2009 Chevrolet AVEO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
169 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
43,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 143 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 49 of 169 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 28 | 16.6% |
| Braking behavior | 20 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 20 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 4.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 4.1% |
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 | 49 |
| Engine | 36 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 |
| Suspension | 19 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 |
| Power Train | 10 |
Electrical System: 49; Engine: 36; Engine And Engine Cooling: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 22; Suspension: 19; Air Bags: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 11; Power Train: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 34 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 28 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 28; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 26 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2009: 6; 2010: 19; 2011: 19; 2012: 16; 2013: 17; 2014: 43; 2015: 16; 2016: 16; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 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 10336352 · 2010-06-15 (June 15, 2010)
CAR LAGS AND EVEN STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342433 · 2010-07-10 (July 10, 2010)
AT ANY GIVEN TIME, DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND REDUCE SPEED WITHOUT WARRANT, THE RPM GAUGE WILL SHOW AT LEAST 3 FLUCTUATIONS OF SPEED FROM 500 TO ABOUT 3000 RPM WHEN THIS OCCURS. ATTEMPTS TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL WILL NOT CORRECT THE SITUATION. SECOND REACTION FROM THE DRIVER WOULD BE TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE WILL TRY TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO STALL IF THIS OCCURS WHEN BEING STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,421 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10363609 · 2010-11-01 (November 1, 2010)
MY EXPERIENCE WITH OUR 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. MY WIFE HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH OUR 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO; WHICH SHE HAS DESCRIBED TO ME BUT I COULD NOT MAKE HAPPEN OR DUPLICATE WHEN I WOULD TEST DRIVE IT WHEN SHE WOULD GET HOME, UNTIL TODAY 10/17/2010. HERE IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED. MY FIRST 10 -15 MILES OF DRIVING WITH ONE 30 MIN. STOP AT STORE, NO PROBLEMS. MADE 2 MILE TRIP TO ANOTHER STORE FOR ABOUT 10 MIN. THEN ON MY WAY DOWN THE ROAD JUST BEFORE A MAJOR INTERSECTION LIGHT; HAD TO STOP IN LONG LINE OF TRAFFIC. THE FIRST THING THAT HAPP…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372543 · 2010-12-27 (December 27, 2010)
I PURCHASED THIS CAR SEPTEMBER 2009 AND HAVE DRIVE AROUND 5,000MILES ONLY. THE ENGINE IS STALLED EVERYDAY. HOWEVER, THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NO ISSUE. 2 MONTHS AGO, THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED, THE DEALER CHANGED A BATTERY. SINCE DECEMBER 11, 2010, AGAIN THE ENGINE HAS BEEN STOPPED MANY TIMES WHILE I WAIT FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL. THIS MORNING (12/27), I WAS ALMOST IN THE ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS STOPPED ON THE HILL AND WENT BACKWARD. FORTUNATELY I'M FINE NOW, BUT I WAS SCARED. DEBEMBER 18, I VISITED THE DEALER, THEY SAID MY CAR HAS NO PROBLEM. *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10389924 · 2011-03-12 (March 12, 2011)
2009 AVEO HAD 17 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED 2 DAYS LATER CAR STALLED AND DIED OUT IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO FIRST WAS TOLD IT WAS CATALYTIC CONVERTER STOPPED UP THEN WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE MOTOR PARTS WAS ORDER AND PROBLEM WAS FIX THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER BLOWER MOTOR WENT OUT TWICE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT SO THEY REPLACED BLOWER MOTOR TWICE AND CIGARETTE LIGHT BLEW OUT FUSES TWICE AS WELL. CAR HAS BLOWN OUT 3 HEADLIGHT BULBS WAS TOLD THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH OR SOMEWHE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10389924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276155 · 2009-07-08 (July 8, 2009)
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN OUR NEW 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER JUMPED OR WAS SLIGHTLY BUMPED (ALTHOUGH I DON'T RECALL BUMPING IT) FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AT 65 MPH. FORTUNATELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO SHOULDER TO RETURN TO DRIVE POSITION (DIDN'T KNOW IF GOING FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEED WOULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE). REPORTED PROBLEM TO AUTO DEALER WHO SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS NORMAL, DOES SAME THING ON COBALT MODEL! NOTE: WE CAN PUSH SHIFTER FROM DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL AT ANY SPEED WITH…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10389750 · 2011-03-10 (March 10, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND DRIVE AS IF THE CONTACT HAD SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT FOR A MOMENT BEFORE ENGAGING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR SPORADICALLY AT VARIOUS SPEED AND ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE FOUR TIMES YET THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTU…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415931 · 2011-07-28 (July 28, 2011)
2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TIRES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT HIS EXIT, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE STARTING THUMPING AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT LATER, THE INNER STEEL BELT ON THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED AND THERE WAS A BULGE WHERE THE BELT HAD SNAPPED. THE LOCAL DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE TIRES HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE SECOND TIRE BELT FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING. UPDATED 08/24/11. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10415931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445504 · 2012-01-26 (January 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A MAILBOX AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE POLICE APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10355712 · 2010-09-15 (September 15, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO STALL AND THEN REGAIN POWER, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29000. UPDATED 02/09/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLING PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR. UPDATED 05/09/11
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10428878 · 2011-10-05 (October 5, 2011)
I BOUGHT MY 2009 CHEVY AVEO A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WHEN MY CAR WAS AT 6,000 MILES, I DROVE MY CAR TO SCHOOL AND PARKED IT IN A PARKING GARAGE. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR AT THE END OF THE DAY IT WOULD NOT START. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. WHEN MY CAR REACHED 16,000 MILES I BEGAN EXPERIENCING SHAKING AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, AND VERY SLOW DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE AFTER STOPPING. THE SHAKING AND DELAYED ACCELERATION WOULD OCCUR RANDOMLY YET WAS VERY LIKELY WHEN MY AIR CONDITIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10428878 at NHTSA ↗