The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo has 1 safety recall and 169 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (51 complaints).
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 Pontiac G3 vehicles. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the valves inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, affecting the closing motion of the valves.
Risk: If the ABS valve corrodes it may result in longer brake pedal travel or reduced performance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module, free of charge, in any vehicle that did not have its module replaced under a previous customer satisfaction campaign. The recall began in late September 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac). GM's number for this recall is 14505.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2009 Chevrolet Aveo 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
2009 Chevrolet Aveo 5-DR. Hatchback w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Aveo 5
30mpg combined
City / highway
27 / 34 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel
Aveo
30mpg combined
City / highway
27 / 34 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel
Aveo 5
28mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 34 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
Aveo
28mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 34 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Ignition; Ignition › Switch
51
3
1
1
57,000 mi
Engine
36
0
1
0
66,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
30
0
0
0
26,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
22
0
0
0
39,125 mi
Suspension Front
22
1
0
0
35,000 mi
Air bags Side/window; Frontal › Sensor/control module
16
10
2
11
49,000 mi
Power train Automatic transmission
14
0
0
0
48,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline Fuel injection system › Injectors
12
0
0
0
21,500 mi
Unknown or other
10
2
2
0
60,000 mi
Exterior lighting Headlights
10
0
0
0
90,000 mi
Steering Linkages › Tie rod assembly
9
2
0
1
61,500 mi
Tires Pressure monitoring and regulating systems; Tread/belt
8
0
0
0
19,800 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 15, 2023 · 90,000 milesEngine and engine cooling 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.
Jan 11, 2017 · 8,900 milesEngine 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…
Nov 22, 2019 · 120,000 miles · crash · fire · 1 injuryAir bags OUR SON HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGH I -49 N, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BREAK. HE SUBSTAINED HEAD ,NECK TRAUMA , BACK AND LEG IN THE VEHICLE.
Oct 16, 2019 · crash · fireAir bags I HAD A ACCIDENT THE CAR COUGHT ON FIRE.
Sep 5, 2019 · 58,153 milesEngine TIMING BELT BAD, NOT EVEN 60K MILES
May 10, 2019 · 99,000 milesFuel/propulsion system LAST YEAR I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED, ON I85 COMING FROM DURHAM THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME GO NO MORE THAN 20MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN GONE BAD REPLACED IT SEVERAL TIME AND I'M STILL HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT AND THE BREAK LINE RUPTURING WHILE COMING FROM RALEIGHI KEEP GOOD MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR TO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND YESTERDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN PLEASE PUT THIS CAR ON RECALL. THIS CAR HAS STRESSED ME TO THE MAX AND I CAN'T GO PLACES I WANT ANYMORE!
Mar 8, 2019 · 88,000 milesElectrical system HELLO. MY AVEO STARTED, AND WHEN I TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED UNTIL I PULLED A FUSE FROM THE ENGINE. I RETURNED THE FUSE TO ITS ALLOCATED SPOT, BUT NOW THERE IS ZERO LIFE IN THE AVEO WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START IT. THE LIGHTS COME ON, AND I HAVE TRIED JUMPING THE BATTERY ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH OCCURRENCE IN THREE YEARS. LAST TIME I PAID TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC, AND ALL THEY DID WAS JUMP IT. STARTED RIGHT UP, THEY SAID.
Oct 31, 2016 · 129,000 milesVehicle speed control TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MOST OF THE TIME OR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BEFORE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
