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2008 Chevrolet Aveo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 169.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

133 reports with mileage · 30 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports16 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

163 reports
20,131 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS DRIVING AND MADE A LEFT TURN CAR STARTED SHAKING THEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 15 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319629

31,400 miles · Feb 12, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

LOSS OF POWER STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. HAS JUST ENOUGH POWER TO GET YOU OFF OF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310083

17,180 miles · Feb 10, 2010
Power Train

2008 CHEVY AVEO - ON 9/4/2009 TRANSMISSION 5TH GEAR FORK BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY (MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME FORK IS MADE OF ALUMINUM). DEALERSHIP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH SIMILAR ALUMINUM PART. ON 2/7/2010 2008 CHEVY AVEO MOTOR MOUNT SHEARED WHEN STARTING OUT FROM INTERSECTION. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED JUST …

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2008 CHEVY AVEO - ON 9/4/2009 TRANSMISSION 5TH GEAR FORK BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY (MECHANIC LATER TOLD ME FORK IS MADE OF ALUMINUM). DEALERSHIP REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH SIMILAR ALUMINUM PART. ON 2/7/2010 2008 CHEVY AVEO MOTOR MOUNT SHEARED WHEN STARTING OUT FROM INTERSECTION. ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION DROPPED JUST ENOUGH TO STALL CAR AND COULD NOT START OR PUT IN NEUTRAL GEAR TO PUSH VEHICLE OUT OF INTERSECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10308524

3,000 miles · Jan 25, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

CAR IS VERY UNSTABLE ON HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH. THE CAR HAS HAD A VIBRATION SINCE NEW AT 45MPH. OR SO BALANCE TIRES CHECK RIMS TURN DOWN ROTOR STILL A PROBLEM AT 31,000 MILES CAR IS GOING ON SECOND SET OF ROTORS AND BRAKE LININGS WITH PROBABLY 4 ROTOR TURN DOWNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10302254

36,000 miles · Dec 22, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFireInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE DRIVER STRUCK A DEER IN THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. HE THEN GAINED VEHICLE CONTROL, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE DRIVER STRUCK A DEER IN THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. HE THEN GAINED VEHICLE CONTROL, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WAS MINOR INJURY SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10296724

26,340 miles · Dec 2, 2009
Air BagsStructureInjury

MY SISTER RECENTLY CUT HER HAND WHEN SHE GRABBED THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHEN WE LOOKED CLOSER AT THE HANDLE, IT APPEARS TO BE SEPARATING AT THE TOP JOINED SEAMS. IT HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE TO IT SIMILAR TO THE LID OF A PULL TOP CAN. I DON'T TRANSPORT MANY PEOPLE SO I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT'S CONDITION. I'M …

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MY SISTER RECENTLY CUT HER HAND WHEN SHE GRABBED THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHEN WE LOOKED CLOSER AT THE HANDLE, IT APPEARS TO BE SEPARATING AT THE TOP JOINED SEAMS. IT HAS A VERY SHARP EDGE TO IT SIMILAR TO THE LID OF A PULL TOP CAN. I DON'T TRANSPORT MANY PEOPLE SO I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT'S CONDITION. I'M GLAD THAT THE INCIDENT DID NOT INVOLVE A CHILD BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE SUSTAINED A SERIOUS CUT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY WRECKS OR DAMAGE TO MY CAR TO RESULT IN THE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATING. I FELL THIS IS A SERIOUS ENOUGH SITUATION TO WARRANT REPORTING. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONSISTENTLY MALFUNCTIONING. IT'S BEEN SUPPOSEDLY FIXED TWICE..BUT IT STILL MALFUNCTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294279

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2009
Electrical SystemInterior Lighting

CHEVY AVEO 2008 BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY 18 2009 STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A DEFECT IN IT AND THE CAR SALESMAN DID NOT REPORT IT TO US WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE FAILURE IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. I CAN NOT SEE AT NIGHT HOW FAST I AM GOING, CAN'T SEE MY GA…

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CHEVY AVEO 2008 BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MAY 18 2009 STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THERE WAS A DEFECT IN IT AND THE CAR SALESMAN DID NOT REPORT IT TO US WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THE FAILURE IS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND SHIFTER INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. I CAN NOT SEE AT NIGHT HOW FAST I AM GOING, CAN'T SEE MY GAUGES, OR WHEN I AM SHIFTING INTO DRIVE ETC. I FEEL IT IS VERY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY DRIVING AT NIGHT. I DID READ THAT CHEVY AVEO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL AFTER BUYING THE CAR. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE FAILURE IS THAT IT IS UNSAFE AND IT WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION HERE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. THE FAILURE TO FIX THE NEEDED REPAIR CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT AND BE DANGER TO OTHERS. CORRECT THE PROBLEM......I REPORTED IT TO THE SALESMAN ON MAY 20 AND WAS REFERRED TO SERVICE THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED DOWN AND 2 MONTHS LATER THE SERVICE DEPT. OPEN. THE WRONG PART WAS ORDERED AND IT IS OVER 3 MONTHS THE CAR STILL NOT FIXED...THE SERVICE DEPT WILL CLOSE DOWN THIS FRIDAY ON NOV. 13 2009. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH COSTUMER ASSISTANCE SEVERAL TIMES AND THE SERVICE DEPT LOCALLY BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING AS IT MIGHT TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS OR A YEAR NO TIME FRAME ACCORDING TO CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE FROM GMC. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291907

3,600 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. SINCE YEAR 2008 THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY THE DRIVERS FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED HAS FAILED. THE DEALER WANTED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. SINCE YEAR 2008 THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE, AND THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY THE DRIVERS FRONTAL AIR BAG FAILED HAS FAILED. THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $95.00 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,400.

NHTSA ODI #10290408

54,974 miles · Oct 1, 2009
Latches/locks/linkagesStructureInjury

PRESENT PROBLEM: 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO ON 09/30/2009, I CUT A FINGER ON MY LEFT HAND TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. A BREAK IN 'SILVER COATING MATERIAL' ON HANDLE WAS WHAT CAUSED THE CUT. I WAS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE BAD HANDLES WILL BE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. EITHER THE DR…

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PRESENT PROBLEM: 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO ON 09/30/2009, I CUT A FINGER ON MY LEFT HAND TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. A BREAK IN 'SILVER COATING MATERIAL' ON HANDLE WAS WHAT CAUSED THE CUT. I WAS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE, SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW THE BAD HANDLES WILL BE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. EITHER THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER BEHIND THE DRIVER, AS THESE TWO HANDLES ARE PROBABLY FORMED IN THE SAME TYPE MOLD. MY FINGER WAS BLEEDING AND STINGING IN CUT AREA. I HAVE HAD TO TAPE THE HANDLE OF THE CAR TO USE IT TO GET OUT NOW. CUT CAME AS TOTAL SURPRISE. ARE OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING THIS CAR GETTING THEIR FINGERS CUT TOO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285906

7,928 miles · Jul 27, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WARPED ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND TURNED THE ROTORS, BUT NEVER CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS. THE REPAIRS COST $50. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WARPED ON HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT AND TURNED THE ROTORS, BUT NEVER CHANGED THE BRAKE PADS. THE REPAIRS COST $50. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,928. UPDATED 08/28/09. *LJ THE REAR DRUMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 09/02/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10278466

Official recalls

1

14V261000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.