2005 Chevrolet AVEO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
235 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
63,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 195 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 235 complaints (26.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 15.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 32 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 6.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Exterior Lighting | 44 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 34 |
| Engine | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 15 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
Electrical System: 61; Exterior Lighting: 44; Engine And Engine Cooling: 34; Engine: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 15; Power Train: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 39 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 54 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 41 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 30 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 39; 50,000 to 74,999: 54; 75,000 to 99,999: 41; 100,000 to 149,999: 30; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (54). 40 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 26 |
| 2009 | 26 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 7; 2006: 8; 2007: 14; 2008: 26; 2009: 26; 2010: 33; 2011: 24; 2012: 14; 2013: 15; 2014: 40; 2015: 15; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10140924 · 2005-10-27 (October 27, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAD BRAKE FAILURE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. THIS HAPPENED ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE ,AND AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURES. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THERE HAS BEEN 2 MORE BRAKE FAILURES. UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141186 · 2005-10-29 (October 29, 2005)
CAR TYPE: CHEVROLET AVEO 2005 MODEL: LS SEDAN WITH 14" WHEELS SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IT HAS EXHIBITED VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING (ABOVE 50 MPH) AS WELL AS VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO CHEVY TO BE REPAIRED. CAR STILL VIBRATES. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM. CHEVY HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND BRAKING (ESPECIALLY) IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SINCE CHEVY IS EITHER UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO FIX THIS SERIOUS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158391 · 2006-05-16 (May 16, 2006)
CONSUMER LETTER CONCERNING ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *TS THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FUEL GAUGE ERROR THE FIRST TIME. WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE RELOCATED AND NOT REPAIRED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216479 · 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)
MY 2005 CHEVY AVEO RPM'S STICK AND WILL NOT BE FORCED DOWN BY DE-ACCELERATION OR HITTING THE BRAKE. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS SINCE PURCHASE (AUGUST 2005). I HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO THE CHEVY DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON IN ADDITION TO OTHER TIMES WHEN THE DASH BOARD LIGHT WARNINGS COME ON. THE DEALER CAN NOT RECREATE OR FIX. THE DASH BOARD LIGHT DID COME ON BACK IN JUNE 07 RE: ELECTRICAL AND THE FIX TO THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE DID FOR A FEW MONTHS FIX THE RPM STICKING. HOWEVER THE INTERMITTENT RPM STICKING HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142495 · 2005-11-11 (November 11, 2005)
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT LESS THEN 16,000. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT WHENEVER I GO OVER ANY BUMPS THE CAR SQUEAKS AND MAKES A GRINDING SOUND. CHEVY SAID THAT THEY HAD TIGHTENED SOMETHING IN THE FRONT END TO TIGHT AT THE FACTORY AND THAT THEY HAD 3 OR 4 AVEOS COME BACK WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY LOOSENED THEY TWO PIECES BUT I STILL HEAR THE SQUEAKS AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE BACK END THAT IS GRINDING BUT IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT THEY C…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178996 · 2007-01-17 (January 17, 2007)
I BOUGHT THE 05 AVEO ON NOV 15, 2006, I HAVE EXPERIENCED FRONT END SHAKING AT SPEEDS OF 50, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS. THE PROBLEM IS BETTER BUT STILL THERE. ALSO HAVE HAD FRONT END NOISE LIKE CREEKS OVER BUMPS AND MAKING TURNS, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BUSHINGS, THE NOISE WENT AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BUT CAME BACK TWICE AS BAD, TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP NOW AM WAITING FOR NEW BUSHINGS TO BE ORDERED."WITH THE HOPES THAT IT WILL END THE PROBLEM" AS PER SERVICE MANAGER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 34,505 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200715 · 2007-08-24 (August 24, 2007)
MY 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO ACCELERATES OR MAINTAINS VERY HIGH RPM'S WITH NO PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE MY PURCHASE OF THE CAR, ON AN IRREGULAR BASIS. SOMETIMES IT WILL CONTINUE FOR WEEKS AT A TIME, SOMETIMES THERE IS NO PROBLEM FOR WEEKS. THIS PROBLEM MAKES THE CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, NECESSITATING VERY HEAVY BRAKE USE AND FREQUENT SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) TO TRY AND CONTROL THE ACCELERATION. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN TO THE CHEVROLET REPAIR DEPARTMENT FOUR TIMES, BUT IT WILL NOT SHOW TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10200715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206000 · 2007-10-17 (October 17, 2007)
ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2007, MY DAUGHTER WAS STRUCK BY A DRUNK DRIVER. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO. SHE LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK A CONCRETE RETAINING WALL VIRTUALLY HEAD ON AT 55 MPH. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR, DUE TO HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE. HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH THEM. I CALLED CHEVROLET ON SEPT 21, 2007, TO REQUEST THAT THEY LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SAFETY FEATURES ON THE CAR, AND WHY THEY DID NOT WORK. IN RETURN, THE REPORT IS BOGGED DOWN IN RED TAPE, AN INSPECTOR CALLED…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10237183 · 2008-08-06 (August 6, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OR ACT AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GASOLINE TO DRIVE FORWARD. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND RESTARTED IT, CAUSING IT TO QUICKLY ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO RETRIEVE HER VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED.…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202026 · 2007-09-06 (September 6, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 60 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. THE ODOR WAS NOTICED ONLY WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK "BURPS" AND THE GASOLINE SMELL INDICATES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429535 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)
I HAVE A 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO THAT HAS GIVEN ME NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO I NOTICED I COULD NOT SHIFT MY CAR OUT OF PARK I HAVE TO USE A SCREWDRIVER TO SHIFT MY GEAR OUT OF PARK. SOON AFTER I NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. I BOUGHT A BOX OF FUSES BUT THIS ONLY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR LESS THAN A WEEK. EVERY TIME I PUT A NEW FUSE IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT BACK OUT IN A DAY OR TWO. ONE DAY WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER IT WAS STILL UNDER THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10429535 at NHTSA ↗