2008 Chevrolet Aveo Owner Complaints

The wiring to my headlights have overheated and melted twice. I found the really on the year and model of my car but wasn't on the list when I entered my vin

NHTSA ID

11726117

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

California catalytic converter breaking

NHTSA ID

11613285

Incident

Jul 8, 2024

There was no prior warnings or notices that there was an issue. While diving on a major road with my children, smoke started coming into the cabin from the vents, and around the stereo. Luckily I was near a very vacant parking lot and immediately pulled over. I removed the kids from the car safely and did open the hood to try troubleshoot the problem. There was no smoke anywhere under the hood. Immediately after, sparks started falling from under the steering wheel to the gas pedal. Immediately after that the car was engulfed in flames. The car is currently located at my local police impound and is available for inspection upon request. From the time the smoke started to when the car was engulfed, it was approximately 5 minutes. This could have been dangerous had we been on a highway and unable to pull over and get out of the car safely within that time. It was only inspected briefly by the fire department who arrived to put out the fire and they reported it was an electrical issue that caused the fire.

NHTSA ID

11609379

Incident

Jul 19, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH, the transmission became unbolted and separated from the vehicle. Additionally, the engine separated from the motor mounts rendering the vehicle undrivable. The vehicle was later towed the local mechanic. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,000.

NHTSA ID

11600077

Incident

Jul 4, 2024

Mileage

121,000 mi

The left side mount-to-mount bracket bolt broke when accelerating normally from a stop. This is one of the bolts that holds the engine to the frame. This caused my shift stick to be thrown back on every acceleration. This is an obvious safety risk. I have not yet had this problem verified or confirmed by anyone. The car seemed to drive well and normal before and up to this incident.

NHTSA ID

11490913

Incident

Oct 23, 2022

The contact's son owns a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11452488

Incident

Feb 17, 2022

In-dash clock module contains the vehicle 'Check Engine Light' - required to pass inspection. Solder joints are defective ('cold' or cracked) creating intermittent electrical connections. Prevents warning of engine defects to driver. Solder defects eventually cause destruction of the module incurring unreimbursed denial of transport and expense to driver to repair.

NHTSA ID

11449748

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and had the headlights illuminated. The contact's wife went to start the vehicle and turned off the lights when smoke began to emit from the dashboard and the engine compartment. The contact was able to disconnect the battery and the smoke had stopped. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with, NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) however the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and told the contact that they were able to assist but would not without the contact having computer access. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11428877

Incident

Aug 6, 2021

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING MOTIVE POWER AND DECELERATED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN FULL POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11398506

Incident

Sep 2, 2020

2008 CHEVY AVEO SEDAN - [XXX] - AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES - NO BODY CODES ARE PRESENT / DETECTED - (USING FOXWELL ELITE NT630 SCANNER WHICH CLAIMS TO READ / CLEAR AIRBAG CODES) - I'VE ALREADY RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE - "MUCHO PROBLEMOS" - WITH OVER HALF OF ALL CHEVY AVEO COMPLAINTS INCLUDING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT'S MOST LIKELY EITHER THE CLOCK MODULE - WHICH PASSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGNALS TO THE MAIN SRS CONTROLLER, THE SRS CONTROLLER MODULE (LOCATED UNDER CENTER SHIFT CONSOLE AREA) OR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ITSELF - CODE SCANNER ONLY SEES PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAGE 2 - (NO STAGE 1 SEEN) ... DRIVER'S SIDE SHOWS BOTH STAGE 1 AND STAGE 2 ... ALL PRETENSIONERS ARE PROPER (2 OHMS CIRCUIT RESISTANCE) ... BATTERY STRONG / GOOD / NEW - 1 YEAR OLD - 13.5 VOLTS - I'M WORRIED DEALER (HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET - HAWTHORNE NJ) WILL ACTUALLY NOT KNOW THE EXTENSIVE ISSUE WITH CHEVY AVEO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON - AND WILL WRONGLY DIAGNOSE AND TRY TO CHARGE BIG BUCKS - AND PROBLEM WILL RETURN - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - SINCE WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYING ON - SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE, NO AIRBAG PROTECTION - I HAVE ALSO NOW CONTACTED CHEVROLET ON THIS SUBJECT / PROBLEM - WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY - LOCATED IN NORTHERN NJ - HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET WOULD BE THE PROPER DEALERSHIP - (I PURCHASED THE CAR THERE - 10 YEARS AGO - THEY HAVE SERVICED THE CAR FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS) ... WILL BE CONTACTING THEM ON THIS SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM - BUT WORRIED THEY ARE NOT REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ON IT ... THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - SRS / AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYING ON - SAFETY RELATED FAILURE - CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS BY NOW FOR SURE - INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11283037

Incident

Nov 24, 2019

Mileage

130,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM UNDER THE STEERING PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DUE TO AN ABNORMAL CHEMICAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO LUBRICATE THE WIRES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, REMOVE THE FUSES FROM THE FUSE PANEL, AND DO THE SAME WITH THE PROPER DI-ELECTRIC GREASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE PERFORMING THE LUBRICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11280257

Incident

Nov 14, 2019

Mileage

124,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND WAS TAKEN TO ANTELOPE VALLEY CHEVROLET (877-385-0885, LOCATED AT 1160 MOTOR LN, LANCASTER, CA). THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO PARK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE ENGINE REVVED AND JERKED WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE VEHICLE RESTARTED EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11241846

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THEIR MOTHER WHO OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A WHITE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE ENGINE RPMS VIOLENTLY INCREASED AND DECREASED. THE HAZARDS WERE ENGAGED AND MOMENTS LATER SMOKE WAS SCENE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID

11218247

Incident

Jun 5, 2019

Mileage

124,000 mi

CAR SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11203401

Incident

Apr 4, 2012

Mileage

62,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HAS BEEN ON WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER, SAID PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FUSE WAS BAD, NEEDED REPLACED. NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER ON/OFF WILL AT RANDOM TURN ON OR OFF OR NOT EVEN SHOW AT TIMES, I HAVE ALSO NOTED THE SEAT MAKING SOME SORT OF NOISE WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON.

NHTSA ID

11186052

Incident

Feb 23, 2019

Mileage

106,744 mi

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THE 81,100 - 81,300 MILES MARK MY VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT P2135 CODE, FOR THROTTLE/PEDAL SENSOR/SWITCH A / B VOLTAGE CORRELATION. AT THE TIME OF RECEIVING THE CODE I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING IRREGULAR UNTIL I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS BEING, REVVING OF THE ENGINE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED. THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED MY CAR HAD BEEN DOING THAT JUST RECENTLY ON START UP BEFORE RECEIVING THE CODE. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A MONTH, DRIVING VERY MINIMALLY MAYBE 10 SHORTS TRIPS OR LESS, THE CAR STALLED OUT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 0.1 MILES OF BELOW 15MPH DRIVING. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND I DIDNT SEE ANYTHING WRONG SO I BEGAN TO PUSH THE CAR BACK HOME. AFTER I REALIZED IT WOULD TAKE SOME MANEUVERING I DECIDED TO TRY STARTING THE CAR BACKUP AND IT DID SO I QUICKLY TURNED IT AROUND AND DROVE IT BACK HOME. STALLING OF THE ENGINE IS ALSO A SYMPTOM OF THE P2135 CODE. SINCE THAN OUT OF NECESSITY I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR TWICE FOR 13 MILE TRIPS WITHOUT STALLING OUT BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS NOT GONE AWAY. THE ENGINE STILL REVS ON ITS ON START UP UNTIL FINALLY SETTLING INTO CONSISTENCY. AFTER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY NEEDS REPLACING ONLINE, IT APPEARS EVIDENT TO ME THAT A LARGE AMOUNT CHEVY AVEOS NO MATTER THE YEAR OR SPECIFIC MODEL, ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW MANY OWNERS TALKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND REPORTED IT. THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN IT ONLINE FIXED THE PROBLEM BY CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH ONLY LASTED FOR SO LONG AND COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE OR GETTING A WHOLE NEW THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR ATTACHED.

NHTSA ID

11166124

Incident

Dec 29, 2018

Mileage

81,200 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS TRAVELING ALONG THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTHBOUND WHEN MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP INTO FLAMES WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO JUMP OUT OF THE PASSENGEER SIDE DOOR. THE CAR IS TOTALED.

NHTSA ID

11154906

Incident

Nov 28, 2018

"TAKATA RECALL" THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND NEVER GOES OUT. ALWAYS ON.

NHTSA ID

11149543

Incident

Feb 3, 2017

CHEVROLET 4 DOOR AVEO. THE PASSENGER REAR TAILLIGHT WON'T WORK, THE LEFT SIDE WORKS, WAS LOOKING IT UP AND PEOPLE WAS SAYING THAT THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FUSEBOX UNDER THE HOOD WIRES, NEED TO SPLICE WIRES ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11132117

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE TRUNK LID OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO ENGAGE IN GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. *JS

NHTSA ID

11129271

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

64,000 mi

AIR BAG PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON AND MULTIPLE TIMES REPAIR SHOP CLEARS IT, STAYS OFF FOR A BIT, THEN COMES BACK ON, BEEN TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

11122346

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. FURTHERMORE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GREY CHEVROLET (4949 HOVDE RD, PORT ORCHARD, WA 98367, (800) 803-8091) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AND UNDERHOOD BUSSED ELECTRICAL CENTER FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,396. *JS

NHTSA ID

11111925

Incident

Jun 10, 2018

Mileage

67,396 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (FRANK BASHAY IN RACINE, WI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11079821

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

AIRBAG INDICATOR HAS DISAPPEARED FROM DASHBOARD. THE AIRBAG ON/OFF SYMBOL IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH AND MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS TURNED ON. IT STARTED AS THE AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES BE ILLUMINATED, AND SOMETIMES NOT BE ILLUMINATED, AND NOW THE INDICATOR IS COMPLETELY GONE (NEVER SHOWS ON OR OFF).

NHTSA ID

11075474

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AND AT TIMES HAS A HARD TIME STOPPING. ALSO MY DOORS WILL LOCK BY THEM SELF.

NHTSA ID

11062411

Incident

Jan 4, 2018

Mileage

1 mi