2004 Chevrolet Aveo Complaint Log

MY STEPDAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND WERE TRAVELING CROSS-COUNTRY FROM CALIFORNIA TO ILLINOIS. CAR HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED BY A MECHANIC PRIOR TO TRIP AND SAID WAS OK. ON I-40, ABOUT 40 MILES WEST OF ALBUQUERQUE NM, SHE REALIZED THE CAR WAS GETTING WARM, THEN THEY SAW STEAM FROM HOOD, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED ME, IN ILLINOIS. THEN SHE CALLED AAA FOR TOWING, AND WAS TOWED TO GALLES CHEVROLET IN ALBUQUERQUE. THE NEXT DAY THEY DIAGNOSED TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OVERHEATING; CAUSE OF FAILURE LIKELY A BROKEN THERMOSTAT HOUSING. I SEARCHED FOR THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN EDMUNDS FORUM; THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. IN THE END THE GIRLS WERE SAFE, THANK GOD. NOT ONLY WAS THIS A VERY EXPENSIVE INCIDENT (~$5000), BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, LEAVING TWO YOUNG COLLEGE GIRLS STRANDED IN A REMOTE DESERT LOCATION ON A HOT DAY, VERY VULNERABLE. THE NEXT PERSON THIS HAPPENS TO MIGHT NOT BE SO FORTUNATE. I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION TO REQUIRE GM TO RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AFTER THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NINE TIMES ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETECT A CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500. UPDATED 07/25/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR EIGHT DAYS. UPDATED 07/25/12

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY SON. I FELT THE ACCELERATOR "CLUNK" AND NOTICED WHEN I ENTERED THE EXIT RAMP THAT I WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND AS SUSPECT THE ENGINE WHINED DUE TO BOTH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED AT THE SAME TIME. I PLACE IT IN NEUTRAL AND CAME TO A STOP. I APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND TRIED TO DISLODGE THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO MOVE BUT WHEN I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN REMEDIED. I'M SO HAPPY THAT MY SON WAS NOT IN THE CAR AND THAT I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOT IN THE CITY! *TR

MY PASSENGER REAR SHOE BROKE IN HALF. IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY WEEK TO TWO WEEKS MY SPRINGS AND SELF ADJUST FALL OFF. WHEN THE DRUM IS PULLED OFF THEY ARE EITHER COMPLETELY DETACHED OR HANGING BY A HAIR. THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED NOR ARE THEY DOING ANY GOOD FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM. IN THE 7 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR, I HAVE HAD IT WORKED ON 18 OR MORE TIMES ON THE EXACT SAME BRAKE. *TT

THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING COMPLETELY SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING ONLY 35 MILES PER HOUR. THERE ARE MULITPLE CHEVROLET AVEO OWNERS THAT HAVE A CAR BETWEEN THE YEARS 04-06 THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFTY HAZARD, BUT A REALITIVE COSTLY FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN HER VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A T-BONE CRASH AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INSURANCE COMPANY LOT BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 12/12/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V2610000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TAPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS NHTSA INCIDENT 10393028 (SNAPPED PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT). DRIVING ON A MULTIPLE LANE FREEWAY AT ~65MPH AND THE TIMING BELT SNAPPED (HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE LIKE THE CAR WINDOW WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN). IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECELERATING. THANKFULLY, WAS IN RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I BEEN IN ANY OTHER LANE IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED BACK ON AND WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL TURNED INTO ACC MODE WHERE IT FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO BE TOWED, EVENTUALLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. ENGINE DAMAGE WAS CATASTROPHIC AND REQUIRED EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (3 WEEKS AND APPROXIMATELY $2,700). SNAPPED TIMING BELT ALSO BENT PISTONS AND VALVES AND REQUIRED THE WATER PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET, RATHER THAN HIDING BEHIND THE 60,000 MILE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS LAUGHABLY LOW FOR A TIMING BELT. FURTHER - MY TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES AND THUS NOT ONLY DID A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP LIE TO ME, THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK BY KNOWING THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WOULD INEVITABLY OCCUR LONG BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED BELT REPLACEMENT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ONLY 5,000-10,000 MILES DRIVEN/YEAR. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP OTHER THAN BEING A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

TIMING BELT FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT. CHEVY AVEO ONLY HAD 65,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AFTER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER THEN STARTED TO MISREAD AND DISPLAY THAT HE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS THAN NORMAL. HE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN A CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD UNTIL CRASHING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TAKING OF FROM A STOP SIGN, I HEARD A QUICK WHIRRING SOUND AND THE CAR DIED. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN PREMATURELY. IT WAS NOT DUE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 60,000 MILES. (ORIGINALLY 90,000 IN THE MECHANICS BOOK, AMENDED BY GM) THE TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE TO BE BENT AND THE ENGINE RENDERED USELESS.

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVEO THAT ONLY HAS 65K MILES ON IT AND GETS REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I WENT IN AND HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND WAS TOLD THE CAR LOOKED GREAT. DROVE A FEW OTHER PLACES, AND WAS ON A STEEP HILL, TURNING AROUND (AS I HAVE DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE), AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF MY ENGINE. I PARKED IMMEDIATELY. MY THERMOSTAT HOUSING PIECE (PLASTIC) HAD CRACKED IN HALF AND WAS SPEWING ANTIFREEZE. IN THE TWO SECONDS THE CAR WAS ON, I LOST HALF MY ANTI-FREEZE AND MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS COVERED IN ANTI-FREEZE. FURTHER, THE PART IS HARD TO FIND AND WILL TAKE SEVERAL DAYS FOR A REPLACEMENT. THIS PART BROKE OUT OF THE BLUE, IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUTINE DRIVING. THERE'S NO WAY TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT'S FIXED - THE CAR WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED. I HEAR THAT THE PART IS NOW BEING MADE IN ALUMINUM AND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR (EVERY 50-70K THIS PIECE JUST INEXPLICABLY CRACKS). I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A STANDARD RECALL. HAD THIS PIECE BROKE AT ANY OTHER TIME (SUCH AS FIVE MINUTES PRIOR, WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY) THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN DIRE CONSEQUENCES. FURTHER, HAD I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER, I COULD HAVE HAD AN ENGINE FIRE OR SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN THREE DAYS OF TIME AND ENERGY TO GET THIS REPAIRED (HOPEFULLY TO BE COMPLETED TOMORROW). THIS PLASTIC PIECE IS NOTHING BUT A SAFETY HAZARD AND I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE ESCAPED IN ONE PIECE. I'M YET TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE THE ANTI-FREEZE WILL DO TO MY CAR IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THE CAR INTO THE SHOP TO BE FIXED UP. *TR

ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. AT FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE TIMING BELT BUT THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED TILL AROUND 60,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT. I WENT AND BOUGHT A TIMING BELT AND A WATER PUMP BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT IF I CHANGED THE BELT I MAY AS WELL CHANGE THE WATER PUMP ALSO. AFTER A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY I WAS TOLD IT WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE OF A "VALVE RING" HAD WORN AWAY. I NEED TO PUT A "NEW" ENGINE IN IT AT CONSIDERABLE COST. I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FOR OVER A YEAR AND THIS HAS CREATED A HARDSHIP FOR ME. I CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR PAYMENT AND THE COST TO FIX THIS CAR, ALTHOUGH CHEAPER THAN BUYING ANOTHER, IS STILL A LOT OF MONEY FOR ME. NOT ONLY IS IT HARD ENOUGH TO FIND WORK IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT A CAR. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AT 48,000 MILES! I AM 55 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED CHEVY'S ALL MY LIFE. NOT HAPPY.

MY AVEO IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN THE ENGINE HAS TO BE SERVICED. APPARENTLY, THIS LIGHT DID NOT COME ON FOR THE WARNING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I NEED TO FIND OUT ABOUT. DRIVING TO ME(THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BY MY CHILD OF 28 YEARS WITH A 3 MONTH OLD IN A REAR CAR SEAT) TO PICK ME UP TO TAKE ME TO WORK THE CAR JUST STOPPED. IN THE MIDDLE OF ONGOING TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY THE CAR WAS NOT HIT BUT THE POLICE AS WELL AS MY BROTHER (WHOM WAS ON HIS WAY TO WORK) WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HER FATHER (HE WAS CALLED) SHOWED UP WITH A TOW ON ITS WAY TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN/BELT WENT. BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION IT ALSO CAUSED THE BENDING OF 2 PISTONS. IN ORDER TO FIX IT PROPERLY THIS MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. I WAS INFORMED HOWEVER THAT ALL AVEOS FROM THIS MODEL OR YEAR HAS SHOWN TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT/CHAIN TO MALFUNCTION BETWEEN THE MILEAGE OF 40,000- 80,000 MILES. SO, I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL ON FIRST THE WARNING LIGHT NOT INDICATING THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG AND SECOND, THE TIMING CHAIN/BELT MALFUNCTIONING REPEATEDLY BETWEEN THE MILES OF 40,000-80,000 MILES. I LOVE MY AVEO BECAUSE IT IS THE PERFECT SIZE, EXCELLENT ON GAS AND BEING A 2004 MODEL THERE IS ONLY ABOUT 66,000 MILES OR SO ON IT. I AM TRULY MISSING MY AVEO AND WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE CAN HELP ME GET IT BACK TO NORMAL SO I CAN TAKE IT HOME. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS MY FIRST REAL CAR AND I WOULD RATE IT IN THE TOP TEN VEHICLES TO PURCHASE FOR ITS TOTAL ECONOMICAL QUALITIES. SO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.

CHEVY 2004 AVERO TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH ALSO DAMAGE ENGINE HAD TO REPLACE VALVES WHICH COST OVER $1100.00. THIS INCIDENT HAPPEN WHEN MY WIFE WAS COMING FROM THERAPY ON A HIGHWAY (BQE), IN BROOKLYN WHEN OUT OF NO-WHERE WITH NO WARNING SIGNS, THE CAR JUST STOP, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSE A UNTHINKABLE EVENTS OF ACCIDENTS. THANK TO MY HIGHER POWER , THAT NO ONE WAS HURT OR EVEN WORSE, FATALLY INJURED. I HAD THE ENGINE RE-BUILT, HOPEFULLY THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUSE I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE TIMING BELT INSPECTED EVER TIME I CHANGE THE OIL TO AVOID ANY FAILURE OR UNWANTED INJURIES OR DEATH DUE TO GM LACK OF NOT RECALLING THIS VECHICLE BECAUSE MY 2004 AVERO ONLY HAD 58,000 MOLES ONLY, WHEN THE CAR MANUAL INDICATES THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACE EVERY 60,000 MILES. *LN

CAR STALLED ON A BUSY 4 LANE INTERSTATE WITH MY SON INLAW DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER IN VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR BARELY COASTED ENOUGH TO MAKE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO EMERGENCY LANE. CAR FAIL TO START AGAIN. HAD CAR TOWED TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND SAID THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN. THE CAR ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT. I STATED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE BELT SHOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT ABOUT IT. HE AGREED ALSO THAT THE BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED WITHIN THAT AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. HE GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO CALL CHEVY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A PILE OF JUNK BECAUSE THEY USED A CHEAP MADE BELT THAT HAS PREMATURELY FAILED ON COUNTLESS 04 & 05 AVEOS ENOUGH TO HAVE A WEBSITE CALLED AVEOSFAIL.COM. I READ STORIES THAT STATED THESE CHEAP BELTS FAILED ANYWHERE FROM 18,000 UP. MOSTLY WHERE IN THE 59,000 TO 65,000 MILE RANGE. US TAX PAYERS HAD TO BAIL THE COMPANY OUT WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM? THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE REASONS THEY HAD TO BE BAILED OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE I WOULD BUY A STUBBORN MULE BEFORE I EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY! THE MULE WOULD BE MORE RELIABLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. I TOOK APART THE TIMING COVER TO FIND THE BELT WASN'T BROKEN BUT THE RIBS ON THE BELT WERE BASICALLY FALLING OFF THE BELT, LIKE THEY HAD COME UNGLUED. WHY SHOULD WE ALL SUFFER BECAUSE OF THEIR POOR BELT DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER FLAWS. IF THEY DON'T STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBLITY THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND SHOULDN'T BE BAILED OUT BY THE TAX PAYERS PERIOD. *TR

WAS SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE ALL OF THE SUDDEN QUIT. LISTENING TO IT WHILE TRYING TO RESTART THE ENGINE, MY FIRST THOUGH WAS TIMING BELT. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE HOME AND INSPECTED, THE TIMING BELT WAS TIGHT BUT NOT TURNING ANYTHING, UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT 14 OF 16 VALVES ARE BENT ALTHOUGH THE CRANK SHAFT TURN THE TIMING BELT IS NOT. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT WITH THE 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO AND WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WHEN THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. #1 NO CLEARANCE BETWEEN PISTON AND VALVES. #2 FAULTY TIMING BELT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO LS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN AND A SNOW BANK. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID ON BLACK ICE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT MENTION IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS UNAWARE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 82,000.

MY DAUGHTER'S FIRST CAR PURCHASE...WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. BOUGHT THE 2004 CHEVY AVEO USED WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT ON A SATURDAY. IT BROKE DOWN SUNDAY. TIMING BELT BROKE AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE...NOW IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALWAYS DO YOUR RESEARCH...A QUICK SEARCH WHILE WATCHING THE CAR GET TOWED SHOWED THAT THIS IS A HUGE, WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM THAT GM HAS DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT. DEALERSHIP WORKING WITH US TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH A SWAP IN VEHICLES. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS REPAIRED IT AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND NOW IT IS ON AGAIN. HE SAYS THEY CAN'T OR WON'T DO IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 THIS IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT AVEO AIR BAG LIGHT STAYING ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND GET THEM FIXED. *TR

CAR WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 KM\H WHEN A SUDDEN STOP OCCURRED IN TRAFFIC. MY WIFE WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE LANES AND WAS LOOKING IN HER BLIND SPOT AND WHEN SHE TURNED BACK SHE COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. SHE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE TOTALING HER 2004 AVEO AND THEN WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AS WELL. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND DUE TO THIS MY WIFE HAS BEEN IN PAIN WITH HER BACK AND NECK EVER SINCE. THIS OCCURRED IN ONTARIO CANADA. *TR

2004 CHEVY AVEO THERMOSTAT HOUSING - CRACKED AND OVERHEATED. TONS OF REFERENCES ON INTERNET ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS USED 2004 CHEVY AVEO FROM TONY HONDA END OF JULY 2010. IT RAN GOOD UP UNTIL 10/12/10 WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOLD BUTTON LIGHT FLASHED ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...THE CAR LITERALLY DROPPED TO LIKE 5 MILES AN HOUR AND SPUTTERED ALL THE WAY LIKE IT WAS DYING....THANK GOD THAT FOR SOME REASON, I DECIDED TO TAKE MY GRANDSON TO SCHOOL SO I WAS IN THE SCHOOL ZONE AND NOT ON THE FREEWAY WHICH I NORMALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN. I SWEAR, I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD HAD THAT HAPPENED AT 60 MILES AN HOUR. I HAVE CALLED CHEVY AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY IN MY 2004 CHEVY AVEO. SUDDENLY I NOTICED THAT I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THAT I HAD LOST PRESSURE IN MY BRAKES. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS. IT WAS VERY BUSY TRAFFIC AND I NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. MY ENGINE WOULD NO LONGER START. AFTER HAVING MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC I DISCOVERED MY TIMING BELT/CHAIN HAD BROKEN AND DAMAGED MY ENGINE AND THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES. *TR

THERMOSTAT HOUSING BUSTED ON THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY CAUSING CAR TO IMMEDIATELY RUN HOT. *TR

ENGINE STOPS RUNNING. *TR

MY 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO'S THERMOSTAT HOUSING BUSTED TODAY AT 67,000 MILES. THIS RESULTED IN OVER HEATING THE MOTOR AND DUMPING ABOUT ONE GALLON OF ANTI-FREEZE ON THE ROADWAY. IT TURNS OUTS THIS PART WAS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. A REPLACEMENT ALUMINUM VERSION IS NOW AVAILABLE BY THE DEALER FOR $95. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TOWED TO A NEARBY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE TIMING BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $2500, BUT INFORMED IT MAY BREAK AGAIN. UPDATED 03/22/11

THERMOSTAT HOUSING BUSTED FOR THE 3RD TIME!!! *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND THE CAR STALLED AND HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIMING BELT HAS BEEN THE SOURCE OF MY PROBLEM, IT STRIPPED OUT THE TEETH ON THE BELT. WHY WOULD CHEVY USE A TIMING BELT WHEN ALL OF ITS OTHER CARS USE CHAINS, WHY NOT MODIFY THE ENGINE THEY BOUGHT FROM DAEWOO AND PUT A CHAIN ON IT. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MY NAME IS [XXX], I HAVE A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO LS WITH A 1.6L ENGINE. ON MAY 21 OF 2010 WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO SCHOOL LODI CA, TO SACRAMENTO CA, THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING CRACKED. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TO CLASS AND HAD TO PAY OVER 100.00 DOLLARS TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED. WHEN I GOT THE CAR HOME I NOTICED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS MADE OF A "PLASTIC" MATERIAL. HOW COULD SOMETHING THAT FLOWS COOLANT AND HOLDS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COOLING SYSTEM BE MADE OF "PLASTIC." I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE PART, AND FINDING OUT THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FACTORY CORRECT REPLACEMENT. SO THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS AT 125,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, ALL NECESSARY TUNE-UPS, OIL CHANGES, TRANS. FLUID CHANGES, COOLANT FLUSH, PLUGS, ECT. I ALSO KNOW THIS IS NOT THE ONLY AVEO THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE AVEO. ONCE AGAIN, WHY IS SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT MADE OF "PLASTIC?" I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE ENGINE GOT TO A HIGHER TEMP. THAN IT DID, I WOULD BE LOOKING AT A WARPED HEAD, ARE EVEN WORSE, A CRACKED BLOCK. THAT COULD CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE AND EVEN A WRECK. I ALSO FEEL CHEVROLET SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS POOR JUDGMENT OF A PART. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED AND A BETTER QUALITY PART SHOULD BE USED. I AM NOW FORCED TO REPLACE THIS PART WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE FROM CHEVROLET, AND IT IS NOT CHEAP. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT THAT BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR THE ECONOMICAL AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS "RELIABILITY" VALUE. IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WOULD FEEL A RECALL IS DUE FOR THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. [XXX] *TR

2004 CHEVY AVEO WITH 41,000 MILES. TIMING BELT BROKE, BENDING ALL OF THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. REPLACED THE TIMING BELT, WILL NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEAD ON THE ENGINE. *TR

ON MY DAUGHTERS 2004 CHEVY AVEO I HAD THE TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, AND T'BELT TENSIONER REPLACED AT 59826 MILES, PER MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDATION. ABOUT 20000 MILES LATER THE IDLER PULLEY BROKE, DESTROYED ENGINE. GM HAS NOT RECOMMENDED REPLACING THIS PART PER THEIR MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE , WHY NOT? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THREE DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 45,300.

SMELLED SMOKE GOT ALMOST HOME SAW SMOKE WHITE IN COLOR OPENED HOOD AND SAW THE HOUSING ON THE THERMOSTAT WAS BLOWN AND FLUID SPRAYING OUT WITH STEAM. *TR

5 MONTHS AGO, WE REPLACED OUR 2004 CHEVY AVEO'S ENGINE DUE TO TIMING BELT FAILURE AND HAD A NEW ONE PUT IN. TODAY (2 WEEKS AFTER) OUR CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN DUE TO TIMING BELT FAILURE WE ARE FINDING OUT WE ARE NEEDING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN! *TR

THE TIMING BELT BROKE IN OUR VEHICLE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. THE CAR MADE A HORRIBLE RACKET, THEN COMPLETELY LOST POWER BEFORE IT DIED COMPLETELY, WHEN IT BROKE, IT BENT THE RODS AND PISTONS IN THE HEADS. NOW JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, IT HAS DONE THE SAME THING. CHEVY NEEDS TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE ITS GOING TO END UP KILLING SOMEONE AND THIS ISN'T THE ONLY AVEO TO HAVE DONE THIS. *TR

ENGINE DESTROYED BY TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RESULTED IN DAMAGED PISTONS AND VALVES. VEHICLE HAD 95,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

THE TIMING BELT ON MY 2004 CHEVY AVEO BROKE AT 55,000 MILES. GM RECOMMENDS THAT THE TIMING BELT ON AVEOS BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF AVEO TIMING BELTS BREAKING BETWEEN 50,000 TO 56,000 MILES; HOWEVER, GM HAS NOT POSTED A WARNING ON THEIR WEBSITE, NOR HAVE DEALERSHIPS BEEN INFORMED. A CLOSER INSPECTION OF MY CAR REVEALED THAT THE IDLER PULLEY, WHICH IS MADE OF PLASTIC, MELTED AND MOLDED ITSELF TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE BELT TO BREAK. *TR

VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP OCT. 2009 NO COMPRESSION REPAIR CLEAN CARBON FROM ENGINE. HAD TIMING BELT REPLACED AT THIS TIME AS PREVENTATIVE MAINT. ENGINE FAILURE ON HIGHWAY MARCH 2010. IDLER PULLEY BROKE BENT ALL VALVES AND BROKE 1 NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE. HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE SAME ISSUE WITH 04 & 05 CHEVY AVEO

2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL VEHICLE REPAIR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. A REPAIR SHOP, REPLACED A FUSE, DUE TO KNOW BATTERY POWER. *JB

TIMING BELT FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ENGINE WAS DESTROYED BY THE TIMING BELT FAILURE. *TR

WHILE ON MY WAY HOME, I NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM THE HOOD AND WITHOUT WARNING THE "CHECK" DASH LIGHTS CAME ON. I NOTICED THAT MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND I COASTED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT MY VEHICLE CUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START. ONCE, MY VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED HOME, I HAD MY MECHANIC TO COME OUT AND INSPECT MY VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND SAW THAT MY VEHICLE HAD LOST ALOT OF ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT. HE LOOKED TO SEE WHAT CAUSE THIS AND REALIZED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT HAD BUSTED-ACTUALLY IT WAS SPLIT IN HALF. MY MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE BUSTED THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAD CAUSED THE LEAKAGE OF THE ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER HAVING THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACED, MY MECHANIC TRIED TO START THE CAR, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. I HAD MY VEHICLE JUMPED, AND EVEN THE BATTERY INSPECTED BUT IT WOULDN'T START. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER, TIMING BELT WERE INSPECTED AS WELL AND WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT I ONLY HAVE 53,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC DID A THOROUGH CHECK OF MY VEHICLE AND REALIZED THAT SOME WATER HAD LEAKED INTO MY OIL AND THAT ANTIFREEZE/COOLANT HAD SPILLED INTO AN ENGINE VALVE. FROM MY OWN RESEARCH, I'VE FOUND THAT CHEVY HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM THE 2004 CHEVY AVEOS-THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNITS FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS. IN ADDITION, ORIGINALLY THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS PLASTIC, BUT CHEVY CHANGED IT TO AN ALUMINUM ONE BECAUSE THE "PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING" THAT ORIGINALLY CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY FAULTY. IT IS VERY DISHONEST AND A SHAME THAT GM/CHEVY NEVER NOTIFIED ME THAT I NEEDED TO BRING MY 2004 CHEVY AVEO IN TO GET THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING REPLACED WITH THE NEW ALUMINUM ONE. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2005. IT WAS CHEVY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS SITUATION. ALSO, FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED, THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS UNSAFE. *TR

I AM DRIVING MY 2004 CHEVY AVEO AT 35 MILES AN HOUR, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DIED. I HAVE 54,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. IN MY MANUAL IT SAYS THAT TIMING BELTS NEED TO BE CHECKED AT 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT EVEN THE THAT IS THE CASE I AM OUT OF MY WARRANTY SO TOUGH LUCK. I HAVE FOUND ABOUT 300 COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING WHILE SEARCHING ONLINE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT THIS BUT I AM TRYING ANYTHING I CAN TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *TR

FIRST, THE STRUTS CAME OFF, THEN THE PIECE HOLDING THE AIR FILTER BROKE AWAY, NOW THE PULLEY HAS EXPLODED AND HAS DESTROYED THE TIMING BELT AND SERPENTINE BELT. THIS CAR IS JUNK MADE WITH CHEAP PARTS. NOT GOOD FOR SOMEONE WITH CHILDREN. *LN

DRIVING BACK TO SAINT LOUIS MISSOURI FROM LAKE WALES FLORIDA WHEN TIMING BELT BROKE ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. ENGINE DIED AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THE ENGINE DESIGN ON THESE CARS IS AN "INTERFERENCE" ENGINE WHICH MEANS WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS IT BASICALLY DESTROYS YOUR CAR. I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY WOULD KNOWINGLY SELL AND NOT WARN CUSTOMERS THAT CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR FROM A SIMPLE BELT BREAKING ON THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES. *TR

WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND THEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM "P" TO "D" WILL NOT MOVE HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF PUT KEY IN SHIFT LOCK HOLE AND THEN SHIFT TO "N" AND THEN DEPRESS THE BRAKE, START THE VEHICLE THEN SHIFT DOWN TO "D" OR UP TO "R". *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED .. IF I WAS DRIVING ANY FASTER OR IF THERE WAS A CAR BEHIND ME I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!!RESULT WAS THE TIMING BELT. THE CAR ONLY HAD 52000 MILES. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND ALL THEY COULD OFFER ME WAS A LOYALTY DISCOUNT ON A NEW CAR... WHICH I PROBABLY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO ANYWAY .. I JUST FOUND A LETTER FROM GM INDICATED THAT THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT WAS AT 60K MILES... WELL MY CAR DIDN'T MAKE IT TO 60K .....SO THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND CONTINUE TO DENY IT!! *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 ON AN INCLINE SHE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NEXT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 46,500. UPDATED 1/11/09 *CN THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND LOCKED UP THE ENGINE. UPDATED 01/13/10.*JB