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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
207,040 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Chevrolet Aveo electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Chevrolet Aveo Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #28

Oct 022014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I notice that my left head light when out. I replace the bulb with a high price bulb but headlight was very dim. I then notice that my headlights went out all together and no high beams, but my high beam light indicator on my dashboard is on. Also I my radio display will go in and out sometimes.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #27

Sep 172014

Aveo

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that both headlights and high beams failed to illuminate. The failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the module or the wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

- Florissant, MO, USA

problem #26

Sep 262014

Aveo

  • 89,258 miles
Will not shut off, even with key removed.

- Humboldt, IA, USA

problem #25

Sep 042014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 12,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ignition coil needed to be replaced. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 12000. Updated 09/30/14

- Windsor, NY, USA

problem #24

Jun 302014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 127,000 miles
Had driven my car earlier that day with no problems. Mid-afternoon I got in my car to go run errands and it wouldn't start. When I would turn the key nothing would happen, no lights came on, no attempt for engine to turn over. Nothing. Quick check confirmed battery was charged, fuses good, and power getting to fuses. Had it towed to dealer. Inspection by GM technician found the instrument module had overheated and been damaged, which disabled the ignition and wouldn't allow car to start. Issue sounds similar to the recent recalls on the 2004-2008 Aveo's, where "the problem concerns the daytime running light module in the instrument panel. It could overheat, melt and cause a fire." GM technician noted that he could tell the instrument module was melted cause he could smell the burning when he open up the dash.

- Gresham, OR, USA

problem #23

Apr 212014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • miles
Just wanted to let someone know sometimes when I take my key out of the ignition it is very hot to the touch and I have never had any other car do this it does not do it every time but on several occasions this has happened and was wondering if there has been others complain about this I just don't want a fire to start or something happen while I am driving it.

- Spring Lake, NC, USA

problem #22

Feb 032014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 33,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The low beam headlights don't work anymore. Went to mechanic, who replaced bulbs with brand new ones, and they didn't work either. They tested fuses and said those were fine. They recommended I go to a Chevy dealership to fix it but don't have the money for all that. Running around at night to get home from work on a passenger-side daytime running light only, or high beams when no one's around. Help!

- Spring City, PA, USA

problem #21

May 222014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 89,476 miles
Drove to glen carbon short trip no sign of over heating pulled to gas station it dumped all the anti freeze out by the gauge still did not show the car was hot. [xxx] 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Granite, IL, USA

problem #20

Apr 152014

Aveo

  • 55,000 miles
Back in 2010, car shut off while accelerating onto freeway. Took into Chevy, could not duplicate & didn't fix. Happened 3 more times over 2 years, finally took it in 2012. Dealership shop said it was a faulty oxygen sensor in fuel line. Happened on listed date of incident in rush hour traffic, driving less than 20mph. Vehicle completely shut off. Have not taken it back to be looked at.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #19

Apr 302009

Aveo

  • 3,000 miles
Got this car brand new off the lot with only 43 miles on it. Around 3000 miles I had my first major problem. I was going down I-95 in St. Paul, mn at around 75 miles/hr and the car jerked then cut off. Mind you this is rush hour traffic and I had 2 toddlers in the car with me. We almost got rear ended by an 18 wheeler before I could get the car to drift to shoulder. Took 3 weeks to fix the fuel pump bc the car was so new they had not made extra parts yet. About a year later I started having electrical problems- onstar not working or randomly turning on, clock resetting itself to random times, dash lights either going out or all staying on, headlights randomly working, and of course I took to 2 different Chevy dealers and neither could tell me what was wrong only that it wasn't covered under warranty =/ once the car turned 4 years on it has begun eating fuses and coil packs. This is after the coil pack and spark plugs/boots put on by Chevy after that recall. It is eating coil packs every 4-6 months and at 150-200$ a pop it is expensive especially once you factor in mechanic labor. I hate this car and wish I never got it. I miss my 96 Dodge Caravan with the oil leak and manual windows. I felt much safer in that old van and it was more reliable- it never left me even with a blown head gasket. Chevrolet should be ashamed of themselves for putting their name on a now defunct pos foreign Daewoo crap and selling it to us as american made. There isn't anything made in North America. There are a few parts made in Mexico but most are Korean made. I would never have gotten it if I had glimpsed those Daewoo stamps under the hood, trunk, and car jams.

- Burgaw, NC, USA

problem #18

Feb 112014

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 77,600 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Stalled at intersection. Problem diagnosed as requiring ECM programmed. Not covered under warranty dealership charged a service fee for reprogramming ECM at a cost of $250.

- West Kingston, RI, USA

problem #17

Oct 092013

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
The car lost power for no reason. It did not fully stall but lost power and would not respond. It would lurch forward, barely go, then recover slightly. This happened sporadically and was frightening and dangerous. The battery light began to go off and on. Mechanics could find nothing wrong and battery ok. In November, car lost power in traffic, almost had wreck, barely made it to shop. "strangely swollen" battery found and replaced. Computer and all systems checked. Incident happened again. Back in shop. Clutch replaced, tube replaced in engine, etc. Cost $ 1500. Car seemed to run fine but only for days. Began doing same thing again. But when I take it to mechanics, can't find anything wrong because problem comes and goes. It seemed to possibly be triggered and happened more often if I used onstar built in phone. Had it turned off and thought that somehow fixed problem but it happened again yesterday in traffic with my 93 yr old mom in car. Terrifying.. can't get out of way if car coming in intersection. No one helps me find a solution. I contacted GM online they said they know of no such problem. Hundreds of posts online from Aveo owners with same problem. Someone is going to die if this isn't made public.. we need a recall. Help please!

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #16

Jul 312013

Aveo

  • 22,600 miles
After getting the front end of this car fixed(after 3 months) I was driving home when the temperature gauge stopped working. No air conditioning,90 degree day. Took the car to coastal Chevrolet in pawleys island SC where they told me it would be $300 to remove dash instruments to just get part number for gauge.then they could tell me cost of part, another $300 to remove instruments again to replace part(of unknown cost).GM once again reluctant to take responsibility for such shoddy design work, no more good will work from dealership.retired, how do I pay for a $700 temperature gauge on a car with 22,640 miles? I am so stressed, this car is a total nightmare, and I have done everything possible to keep it in good working order.there has to be an answer for customers who are caught in such a mess.

- Murrells Inlet, SC, USA

problem #15

Jul 132013

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 74,831 miles
The Aveo lt was on I-85 ramp downtown atlanta trying to build speed when it stalled at an area where there is little side access. Car cooled off and was re cranked and brought to North end of atlanta for further inspections to see if the problem could be duplicated. Car rpms were noted to vary up and down and then stalled without warning at a major intersection where it was almost T-boned on peachtree industrial blvd norcross, ga where the speed limit was 55 mph. Multiple obd codes were extracted ( a total of 6 ). car was further examined by ase mechanic shop that states that the vehicle ECM loses communication with sensors and other computers under these conditions. Ase mechanic states that ECM should be replaced. GM car dealer ( rick hendrix GMC - duluth, Georgia ) states that GM procedure is to apply sb pip4789C replacing front O2 sensor as a starting point to repair car using a newer O2 sensor that was made later than a certain date and to update ECM with newer software. GM dealer states there is no need to drive the car to duplicate problem and to review using a scanning tool as the GM procedure is to be used and will be adequate. This situation is clearly dangerous. If a simple O2 sensor could suddenly could cause a known problem of this type in accordance with the GM sb then it should be covered by the 8/80K emissions warranty. If the ECM can lose communications with other essential items and cause a problem of this type that should not only be covered under the emissions but it should also be placed on recall. As an engineer with 36 years experience I am appalled.at a failure of this type. A person can be psychologically conditioned that their car is running fine and then at the next moment it completely stalls and may not allow them to clear an intersection.

- Berkeley Lake, GA, USA

problem #14

Mar 062013

Aveo

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that he attempted to active the onstar system but it failed to connect. The contact also stated that the air bag warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.

- Flidell, LA, USA

problem #13

Jun 302013

Aveo

  • 62,000 miles
Car would not start, needle gauges flickering, inside lights on, dash lights on, but would not start or allow vehicle to move out of park. Car acted like it was locked up. Tried jumping vehicle twice but absolutely nothing. All the complaints I have read have been exactly what has happened with my car from the gas surges where I have pulled out into traffic and the car would have no power and I thought I was going to be hit, to the cruise control not working and then spontaneous coming on. We have had the car in for work at least three times for incidentals. I am fixing to trade this in from all the negative responses I have read. I am really worried about the electrical starting a fire, the car seems to have a mind of its own! never have seen needles moving on gauges when car is completely disengaged with no keys even in ignition.

- Franklin, AR, USA

problem #12

May 292009

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 1,900 miles
My step daughter bought a brand new Aveo 2009 is has been in for repairs 13 times for the same problem. It will run fine then will not go over 20mph this has happened several times while she is driving on highway at 65 mph has almost caused her and my young granddaughter to be injured. When she starts the car the clock will reset its self to 7:23 no matter what time it is that is usually the first sign it is getting ready to turn into a death trap. O2 sensor has been replaced car is again in shop they are telling her they can't find any problems but think it could be the O2 senser want $600 to replace. Her check engine light has not come on. Car is no longer under warrenty. We have contacted dealership where she bought it no help from them. Contacted Chevy asking them to admit it is a lemon and do the right thing no help from them.

- Wheatland, WY, USA

problem #11

Aug 012009

Aveo

  • 200 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that after several attempts to start the vehicle it failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The contact also stated that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered to pay a portion of the repair cost. The failure mileage was approximately 200.

- Endwell, NY, USA

problem #10

Apr 062010

Aveo 4-cyl

  • miles
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 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

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #9

Apr 032012

Aveo 4-cyl

  • 48,248 miles
Car would not start. Put charger on it and even tried jump starting it. Car would not even engage the starter. Engine lights would not come on and needles on the gauges would flicker up and down. Had to have dealer come and get it. They told me they had to put a charger on it for an hour before it would finally start, but did not know why cause the battery is good. Said hope it was a fluke or a module did not wake up? and to bring back if does it again. Charged a $129 for labor and tow even though have a 6 year bumper to bumper warranty. I have a feeling this will not be the last issue.

- St.Marys, OH, USA

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