Chevrolet · Aveo · 2008
1
Recall
163
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo has 1 recall and 163 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (45 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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
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.
California catalytic converter breaking
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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
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.
THE ABS LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AND AT TIMES HAS A HARD TIME STOPPING. ALSO MY DOORS WILL LOCK BY THEM SELF.
CHIEF DEFICIENCY: HEADLIUGHTS HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY STOPPED ILLUMINATING. NO HIGH OR LOW BEAM FUNCTION OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER HEADLAMPS. BULBS WERE JUST REPLACED BECAUSE LIGHTS WERE DIMMING. UPON REPLACEMENT IT WAS NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER PLUG IN/SOCKET WAS PARTIALLY MELTED. WORKED FINE FOR 20 DAYS; NOW NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AFTER DARK. I FOUND THERE IS A GM RECALL CAMPAIGN 14236, DATED 19MAY2014: RECALL # 14V261000 FOR EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, TO WHAT IS NOTED ABOVE, I HAVE BEEN SMELLING PERIODICAL WHIFFS OF OZONE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THESE PAST FEW DAYS. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL).
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 163 owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo are air bags (45 reports), exterior lighting (14 reports), electrical system (10 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.