2008 Chevrolet Aveo Electrical System Problems

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.

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.

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.

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

I MADE A REPORT MORE THAN A WEEK AGO. THE HEADLIGHTS SPORADICALLY TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OUT. I HAVE TO DO NIGHT DRIVING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF HAZARD LIGHTS ONLY. UNSAFE!!! THIS SITE CLAIMED I WOULD BE CONTACTED 72 HRS. AFTER I MADE THE FIRST REPORT. WELL, I'M STILL WAITING. I AM STILL WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. PERIODICALLY, THERE WAS ELECTRICAL (OZONE) SMELLS. SINCE THE LIGHTS ARE OUT, THIS IS NOTICED LESS, BUT I HAVE SMELT IT ON A FEW OCCASIONS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED AND THE KEY WAS VERY HOT ONCE IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED; HOWEVER, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING DID NOT OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OCCASIONAL ODOR OF BURNING PLASTIC. THE DEALER (CHEVROLET OF LAFAYETTE IN LAFAYETTE, INDIANA) STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

WENT TO CHANGE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HEADLAMP BULB SINCE IT WAS SHOWING HIGH BEAMS ON AND WAS DIMMED. TURNS OUT THE WIRING HARNESS THE BULB PLUGS INTO WAS MELTED. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP MY VIN HAS NO RECALLS ON IT BUT IN DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR TO RECALL #14236.

WHEN USING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER THE FUSE WAS BLOWN ON THE RADIO. NOW THE DELEARSHIP IS ASKING FOR $120.00 JUST TO GIVE US THE CODE.

MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT A DEER IN 2013. NOW MY WIRING THAT COMES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT CONTROLS MY WINDOW LOCK AND POWER WINDOWS IS SHORTING OUT. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A 2007 CHEVY COLORADO HAS GOTTEN A RECALL ON HIS DUE TO SAME REASON.

SINCE, I OBTAINED THE VEHICLE FROM PHONE# 909-379-3256 GO=MOTORS CHRISTOPHER IN HEMET, CA. IT HAS HAD PROBLEMS. 1) NO AC, 2)PROBLEMS WITH STARTER & STARTING VEHICLE, TOOK IT BACK AND 3) FORTH TO DEALER4X PROBLEM NEVER RESOLVED TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER FRIEND 4)WHO REPAIRED AND CHARGED ME $1500.00, 5) AS OF 3/31/16 THERE HAS BEEN A LOUD RATTLING IN THE ENGINE, I HAD THE OIL CHARGED AND THE MECHANIC @ WALMART SAID IT 6) SOUNDS LIKE A TIMING-BELT OR WATER/FLUID PUMP RATTLING, AND BE CAREFUL IT DOESN'T BLOW. SO, THE VEHICLE IS SETTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. YOUR MOVE ON RESOLUTION. PLEASE INFORM, NEXT MOVE, I DO NOT WANT TO KEEP MAKING PAYMENTS FOR A LEMON OF A VEHICLE? I ENJOY DRIVING SUCH AN ECONOMICAL VEHICLE, BUT!!! 7) I HAVE A LOAN WITH PREMIER AUTO CREDIT, ARTURA CALDAS 818-933-4966.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM 3 HOURS AWAY, AND I WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AND 30 MIN FROM HOME. I STOPPED AT MCDONALD S TO FEED THE 3 KIDS, I WAS THERE FOR 35 MIN WITH THE CAR OFF. NOT EVEN 10 MIN LATER, BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR SORT OF SPIT AND/OR SPUTTERED. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD GOTTEN SOME BAD GAS BECAUSE IT ONLY DID IT ABOUT 3 TIMES AND IT WAS OK, THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON INDICATING ANYTHING WAS WRONG. JUST A COUPLE MINUTES LATER IT DID IT SPIT AND/OR SPUTTERED 2 MORE TIMES, STILL NO LIGHT INDICATORS HAD COME ON AND I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAUGES I HAD 6/8THS TANK OF GAS, ALMOST FULL. THE ENGINE TEMP WAS READING HOT THOUGH, BUT NO LIGHTS WERE ON, SUDDENLY WE WERE GOING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER, IN-FACT IT WAS ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN AND IT WOULD NO LONGER SWITCH TO A HIGHER GEAR. AS SOON AS THE HIGHWAY LEVELED OFF, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO GIVE THE ENGINE A BRAKE UNTIL WE REACHED THE NEXT GAS STATION, BUT AS SOON AS IT HIT NEUTRAL THE CAR SHUT OFF AND WAS COASTING. I HAD TO PULL OVER AS QUICK AS I COULD. WHEN SOMEONE FINALLY STOPPED TO HELP, WE FOUND A TINY HOLE IN A HOSE, WE CUT THE HOSE, READJUSTED IT BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T START, AFTER 3 JUMPS IT STILL WOULDN'T START. WE WERE STRANDED FOR OVER 4 HOURS, AND THE BATTERY FINALLY COMPLETELY DIED OUT AS OUR RIDE HAD JUST GOTTEN THERE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING FOR THE BREAK DOWN, NOT EVEN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD CAME ON. BECAUSE OF THIS ME 3 KIDS ALL 5 YEARS OLD AND UNDER, AND MY AUNT WHO IS DEATHLY AFRAID OF SEMI'S WERE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY FOR OVER 4 HOURS!

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGH WAY RADIO SHUT OFF AND DASH LIGHTS FLICKERED. THEN IT WAS FINE THEN I GO AND TURN CAR ON DASHLIGHTS NOT ON AND CAR WONT COME OUT OF PARK. ALSO HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT. *TR

I OWN A 2008 CHEVY AVEO,IT HAS 29,000 MILES WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN NEW JERSEY. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED TO EGYPT, AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1. AIR BAG LIGHT IN ALWAYS ON 2. CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING 3. CLOCK LIGHT IS OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN HURGHADA, EGYPT. THEY WERE UNABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NO INCIDENT. *TR

IT STARTED OUT AS A DIM HEADLIGHT ON MY 08 CHEVY AVEO, SO I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW HEADLIGHT FOR IT THINKING THAT IS WAS BURNT OUT OR GETTING CLOSE TO IT. AT TIMES THE DIMMED LIGHT WAS STUCK ON HIGHBEAM AND THEN THE HIGHBEAM WOULD STAY ON, OTHER TIMES IT JUST LOOKED DIMMER/BURNT OUT FROM THE OTHER ONE. I TOOK THE THREE BOLTS OFF OF THE LEFT HEADLAMP AND DISCONNECTED THE POWER PLUG, I FOUND OUT THAT THE CONNECTOR THAT PLUGS INTO THE LIGHT BULB WAS MELTED/BURNT LOOKING. IT ALSO HAD A STRONG ODOR OR WHAT TO ME SMELLED LIKE BURNT RUBBER. I HAD DECIDED TO TAKE THE MELTED BULB OUT AND DISCARD IT. THE NEW ONE I DID NOT PUT IN, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT IT TO HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO IT. SO FOR THE TIME BEING IT IS DISCONNECTED AND LAYING BY THE BATTERY AREA. I DID LOOK ONLINE AND MY VEHICLE IS ON A RECALL FOR SOMETHING DEALING WITH THE LIGHTING AREA. AS OF NOW OCTOBER 14TH IT IS STILL DISCONNECTED FROM THE MAIN HEADLIGHT IN FEAR OF IT MELTING AND PERHAPS CAUSING A FIRE TO THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT IT, BUT YET ITS RECALLED AS OF MAY 2014 FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT. *TR

ON JULY 21, 2014 AT ABOUT 7:45 IN THE MORNING, MY WIFE WHO WAS GOING TO CHURCH WENT TO THE GARAGE TO USE THE AVEO. WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR, SHE WAS MET WITH DARK SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNED PLASTIC. THEN SHE SAW THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD BURNED CREATING A BIG HOLE. THEN I HAD THE AVEO TOWED TO THE CHARLES CLARK CHEVROLET WHERE I BOUGHT THE AVEO FOR THEM TO SEE. THEN I WENT HOME AND PASSING BY THE MAILBOX I GOT THE MAIL AND SAW AN ENVELOPE FROM GENERAL MOTORS. WHEN I OPENED THE ENVELOPE, I SAW THE LETTER OF THE RECALL OF THE AVEO DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP SWITCH OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP WHICH GENERATE HEAT WHICH COULD MELT HEADLAMP SWITCH AND DRL MODULE CAUSING FIRE. THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AVEO. SO I CALLED GM AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THEN AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF CALLS AND AN INSPECTION BY THEIR ENGINEERS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DAMAGE WAS BEYOND REPAIR AND THEY WILL PAY A LITTLE OVER $4,000 BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE AVEO. I TOLD THEM I DO NOT AGREE BECAUSE THE AVEO WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AT SEVEN YEARS OLD, LESS THAN 16,000 MILEAGE, THE TIRES WERE STILL THE ORIGINAL TIRES WHEN BOUGHT AND HAD NEVER BEEN BROUGHT TO A REPAIR SHOP. SO I TOLD THEM TO REPAIR THE AVEO TO ITS CONDITION BEFORE THE FIRE. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THEY CANNOT REPAIR WHEN THEY CAN CREATE A NEW CAR. THE RECALL WAS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT AND MY WIFE WAS LUCKY SHE WAS NOT IN THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE HAPPENED. IF THE CAR WAS NOT BURNED, IT WOULD STILL BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS. WITH GM'S PROPOSAL, MY WIFE AND I WILL INCUR A DEBT TO GET ANOTHER CAR AND WHEN SHE RETIRES AS A NURSE SUPERVISOR AT TEXAS STATE VETERANS HOME IN TWO OR THREE YEARS, WE WILL BE BURDENED WITH A LOAN PAST OUR RETIREMENT. MY WIFE IS 72 YEARS OLD NOW. WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/24/14. UPDATED 03/04/15. *JB

THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THIS COULD INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING WHEN IT SHOULD, OR POSSIBLY DEPLOYING WHEN NOT NEEDED. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN OCCURRING PROBLEMS ON SEVERAL MAKES AND MODELS I HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS, ALL WITH RECALLS ISSUED, AND YET, CHEVY AND GM HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS. SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON MY VEHICLE, AS WELL AS OTHERS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE BEFORE CHEVY AND GM DECIDE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAGS, AS THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS, AND POTENTIALLY HARMFUL, IF NOT FATAL, POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. UPON INSPECTION AT DEALERSHIP IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE CLOCK AND WIRING FROM THE AIRBAG COMPONENT TO THE CLOCK BE REPLACED TO FIX A SENSOR MALFUNCTION ISSUE. WARNED THAT IF ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED, IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH GETS HOT WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 30 MILES AND THE FAN MOTOR FOR AC AND HEAT DOES NOT TURN ON. *TR