2005 Chevrolet AVEO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10111832 · 2005-02-20 (February 20, 2005)
MY 2005 CHEVY AVEO HAS 2500 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT WIPERS ALREADY AND HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR LESS THAN 1 MONTH. THE FRONT WIPERS ALSO HAVE A BAD TIME WITH MAKING A CLICKING SOUND TO WHICH I HAVE SMELT A BURNING SMELL UNDER THE DASH ONLY WHEN THE WIPERS ARE ON. THIS HAS MADE IT HARD TO SEE ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK WHEN I SMELT A SMOKE SMELL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137353 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
DT: WENT TO ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR, AND RENTED A 2005 CHEVROLET AVEO. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A STORE. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. IT SEEMED TO JUST LOCK. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE HER STRENGTH TO PUSH IT INTO REVERSE. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE HOME, PARKED IT, AND TRIED IT LATER. IT DID THE SAME THING. THE CONSUMER REFUSED TO DRIVE IT. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137353 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 10143819 · 2005-11-28 (November 28, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN A FRONT END COLLISION THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AND WENT UNDER A TRUCK. MOST OF THE IMPACT WAS TO THE HOOD, ROOF TOP, AND WINDSHIELD. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE , AND HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE NOSE WAS FRACTURED, LEFT EYEBALL WENT OUT OF ORBIT, AND THE CHEEK BONE WAS CRUSHED. HE HAD …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10143819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145913 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP. THIS OCCURRED WITH THE DEFROSTER ON. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO MAKE A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED WITHOUT A DIAGNOSIS THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155819 · 2006-04-21 (April 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE REAR DRUMS THREE TIMES, RESURFACED THE REAR DRUMS, AND REPLACED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THESE EFFORTS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE SHAKING PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/16/2006.*AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155819 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V261000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo vehicles equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the center console in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
Consequence: If the DRL module melts due to the heat generation, it could cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a revised DRL module, inspect the wiring connector for heat damage, and clean the DRL circuit grounds. Owners were sent interim notices on August 14, 2014. The recall began on February 6, 2015. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14236.
NHTSA campaign record ↗