this model year2 EU Safety Gate alerts naming this model are classed as a serious risk. Check the production dates against this car.
this model yearOf 163 owner complaints for this model year, around 21% describe 19 injuries and 16 fires. These are unverified owner accounts, but the pattern is worth reading before buying.
this model yearOne further recall campaign covers this model year. Ask a dealer whether it remains outstanding on this car.
Almost all of this describes the model year, not the individual car. Nothing here can tell you about this vehicle’s mileage, accidents or ownership — no identifier encodes those.
Owner complaints for this model year
163Complaints
17Involved a crash
16Involved a fire
19Injuries
Most reported components
air bags70
electrical system44
exterior lighting30
engine20
power train15
suspension9
Read 15 of the most serious reports
air bags3 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10947479
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED RIBS INJURIES, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE AND HEAD INJURIES, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT HAND AND NECK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,164.
steering,electrical system,electronic stability control (esc)2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10547174
IN MARCH THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY DOWN AND THE FAN BELT POPPED AND WRAP AROUND THE MOTOR AND HAD DAMAGED THE TIMER BELT. TWO MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE POST OFFICE AND WHEN CRANKING IT UP TO LEAVE IT WOULDN'T START BECAUSE IT HAD SHUT DOWN AGAIN. SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULDN'T BE GUIDED AND RAN INTO A FIRE HYDRANT. *TR
air bags2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10534921
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE ARMS AND FACE. THE FRONT PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE ARM. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE OR FOR REPAIRS. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,705.
air bags2 injuriescrash
NHTSA #10446683
I WAS TRAVELING SE ON ENTRANCE ROAD. A CAR WAS STOPPED ON MY LEFT ON JEAN CHAPEL ROAD. THE DRIVER UNEXPECTEDLY PULLED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME CREATING AN UNAVOIDABLE CRASH SITUATION. I PUMPED MY BRAKES HEAVILY AND ATTEMPTED TO SWERVE TO MISS THE VEHICLE BUT DO TO WET ROAD CONDITIONS AND MY SPEED (5MPH UNDER THE LIMIT), I COULD NOT AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER IN THE OTHER CAR RECEIVED AMBULANCE RECOVERY. THE DRIVER WAS OBVIOUSLY STUNNED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND I SUBSEQUENTLY RECEIVED DIRECT STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD CONTACT. FIRST FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES, PASSENGER WARNING AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. *KB
air bags,structure,engine1 injuryfirecrash
NHTSA #10980559
I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY IN SLOW AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW PACE, ABOUT 15 MPH.THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. WHEN HE HIT ME, HE FORCED MY VEHICLE INTO THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE FLAMES WERE COMING UP FROM THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THIS. I AM 12 WEEKS PREGNANT WITH TWINS. ONE OF MY PLACENTA'S HAS A TEAR IN IT AND IS BLEEDING AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. I WILL HAVE TO BE ON BED REST FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY PREGNANCY. I AM AT RISK OF MISCARRYING ONE OR MAYBE BOTH OF MY BABIES.
engine and engine cooling1 injuryfirecrash
NHTSA #10296724
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.
exterior lighting,engine1 injuryfire
NHTSA #10786801
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME, FUMES EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, SMOKE APPEARED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10684232
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS UNINJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
air bags1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10456510
MY HUSBAND REAR ENDED A CAR DUE TO A CAR STOPPING SUDDINGLY AND THE ROADWAY WAS WET. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT THE OPENING IT CAME OUT OF SPLIT THE AIRBAG ON BOTH SIDES, SO IT DID NOT INFLATE PROPERLY. *TR
air bags,seat belts1 injurycrash
NHTSA #10255717
MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN MVC IN FLORIDA. SHE WAS EXITING ON AN INTERSTATE RAMP AND FAILED TO LEAVE ROOM FOR ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE RESULTING IN A FRONT END/REAR END CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND HER SEAT BELT DID NOT FULLY RESTRAIN HER, RESULTING A FRACTURED STERNUM (3 PLACES). SHE AS BEEN RECOVERING EVER SINCE AND NEITHER THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP NOR THE CHEVROLET DEALER HAS BEEN ABLE OR WILLING TO FIND OUT WHY THESE SYSTEMS FAILED. *TR
air bags,structure1 injury
NHTSA #10294279
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
structure,latches/locks/linkages1 injury
NHTSA #10285906
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
air bags1 injury
NHTSA #10209625
WHILE AT WORK AT LARSON AUTOMOTIVE, AS A SALES MANAGER, IN BARABOO WISCONSIN I WENT TO MOVE A 2008 CHEVY AVEO. THIS VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. I STARTED THE CAR AND SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO FIRST GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND THE SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. I DID NOT PURCHASE VEHICLE. THE RESULT OF THE NOISE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF HEARING IN MY RIGHT EAR, MY RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE WENT NUM AND TINGLING. AS OF TODAY MY HEARING IS STILL NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL. I AM SCHEDULED FOR A RECHECK NEXT MONDAY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. *TR
fuel system, otherfirecrash
NHTSA #10274795
LIGHT FRONT-END IMPACT RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE. *TR
electrical system,unknown or otherfire
NHTSA #11609379
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.
Filed by owners of this model year and unverified by NHTSA — one person’s account, not an established fact.
Recalls for this model year
1 recall on record
14V261000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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: 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.
Published by model year, not by VIN — may not apply to this vehicle, or may already have been done. Confirm with a dealer.
EU recalls for this model
2 Safety Gate alerts name this model· 2 classed as serious risk
Chevrolet AVEO T300, CRUZE, ORLANDO, TRAXSerious riskInjuries
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Chevrolet Cruze, Orlando, Trax, AveoSerious riskInjuries
The propellant in the inflator of the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it could result in fragments of the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.