, AND CAR WOULD NOT START. RADIO TURNED OFF. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I FLOORED THE PEDAL THAT THE GAS AND MOTOR STARTED. IT HAPPENS OFF AND ON. ALSO THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH ENTRY AREA ARE EXTREMELY HOT. I AM WORRIED THIS IS IN FACT ONE OF THE IGNITION PROBLEMS THAT CHEVY DID NOT LIST OR IS REFUSING TO FIX. PLEASE HELP,. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY. UPDATED 12/8/2014 *JS
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN MOVED THROUGH INTERSECTION THE SUDDENLY DOVE TO THE DITCH .I WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON I75 5 MINUTES EARLIER THEN TURNED ON THE SIDE ROAD S TO MY HOME .THE RACK AND PINION BROKE IN TWO SENDING ME INTO DITCH. IF THIS HAPPENED 10 MINUTES EARLIER I WOULD BE DEAD. *TR
AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I FELT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP, I COULD ONLY GET TO AROUND 40-45MPH ON A HIGHWAY THAT IS 65MPH. I NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED BY CARS FLYING UP ON ME AND I QUICKLY PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER JUST IN TIME AS THE POWER STEERING ALSO WENT OUT AND THE CAR APPEARED TO HAVE STOPPED RUNNING. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START AGAIN. THE DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD GONE AND IT COULD BE FIXED FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN $800 TO NEEDING A BRAND NEW MOTOR. THIS FLOORED ME AS I ALWAYS HAD THE OIL AND FLUIDS REPLACED AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 84K MILES ON IT. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE AVEO AND BAM, THERE IT WAS, OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON-LINE. OWNERS ALL COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR AVEO. THE TIMING BELT ON THE AVEO, ESPECIALLY THE 04-07 MODELS GO AND WILL REQUIRE ANYWHERE FROM A MAJOR FIX TO A BRAND NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM ON A LITTLE CAR. I WENT ON CRAIGSLIST TO LOOK FOR A NEW ENGINE, BUT INSTEAD FOUND 10 AVEOS IN ONE HOUR... THAT WERE BEING SOLD FOR PARTS BECAUSE THEIR TIMING BELT WENT! PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE AVEO DESERVING OF A RECALL, AND OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THE PERSISTENT NEED TO HAVE THEIR TIMING BELT REPLACED OR FACE A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN REAR-ENDED OR WORSE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER AND POWER STEERING. THANK YOU. *TR
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2007 WITH 61,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND ALSO CAUSED THE ENGINE RODS TO BREAK. THE REPAIRS WERE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. TRANSMISSION COMPUTER ALSO FAILED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,999 AND THE CURRENT WAS 103,000.
CHEVROLET AVEO 2004 THE AC AND THROTTLE VALVE LOCKED IN BELOW 0 WEATHER . *TR
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE BACKING UP MY VEHICLE I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 500 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND TURN THE IGNITION TO OFF. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART TO VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TWO OR THREE TIMES. ONETIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BREAK AND SHUT OFF IGNITION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I SEEMS LIKE IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE ( IN THE 30"S F) . I THINK THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS NHTSA INCIDENT 10393028 (SNAPPED PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT). DRIVING ON A MULTIPLE LANE FREEWAY AT ~65MPH AND THE TIMING BELT SNAPPED (HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE LIKE THE CAR WINDOW WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN). IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECELERATING. THANKFULLY, WAS IN RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I BEEN IN ANY OTHER LANE IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED BACK ON AND WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL TURNED INTO ACC MODE WHERE IT FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO BE TOWED, EVENTUALLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. ENGINE DAMAGE WAS CATASTROPHIC AND REQUIRED EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (3 WEEKS AND APPROXIMATELY $2,700). SNAPPED TIMING BELT ALSO BENT PISTONS AND VALVES AND REQUIRED THE WATER PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET, RATHER THAN HIDING BEHIND THE 60,000 MILE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS LAUGHABLY LOW FOR A TIMING BELT. FURTHER - MY TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES AND THUS NOT ONLY DID A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP LIE TO ME, THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK BY KNOWING THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WOULD INEVITABLY OCCUR LONG BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED BELT REPLACEMENT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ONLY 5,000-10,000 MILES DRIVEN/YEAR. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP OTHER THAN BEING A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING COMPLETELY SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING ONLY 35 MILES PER HOUR. THERE ARE MULITPLE CHEVROLET AVEO OWNERS THAT HAVE A CAR BETWEEN THE YEARS 04-06 THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFTY HAZARD, BUT A REALITIVE COSTLY FIX. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVEO THAT ONLY HAS 65K MILES ON IT AND GETS REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I WENT IN AND HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND WAS TOLD THE CAR LOOKED GREAT. DROVE A FEW OTHER PLACES, AND WAS ON A STEEP HILL, TURNING AROUND (AS I HAVE DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE), AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF MY ENGINE. I PARKED IMMEDIATELY. MY THERMOSTAT HOUSING PIECE (PLASTIC) HAD CRACKED IN HALF AND WAS SPEWING ANTIFREEZE. IN THE TWO SECONDS THE CAR WAS ON, I LOST HALF MY ANTI-FREEZE AND MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS COVERED IN ANTI-FREEZE. FURTHER, THE PART IS HARD TO FIND AND WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS FOR A REPLACEMENT. THIS PART BROKE OUT OF THE BLUE, IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUTINE DRIVING. THERE'S NO WAY TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT'S FIXED - THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. I HEAR THAT THE PART IS NOW BEING MADE IN ALUMINUM AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR (EVERY 50-70K THIS PIECE JUST INEXPLICABLY CRACKS). I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A STANDARD RECALL. HAD THIS PIECE BROKE AT ANY OTHER TIME (SUCH AS FIVE MINUTES PRIOR, WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY) THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRE CONSEQUENCES. FURTHER, HAD I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER, I COULD HAVE HAD AN ENGINE FIRE OR SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THREE DAYS OF TIME AND ENERGY TO GET THIS REPAIRED (HOPEFULLY TO BE COMPLETED TOMORROW). THIS PLASTIC PIECE IS NOTHING BUT A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED IN ONE PIECE. I'M YET TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE THE ANTI-FREEZE WILL DO TO MY CAR IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THE CAR INTO THE SHOP TO BE FIXED UP. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHAT'S WITH AVEO'S PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER? IT SKIDS OFF THE WINDOW AND WIPES THE TRIM. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR I THOUGHT SOMEONE MADE A MISTAKE AND PUT ON THE WRONG SIZE. WHEN THEY NEEDED REPLACED, I REPLACED THE WHOLE ARM WITH A SET MATCHING MAKER SPECIFICATIONS. AND MADE NO IMPROVEMENT AT ALL. THE TIP OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER STILL SWINGS CLEAR OFF THE WINDOW. DID SOMEBODY MAKE OFF WITH THE DESIGNER'S RULER? ANY CHANCE THEY MIGHT GIVE IT BACK? I'D REALLY LIKE A WINDSHIELD WIPER THAT FITS; DON'T REALLY NEED ONE FOR THE TRIM...
SUMMER 2005 THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE LEAVING MY VISIBILITY EXTREMELY IMPAIRED. UPON SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION, I NOTICED THAT THE NUT HOLDING THE WIPER TO THE POST HAD LOOSENED AND BACKED OFF. THIS STRIPPED THE MATING GROVES OFF BOTH THE WIPER ARM (CAST ALUMINUM) AND POST (SOFT METAL). EVEN AFTER RE-TIGHTENING THE NUT, THE WIPER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE BECAUSE THE WIPER ARM AND POST WERE TOO BADLY DAMAGED; ALL OF THE GROVES WERE ENTIRELY REMOVED FOR THE CAST ALUMINUM WIPER ARM. I WAS UNABLE TO GO TO A DEALER TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. I DRILLED A KEYWAY INTO BOTH THE WIPER ARM AND POST. I FILLED THE KEYWAY WITH A PORTION OF A LARGE PAPER CLIP. THE DAMAGE REMAINS THIS WAY CURRENTLY. SUMMER 2005 HAVING EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH THE AVEO 2004 (ABOVE) I TIGHTENED THE NUTS ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S WIPERS ON MY AVEO 2005. JANUARY 2007 THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING DURING A SNOWSTORM WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE LEAVING MY WIFE'S VISIBILITY EXTREMELY IMPAIRED. UPON SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION, I NOTICED THAT THE NUT HOLDING THE WIPER TO THE POST HAD LOOSENED AND BACKED OFF EVEN WITH RE-TIGHTENING THIS NUT IN THE SUMMER OF 2005. THIS STRIPPED THE MATING GROVES OFF BOTH THE WIPER ARM (CAST ALUMINUM) AND POST (SOFT METAL). I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE BOTH THE WIPER ARM AND POST REPLACED. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING ON PARTS TO HAVE TO REPAIR MADE.--AFTER SEARCHING THE WEB I DISCOVERED THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEIR DRIVER'S SIDE WIPER ARM NUT COMING LOOSE. HTTP://WWW.EPINIONS.COM/CONTENT_160219565700. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FIRST THING THAT WENT WRONG WITH THE CAR IS THE CLOCK FOR NO REASON AT ALL IT CHANGES TO 12:00 IT DOES IT WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND RUNNING IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME AGAIN. SECOND IS MY GEAR SHIFTER I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC AND IT STICKS IN PARK ALL THE TIME AND ALL YEAR LONG THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS SITTING AT A GAS PUMP AND I WAS COMPLETELY STUCK AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT IT STUCK 10 + MORE TIMES SINCE 5 TIMES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND 3 TIMES IT WAS REPAIRED. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2004 AND TOO THIS DAY IT STILL STICKS I ACTUALLY HAVE PARTS BEING ORDERED AGAIN TO GET IT FIXED. THIRD IS MY KEY AND ALARM I CAN'T USE MY SECURITY ALARM ON MY CAR BECAUSE WHEN ITS SET ON IT GOES OFF ABOUT EVERY HALF HOUR FOR NO REASON. FOURTH IS MY HEAD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I WAS TRAVELING IN A BIG CITY BUFFALO WHEN ALL THREE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING I WENT TO AN AUTO SHOP TO GET THEM REPLACED AND THEY REPLACED THEM RIGHT THERE AND THE NEW ONES WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHEN EVER AND TURN BACK ON AFTER AWHILE. EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE STREET BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT PART. FIFTH IS MY BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTED AND I WENT THREW 4 PAIRS OF TIRES WITHIN 2 YEARS BEFORE MY DEALER REALIZED WHAT THAT PROBLEM WAS. SIXTH BOTH THE REAR STRUT HOLDING MOUNTS JUST FELL OFF CAR AND MY STRUTS WENT THREW MY BACK BOTTOM TRUNK. THE DEALER SAID HE NEVER SEEM ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE RIGHT SIDE WENT FIRST AND THAT WAS FIXED THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE LEFT SIDE WENT I REPLACED EVERYTHING BRAND NEW AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN A THIRD TIME THE LEFT STRUT AND HOLDING MOUNT FAILED. I ACTUALLY HAVE PARTS ORDERED FOR THAT AS WELL RIGHT NOW. A SMALLER COMPLAINT IS THE CIG. LIGHTER OUTLET DOESN'T WORK, AND THAT'S BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 04 CHEVY AVEO ON JUNE 20,06. FIVE DAYS LATER THE BRAKES WERE METAL TO METAL. MY CAR WAS NOT SAFETY INSPECTED BEFORE THE SALE. SINCE THEN I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO WHERE I PURCHASED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND HAVE EVEN HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER TO RIDE WITH ME TO SHOW HIM THAT THE BRAKES ARE STICKING. (THE CALIPERS NEED TO BE REPLACED) TIM MARBURGER CHRYSLER/DODGE TRIED TO SAY THAT IS WAS A WARPED ROTOR DUE TO EXCESSIVE MOUNTAIN DRIVING, MY CAR WAS ONLY DRIVEN 7 MILES ONE WAY TO GO CAMPING AND 7 MILES BACK ONCE A WEEK. I WOULD HARDLY CALL THIS EXCESSIVE. THE FIRST TANK OF GAS I GOT THE MILEAGE OF 284 MILES SINCE 06/20/06 UNTIL NOW 10/10/06 MY GAS MILEAGE FOR A TANK OF GAS IS NOW 210 MILES. NOBODY AT THE DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED TO FIX MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN CUSSED, TALKED TO LIKE A DOG. THE GENERAL MANAGER DENNY FRUITH SLAMMED MY CAR DOOR AND PROCEEDED TO ARGUE WITH ME IN THE FRONT PARKING LOT IN FRONT OF THE SHOWROOM DOORS. REFUSED TO FIX MY CAR AND IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP PUT MY LUG NUTS ON SO TIGHT THAT THEY COULD NOT BE MANUALLY TAKEN OFF. THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY MR. FELIX MCCLAT REFUSED TO FIX MY BRAKES AND ALSO REFUSED TO EVEN LET ME COME TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM LOOSEN MY LUG NUTS. AND THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE BRAKES ON MY CAR WILL PUT THEMSELVES ON WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE PEDALS. AND WHEN YOU DO PRESS THE PEDALS YOU CAN BE GOING DOWN HILL AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES GRAB AND THE CAR WILL COME TO ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP...DOWN HILL. ALL THIS WAS SHOWN TO THE SERVICE MANAGER DAVID ANDERSON AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS PROBLEM. THE LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HAS FALLEN INTO THE DOOR. THIS MAKES THE DOOR IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE. WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN THE LOCK ALSO LOCKS. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT YET BEEN SOLVED. *TR
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO AND STATED THAT SINCE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS NEVER LOCKED CORRECTLY IN PLACE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BELT, BUT SHE BELIEVED THAT THEY SWITCHED IT FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK. CURRENTLY, THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN LOCKING WHEN ANYONE SAT IN THE BACK. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHTS IWERE CONSTANTLY BURNING OUT. THIS HAD OCCURRED ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES. IN ADDITION, THE CLOCK DID NOT WORK WHENEVER SHE SET THE TIME, IT WOULD CHANGE ON ITS OWN ACCORD. SIMILARLY, THE KEY LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FELL THROUGH THE DOOR PANEL. THE DEALER REPAIRED AND PAINTED THE DOOR THE WRONG COLOR, AND THEY PAINTED OVER THE DOOR HANDLE. JUST LAST WEEK FINALLY, THE TENSION PULLEY FELL OFF WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THEY TOLD HER THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO MAKE FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,750.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO EQUIPPED WITH MILESTAR MS932 (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 185/65/R14 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS BLOWN OPEN. THE TIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOT NUMBER OF THE TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15T004000 (TIRES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
MY BROTHER DIED WHEN HIS 2004 AVEO CRASHED SIDEWAYS INTO A TREE. TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60-70 MPH ON I95 IN FL. TROOPERS SAID HE WAS DOING SPEED LIMIT AND HIS CAR HYDROPLANED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A SMALL PALM TREE. HIS FRIEND WAS EJECTED THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ACROSS THE STEERING WHEEL FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. VIDEO @ WWW.THIBEDEAURESEARCH.COM. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TAKATA RECALL. ON OCTOBER 13TH 2018 I WAS IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WAS AN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT MY TIRE SHREDDED BUT STILL MAINTAINED AIR AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE AND I GOT A BROKEN NOSE AND A FEW FACIAL FRACTURES. NOW I HAVE SEVERE HEADACHES EVERYDAY SINCE THEN.
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVEO THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. SINCE IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE CLOCK HAS CHANGED TIME BY ITSELF AND THE GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK IN PARK. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STAND STILL CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE UP A SLIGHT INCLINE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO UP THE HILL. AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CLIMBED THE INCLINE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE LAST NINE DAYS. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND CLAIMED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS THE PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .