THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SHUTS OFF PERIODICALLY WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY, THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO HAVE THE PASSENGER LIFT OFF THE SEAT AND SIT BACK DOWN WITH SOME FORCE. *NM
2006 Chevrolet Aveo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Chevrolet Aveo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 169.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Aveo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
148 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 67 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
189 reports"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ONE WHILE PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR ON DEC 2005. HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 50 TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING NORMALLY. AND "YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF THIS, BE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS STILL WORKING" T…
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"PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT PERIODICALLY COMES ONE WHILE PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR ON DEC 2005. HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 50 TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING NORMALLY. AND "YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF THIS, BE CAUSE THE AIRBAGS STILL WORKING" THEY NEVER REPLACE NOTHING. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE OR DEAD. *NM
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT PASSENGER 'SSIDE AIR BAG SENSOR DIDN'T PROPERLY WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANYONE UNDER 150 POUNDS WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER )FOUR OR FIVE TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE, ANDTHEY TOLD HER THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE CAR …
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT PASSENGER 'SSIDE AIR BAG SENSOR DIDN'T PROPERLY WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANYONE UNDER 150 POUNDS WILL NOT ACTIVATE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER )FOUR OR FIVE TIMES FOR THIS FAILURE, ANDTHEY TOLD HER THAT SHE DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. SHE TOOK THE CAR TO CITY MOTORS ,AND THEY CHANGED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT THE RECURRED. *AK
MY 2006 CHEVY AVEO FRONTAL AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK 90% OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES. I HAVE CALLED THE CHEVY NUMBER IN THE BACK OF THEIR BOOK, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT DEALT WITH THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THEY HAVE MADE APPOINTMENTS FOR MY VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAG IS STILL N…
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MY 2006 CHEVY AVEO FRONTAL AIR BAG DOES NOT WORK 90% OF THE TIME. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 5 TIMES. I HAVE CALLED THE CHEVY NUMBER IN THE BACK OF THEIR BOOK, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT DEALT WITH THE ISSUE. THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THEY HAVE MADE APPOINTMENTS FOR MY VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAG IS STILL NOT WORKING. I AM 5 9 AND 120 LBS AND MY HUSBAND AND I CAN NOT USE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A WORKING AIR BAG. IN THIS SMALL OF A CAR I WOULD DIE IN A HIGHWAY ACCIDENT WITH OUT AN AIR BAG. MY HUSBAND GETS UPSET THAT WE CAN NOT USE A NEW CAR WITH FUEL ECONOMY FOR TRIPS TOGETHER BECAUSE I'M NOT PROTECTED. THIS CAR IS NEW!! THE CHEVY AVEO IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE PURCHASED. YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS WILL NOT BE SAFE, AND YOU WILL BE STUCK WITH A NEW AND UNUSABLE CAR. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT EVEN ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IT HAS TAKEN ME 3 MONTHS TO FIND A PLACE THAT WOULD TAKE MY COMPLAINTS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ANY ONE TO DEAL WITH THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. WHAT GOOD IS A CAR WITH OUT A FONT AIR BAG. PLEASE SOMEONE TAKE THIS SAFETY HAZARD SERIOUS. MY AIR BAG WORKS 1 OUT OF 10 DAYS. *NM
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE SOMEONE IS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IF YOU WEIGHT BETWEEN 80 AND 120 LB. THIS MAY OCCUR. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENS WHEN MY DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHTS 140 LBS RIDES IN THE SEAT AS WELL. THIS IS A DEFINITELY SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL DONE. I HAVE COMPLAINE…
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THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE SOMEONE IS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IF YOU WEIGHT BETWEEN 80 AND 120 LB. THIS MAY OCCUR. HOWEVER, IT HAPPENS WHEN MY DAUGHTER WHO WEIGHTS 140 LBS RIDES IN THE SEAT AS WELL. THIS IS A DEFINITELY SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL DONE. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JAN 2006. IN JULY THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR, THEY REPLACED THE SEAT BOTTOM (THE PATTERN DID NOT MATCH MY INTERIOR) AND IT WORKED CORRECTLY. AFTER ORDERING THE CORRECT PATTERN AND INSTALLING IN MY CAR THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PERSIST. IT IS AN INCONSISTENT PROBLEM. I CAN RIDE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE STORE AND THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF, ON THE TRIP BACK IT STAYS ON. DURING ONE TRIP TO THE STORE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE LIGHT STAYED ON SO I DROVE TO THE DEALER, BOTH THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAW HER IN THE SEAT WITH THE LIGHT ON. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE CAR AND IT SHOWS NO MALFUNCTIONS. THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE THE DIAGNOSTICS DIDN'T SHOW ANY ERROR CODES. HOW SAFE IS THIS!!! IT IS IMPERATIVE THE GENERAL MOTORS BE FORCED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE WRITTEN THE PRESIDENT AND YET THE 2007 STILL HAS THE SAME AIR BAG SYSTEM. I CAN NOT COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED. I WOULD APPRECIATE CONTRACT AND RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. *NM
CURRENTLY OWN A 2006 CHEVY AVEO HATCHBACK, WITH JUST OVER 20,000 MILES. PURCHASED NEW. HAVE BEEN NOTICING WITHIN THE LAST MONTH THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, I GET A BUZZING NOISE, AND ENGINE WILL NOT START. MUST TURN KEY AGAIN TO GET VEHICLE STARTED. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE STARTER OR IGNITION SWITCH. WILL…
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CURRENTLY OWN A 2006 CHEVY AVEO HATCHBACK, WITH JUST OVER 20,000 MILES. PURCHASED NEW. HAVE BEEN NOTICING WITHIN THE LAST MONTH THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, I GET A BUZZING NOISE, AND ENGINE WILL NOT START. MUST TURN KEY AGAIN TO GET VEHICLE STARTED. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECTIVE STARTER OR IGNITION SWITCH. WILL BE GETTING THIS CHECKED ASAP. ***HAVE ALSO NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ONCE IN MY MOM'S AVEO SEDAN, ALSO PURCHASED NEW IN 2006, CURRENTLY WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. *NM
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WORKS ABOUT 33% OF THE TIME FOR MY WIFE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP 2 OR 3 TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT STILL CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE AN AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSION IN MARCH, JUNE AND AUGUST OF 2006. AFT…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE AN AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THIS OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSION IN MARCH, JUNE AND AUGUST OF 2006. AFTER EACH INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER OF 2005. THE REPAIR INVOICES ARE AVAILABLE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER, AND CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, INTO A DITCH, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO A CEMETERY. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER, AND CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD, INTO A DITCH, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO A CEMETERY. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BOTH SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT.
CHEVROLET 2006 AVEO HATCHBACK GEAR SHIFTER LOCKING INTO POSITIONS WHILE BACKING UP, GOING FORWARD OR PARKING. *JB
Official recalls
114V261000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 19, 2014
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo vehicles equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the center console in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the DRL module melts due to the heat generation, it could cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a revised DRL module, inspect the wiring connector for heat damage, and clean the DRL circuit grounds. Owners were sent interim notices on August 14, 2014. The recall began on February 6, 2015. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14236.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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