NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TAKATA RECALL. ON OCTOBER 13TH 2018 I WAS IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WAS AN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT MY TIRE SHREDDED BUT STILL MAINTAINED AIR AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE AND I GOT A BROKEN NOSE AND A FEW FACIAL FRACTURES. NOW I HAVE SEVERE HEADACHES EVERYDAY SINCE THEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE COOLANT PUMP HOUSING FRACTURED AND COOLANT LEAKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND SUGGESTED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 116,000.
IGNITION SWITCH IS OVERHEATING. THE LONGER THE CAR IS DRIVEN (10-15 MILES) THE HOTTER IT IS BECOMING. IT HEATS UP SO MUCH THAT THE IGNITION KEY BECOMES QUITE HOT AS WELL...BUT THE SWITCH ITSELF IS EVEN HOTTER. I FEAR THERE WILL BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTING SOON, AND HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO STOP AT INTERVALS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF SO IT COOLS DOWN. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF IT'S DRIVEN FAST OR SLOW, DRIVING STILL HEATS UP THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE ONLY ODD OCCURRENCE THAT MIGHT BE SOMEHOW CONNECTED IS THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB NEEDED REPLACED SINCE THIS STARTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALEY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP DEALER LOCATED IN RICHMOND, VA BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. ...UPDATED 08/31/17 *BF *JS
WHILE BACKING UP MY VEHICLE I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 500 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FOOT ON THE BREAK, SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND TURN THE IGNITION TO OFF. I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART TO VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE TWO OR THREE TIMES. ONETIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND I HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BREAK AND SHUT OFF IGNITION TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I SEEMS LIKE IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE ( IN THE 30"S F) . I THINK THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,390. UPDATED 09/22/16*LJ *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO EQUIPPED WITH MILESTAR MS932 (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 185/65/R14 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BOOM SOUND AND THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OBSERVED THAT THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS BLOWN OPEN. THE TIRE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOT NUMBER OF THE TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15T004000 (TIRES). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, WHEN IT GOT INTO A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE MADE AN ABRUPT STOP ON THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF THE 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO, WHICH CAUSED THE AVEO TO HIT THE BACK OF THE SUDDENLY STOPPED VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH FROM MY UNDERSTANDING SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN TRAVELING AT THAT SPEED. IN FACT IT ESPECIALLY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE IMPACT DAMAGED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAVE BOUGHT TWO OTHER VEHICLES FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY FAMILY IS SAFE WHEN RIDING IN THESE VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE MIGHT BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE GEAR SHAFT OR IGNITION SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,500.
2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WARRANTY NOTICE #14093 ISSUES. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE WARRANY HAD EXPIRED. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT WERE REPLACED. *JB
2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE TIMING BELT FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. *JB
THIS IS JUST ONE PROBLEM...THE CAR HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE PAST LIKE DYING TOTALLY ON A HIGHWAY BUT THAT'S NOT MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW. THE BACK SEAT BELT IS LOCKED UP & IT WILL NOT RETRACT. I HAVE A CHILD SO IT'S REALLY INCONVENIENT.
I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVEO AND A 2005 CHEVY COBALT MY IGNITION SWITCH ON MY AVEO DOES THE SAME THING AS COBALT BUT AVEO NOT RECALLED ITOOK COBALT IN DEALER REPLACED IGNITION SWTICH TOOK AVEO IN FOR RECALL FOR DRL SWITCH DEALER WANTS OVER 300.OO DOLLORS TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH I WILL BE DRIVING ALONG AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS CAR WILL SHUT OFF STARTS BACK UP WHEN I PUT KEY IN HAVE TO MOVE KEY SEVERAL TIMES TO START CAR DEALER SAYS NO RECALL ON THE AVEO FOR IGNITION SWITCH BUT IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AS MY COBALT DID IS THIS A DIFFERENT SWITCH THE AVEO HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
TIMING BELT SNAPPED AT 73K MILES WHILE DRIVING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER: STEERING, BRAKES, AND GAS PEDAL ALL NOT RESPONDING. MANUALLY MANAGED TO COAST TO A STOP ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER WITH MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, AND WITHOUT HITTING OR BEING HIT BY ANYTHING ELSE. I'M ALIVE AND SO IS MY PASSENGER, BUT I FEAR WE COULD HAVE DIED ON THAT DAY. RELATED TSBS AND NHTSA BELOW TO AUGMENT REPORTING THIS PROBLEM. ---- TSB #3936 / NHTSA ID #10020573 STATES THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN PRIOR TO 60K MILES TO OTHERS AS FAR BACK AS 2006; TOTAL ENGINE LOSS DUE TO DAMAGE FROM THE BELT AT HIGH SPEED NOT REPORTED OR FIXED. SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE ALSO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THIS PART: # TSB #060601021 -- TIMING BELT INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE, WORN, WEAR.*KB (NHTSA ID #10020843, OCTOBER 01 2006)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT WHICH I INTENDED TO TAKE CARE OF AND DRIVE FOR YEARS TO COME, IN FACT INTO THE GROUND. THE MANUAL I RECEIVED WITH THE CAR INDICATED THAT THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 100,000. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE YOU REALLY NEED A VEHICLE. I HAD DRIVEN TO ANOTHER TOWN FOR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT. WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE CAR JUST DIED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A 55 MPH ZONE. I WAS LUCKY THAT A GOOD SAMARITAN HELPED ME OUT OF THE DANGEROUS CONDITION I WAS IN ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAD 65,321 MIIES ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING VALVE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO REPAIR IT WHICH IS WHAT I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE. I DID NOT HAVING $5,000 SO I JUNKED THE CAR. THIS ORDEAL CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR ME FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. I WAS 62 AT THE TIME. THE WEBSITE CARCOMPLAINTS HAS 56 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RELATED TO 2004 CHEVY AVEOS. ALL OF THE TIMING BELTS FAILED BELOW 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2005 CHEVY AVEO. WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I WOULD NOT LOSE MY SHORTS ON MY VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE EVENT WAS TERRIBLY FRIGHTENING. I SUFFER FROM HEART FAILURE. MY NEW CAR PAYMENT IS VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH ON A FIXED INCOME. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF THE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT SUCH DANGEROUS CONDITION. I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS.
IN MID-FEBRUARY AFTER ONE OF OUR MANY BLIZZARDS, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER SEDAN HOME. THERE WAS A PILE OF SNOW ON OUR STREET THAT HAD HARDENED OVER. I GUESS SHE MISCALCULATED ITS HEIGHT (AND HARDNESS) AND WHEN SHE WENT OVER IT, THE CAR LURCHED UP AND SHE HEARD A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AGAINST THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING IMMEDIATELY AND WITHIN SECONDS DIED. SHE CALLED ME OUT AND I TOOK A LOOK AT THE CAR. IT WAS DEAD. I WALKED OVER TO THE ICE AND IT WAS ROCK HARD, SO I TRIED TO TAKE A SHOVEL TO IT AND IMMEDIATELY EMAILED MY NEIGHBORS TO BE CAREFUL OF IT. I AM NOT MECHANICALLY-INCLINED, SO WHEN I GOOGLED WHAT MIGHT'VE HAPPENED, I SAW SEVERAL COMMENTS THAT IT COULD BE AS MINOR AS A DAMAGED OIL PAN THAT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. FIGURING IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING MINOR, I CALLED AAA (HAD TO WAIT A FEW DAYS SINCE THEIR LINES WERE DOWN) AND HAD THE CAR TOWED DOWN THE STREET TO A SERVICE STATION. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THE ASSESSMENT FROM THE MECHANIC: APPARENTLY DURING THE COLLISION, THE TIMING BELT SLIPPED AND CAUSED THE PISTONS TO BEND. THIS WOULD COST SEVERAL THOUSAND TO FIX. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAR HAS AN "INTERFERENCE" DESIGN WHICH IS PRONE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MANY AVEO OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ONLINE. THE WORST PART ABOUT ALL OF THIS IS THAT EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENED DURING A COLLISION, OUR INSURANCE CHALKED THIS UP TO "WEAR AND TEAR" AND WE WERE FORCED TO JUNK THE CAR. OUR CAR HAD LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT AND WE KEPT IT IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THIS SHOULD HAVE EITHER BEEN HANDLED THROUGH A MANUFACTURER RECALL OR MY INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE TREATED IT AS THE COLLISION IT WAS AND COVERED IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR DRL FIRE HAZARD. CALLED 3 DEALERSHIPS IN THE DALLAS AREA TO HAVE THE MOSFET REPAIRED. ALL 3 DEALERSHIP DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL AND DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN STOCK EVEN IF I DID BRING THE RECALL NOTICE IN. CHEVY HAS SENT 2 E-MAILS BUT THEY ARE THE DO NOT REPLY. I HAVE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO CONTACT CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CANT GET ANYONE TO RESPOND. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD, PLEASE HELP ME TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WITH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE SAT AT THE DEALER FOR TEN MONTHS, DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. UPDATED 06/10/15.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL STILL HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. UPDATED 08/24/15*JB
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE ON MY WAY HOME TO KNOXVILLE FROM ATHENS, TN, AND I HEARD MY CAR MAKE A FUNNY NOISE, AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE, I PULLED OVER OFF OF THE INTERSTATE ONTO AN EXIT AND THEN THE CAR BASICALLY DIED WHEN I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SMOKE WAS WHITE AT FIRST, BUT THEN IT TURNED BLACK SO WE RAN FROM THE CAR. THE CAR PROCEEDED TO CATCH ON FIRE AND BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IT WAS TOO LATE. I HAD A LOT OF CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS IN MY CAR, AND MY BOYFRIEND'S LAPTOP AND REALLY EXPENSIVE TEXTBOOKS WERE IN THE CAR AS WELL. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY BURNED EXCEPT FOR PARTS OF THE TRUNK AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WAS SALVAGEABLE. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE OF FIRES, BUT I HAD NO IDEA BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE NO CAR AND I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND I NEED A CAR SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT MY PROBLEM. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME FIX THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INFORM WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND UPON PULLING OVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES AND SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE DRIVER AND THE FRONT PASSENGER EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO BE EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE VENTS AND CD PLAYER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 5/5/15*CN UPDATED 10/23/2015 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT FRACTURED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUINED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN UPDATED 05/12/15*JB
2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEADLAMP SWITCH MODULE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR MONTHS AND THEY INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT URGENT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, GRAY SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE HOOD INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE HOOD LATCH QUICKLY AND HAD A PASSENGER DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. HOWEVER, A FIRE ERUPTED NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY THAT IMPACTED THE CONTACT'S BREATHING. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL TANK CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PNEUMONIA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
GM RECALL #14093 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO GM MAILED A LETTER IN JULY REGARDING THIS RECALL. THERE HAS BEEN NO FOLLOW REGARDING REPAIRING THE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. WHEN GM WAS CONTACTED, THEY ADVISED TO CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS OR INSTRUCTION FROM GM ON HOW TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. I HAVE A CHEVROLET AVEO WITH INOPERABLE TAIL LIGHTS, FRONT PARKING LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS. I AM UNABLE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. CAN NHTSA ASSIST WITH GETTING GM TO REPAIR THE VEHICLES? *TR
BASICALLY I AM WRITING BECAUSE GM ISSUED A RECALL IN JUNE 2014 LETTING ME KNOW THAT MY CAR HAS AN ISSUE WHICH MAY LEAD TO A FIRE IN MY CAR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT A YEAR HAS PASSED AND THE STATUS OF THAT RECALL STILL IS "GENERAL MOTORS WILL PROVIDE ITS PLAN FOR REMEDYING THE DEFECT AS SOON AS IT IS CONFIRMED." I HONESTLY FEEL THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT IT. I DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD TAKE SUCH A LONG TIME TO GET FIXED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE FAILURE SPECIFIED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V261000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING).THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 8/11/4*CN
MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER JUST ARRIVED AT HER MOTHERS HOUSE, PARKED THE CAR AND CAME INSIDE. WHEN WE STARTED SEEING, AND SMELLING SMOKE. SO WE WENT OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND SAW SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS IF THERE WAS A FIRE CONTAINED UNDER THE HOOD. SO WE CALLED 911 AND SUDDENLY WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND SAW FLAMES ON THE HOOD. WE PROCEEDED TO GET A WATER HOSE TO POUR WATER ON THE CAR UNTIL FINALLY THE FIREMEN ARRIVED. THE CAR STILL REMAINS IN FRONT OF HER MOTHERS HOUSE, IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR. THE FIREMEN DEEMED IT TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. I WOULD LIKE ANY INFORMATION FOR RECALLS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLOOR MAT SENSOR AND CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,950.
WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY, I WENT TO TURN IGNITION ON, AND CAR WOULD NOT START. RADIO TURNED OFF. IT WAS NOT UNTIL I FLOORED THE PEDAL THAT THE GAS AND MOTOR STARTED. IT HAPPENS OFF AND ON. ALSO THE KEY AND IGNITION SWITCH ENTRY AREA ARE EXTREMELY HOT. I AM WORRIED THIS IS IN FACT ONE OF THE IGNITION PROBLEMS THAT CHEVY DID NOT LIST OR IS REFUSING TO FIX. PLEASE HELP,. IT IS NOT THE BATTERY. UPDATED 12/8/2014 *JS
I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN MOVED THROUGH INTERSECTION THE SUDDENLY DOVE TO THE DITCH .I WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON I75 5 MINUTES EARLIER THEN TURNED ON THE SIDE ROAD S TO MY HOME .THE RACK AND PINION BROKE IN TWO SENDING ME INTO DITCH. IF THIS HAPPENED 10 MINUTES EARLIER I WOULD BE DEAD. *TR
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A STRANGE, LOUD RUBBING/ CLATTERING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. MY BOYFRIEND, WHO IS A MECHANIC, LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID THE TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. NOW I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR 4 CYLINDER GM VEHICLE. THIS ENGINE IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. THIS MEANS THAT THE ONLY THING PREVENTING THE VALVES FROM STRIKING THE PISTONS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IS THE TIMING BELT. IF/ WHEN IT BREAKS, IT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE, OFTEN REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ONE OR MORE OF THE TIMING BELT PULLEYS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. WHEN THE TIMING BELT PULLEY BREAKS, SHARDS OF PLASTIC SNAP OFF AND BECOME LODGED INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, RENDERING THE ENGINE USELESS. ALSO, AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE VALVES BECOME BENT WHEN THE BELT/ PULLEY(S) MALFUNCTIONS. THIS IS BOTH COSTLY AND DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE MADE ALL PULLEYS AND MOVING PARTS ON THE ENGINE OUT OF METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *TR
DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FROZE UP AND THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THIS BUCKLE HAS EXHIBITED DIFFICULTY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. MANY TIMES WOULD HAVE TO PUSH BELT INTO SLOT 2X OR 3X BEFORE THE BUCKLE WOULD CATCH. NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A ISSUE. THANK GOD MY DAUGHTER WASN'T DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND THE THING LOCKED UP OR SOMETHING. NOW, IT WILL COST APPROX. $200 TO HAVE JUST THE BUCKLE REPLACED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM. ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE AVEO SEAT BELTS STARTING FROM 2004. I LIKED THIS LITTLE CAR BUT I AM DONE. I THINK I'LL STICK WITH DODGE. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE OVER 1800 COMPLAINTS ON THIS VEHICLE BETWEEN 2004 AND 2011; THE MOST BEING 2004 AND 2005. I THINK MY ISSUE JUST SLIDE PAST THEM. *TR
OVERALL, AN EXCELLENT SMALL CAR! MY CAR HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM WHEN FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNING OCCASIONALLY. THERE ARE NO POWER BRAKES AND YOU HAVE TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR! KNOWING THIS(THE PEDAL IS SUPER HARD WHEN YOU PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT IT IN GEAR) I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP AND THE CONDITION HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT! THIS CONDITION USUALLY GOES AWAY AFTER A FEW MILES AND THE BRAKES RETURN TO NORMAL! BY THE TIME I CAN GET TO A GARAGE, EVERYTHING IS FINE AND IT DOESN'T DO IT CONSISTENTLY! WEATHER DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR AND IT ONLY DOES IT ON STARTUP AFTER IT SITS OVERNIGHT! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE TIMING BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VALVES. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BELT AND VALVES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON MY LUNCH BREAK, AND HAD JUST MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER I MADE THE TURN, I FELT A JOLT AND HEARD AN ODD GRINDING SOUND. MY CAR LOST POWER AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE CAR FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER BEFORE IT FINALLY STOPPED. I HAD THE ADDED FORTUNE OF BREAKING DOWN IN FRONT OF A REPAIR SHOP. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT MY TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND HAD BENT ALL THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE. IT TOOK 5 DAYS AND $1875 TO FIX. I HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM AVEO OWNERS ABOUT TIMING BELT FAILURES LONG BEFORE THE RECOMMENDED 100K REPLACEMENT MARK, BUT CHEVROLET REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND WON'T ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
IT'S THE 3RD TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. IT OCCURRED TWICE WITH MY DAUGHTER AND HER BABY IN THE CAR, TODAY WHEN I PICKED MY KID UP FROM SCHOOL; THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE CHANGED THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, CRANK SENSOR, COOLING TEMPERATURE SENSOR, 15 AMP FUSE TWICE, REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET, SEALANT, EGR VALVE AND EGR GASKET. CLEANED OFF ALL OIL RESIDUE ON ENGINE, ON HEAD GASKETS, ON SPARK PLUGS. RECENTLY REPLACED THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, TIMING BELT AND HAVE ALSO DID A TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGE. THE CAR IS NOT WORKING APPROPRIATELY. *TR
WHEN WILL THE DRL MODULE REPLACEMENT BE AVAILABLE? IT'S BEEN OVER 4 MONTHS SINCE THIS CAME TO LIGHT! DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MY CAR CATCHES ON FIRE? GM RECALLS JUST SAYS NOT AVAILABLE YET! DO YOU HAVE MORE POWER NOW SINCE THE IGNITION RECALLS? *TR
AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, I FELT THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PICKING UP, I COULD ONLY GET TO AROUND 40-45MPH ON A HIGHWAY THAT IS 65MPH. I NEARLY GOT REAR-ENDED BY CARS FLYING UP ON ME AND I QUICKLY PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER JUST IN TIME AS THE POWER STEERING ALSO WENT OUT AND THE CAR APPEARED TO HAVE STOPPED RUNNING. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO START AGAIN. THE DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD GONE AND IT COULD BE FIXED FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN $800 TO NEEDING A BRAND NEW MOTOR. THIS FLOORED ME AS I ALWAYS HAD THE OIL AND FLUIDS REPLACED AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 84K MILES ON IT. I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE AVEO AND BAM, THERE IT WAS, OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON-LINE. OWNERS ALL COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR AVEO. THE TIMING BELT ON THE AVEO, ESPECIALLY THE 04-07 MODELS GO AND WILL REQUIRE ANYWHERE FROM A MAJOR FIX TO A BRAND NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM ON A LITTLE CAR. I WENT ON CRAIGSLIST TO LOOK FOR A NEW ENGINE, BUT INSTEAD FOUND 10 AVEOS IN ONE HOUR... THAT WERE BEING SOLD FOR PARTS BECAUSE THEIR TIMING BELT WENT! PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE AVEO DESERVING OF A RECALL, AND OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THE PERSISTENT NEED TO HAVE THEIR TIMING BELT REPLACED OR FACE A TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN REAR-ENDED OR WORSE BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER AND POWER STEERING. THANK YOU. *TR
DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE CAR FELT LIKE CAME OUT OF 5TH GEAR. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE CAR WAS IN GEAR. PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN (VERY TIGHT). THE CAR WAS LOOSING POWER BUT TACH WAS STILL AT 3000. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR HAD NO SPARK. LIGHTS STILL WORKED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED WHICH TOOK OUT THE WATER PUMP AND DAMAGED MY HEAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. AT THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC AND 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THANK GOD IT WAS 5:15 AM AND NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. *TR
WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP THIS YEAR. THE REAR SEAT BELTS DON'T EXTEND OR RETRACT. THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED ON OCTOBER 15, 2004 (RECALL # 04V407000). CHEVROLET'S RECALL CENTER HAS TOLD ME IT'S NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR THE REAR SEAT BELTS, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THIS IS A PASSENGER SAFETY CONCERN, THIS RECALL ITEM IS NOW IN A, "CLOSED" STATUS. MY QUESTIONS IS, "REALLY"?! DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE NO LONGER CHEVY'S RESPONSIBILITY AFTER A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND PLEASE ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE AS A CHEVY OWNER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,995.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026