2008 Chevrolet AVEO: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE AT WORK AT LARSON AUTOMOTIVE, AS A SALES MANAGER, IN BARABOO WISCONSIN I WENT TO MOVE A 2008 CHEVY AVEO. THIS VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW. I STARTED THE CAR AND SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO FIRST GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) AND THE SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. I DID NOT PURCHASE VEHICLE. THE RESULT OF THE NOISE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF HEARING IN MY RIGHT EAR, MY RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE WENT NUM AND TINGLING. AS OF TODAY MY HEARING IS STILL NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL. I AM SCHEDULED FOR A RECHECK NEXT MONDAY ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18 miles reported. Look up ODI 10209625 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUMES LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE AND HE NOTICED MOISTURE ON ALL THE WINDOWS. HE ACTIVATED THE DEFROSTER, BUT THE MOISTURE REMAINED. THE DEALER WIPED BLACK SOOT OFF OF THE INTERIOR WINDOWS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, INSTEAD OF BEING A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE DEALER'S ENVIRONMENTAL THEORY. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE BECAUSE THE AIR PRESSURE SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING. THE TIRE…

Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231451 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES OCCASIONALLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE OCCUPANT WEIGHS BETWEEN 110 TO 145 POUNDS, AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE MAY 15, 2008. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES REGARDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. SHE STATED THAT NO SHOP HAS BEEN ABLE TO GIVE HER A DIAGNOSIS OR EXPLANATION FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT FAILURE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS LI…

Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233436 at NHTSA ↗

ABOUT 300 HUNDRED MILES AGO NOW 2008 CHEVY AVEO LT WITH 1740 MILES AS OF NOW AND STILL DRIVING. MY WIFE AND I FEELING A VIBRATIONS ON THE CAR EVERY TIME WE STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHEN CAR SHIFT TO DRIVE IT VIBRATE A WHOLE LOTS FOR PASSENGER TO NOTICE AND I TOOK THE CAR TWICE TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CAR IS FINE WITH READING FROM COMPUTER. I TOOK IT SECOND TIME AND THEY CHECK THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS ( VISUAL INSPECTIONS I THINK) BUT THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE BUT EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS ITS NORMAL FOR VIBRATIONS B…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236865 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED ON 6/14/08 WITH 272 MILES, ABOUT 2 WKS LATER, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON, CHECK TIRES THEY ARE OK, CALL DEALER, WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN, TOOK ON 7/17/08 TO DEALER, SERVICE DEPT CHECK AND FOUNT THE SENSOR OPEN, REPAIR SHEET SAYS THEY REPLACED SENSOR 5.890 AND ORDERED MODULE. WAITED FOR THEM TO CALL ME, I CALLED ON 8/13/08 THEY HAD THE PART IN FOR WKS BUT HAD NOT CALLED, TOOK BACK IN ON 8/20/08 AND REPAIR SHEET STATES THE THEY FOUND THE TIRE SENSOR MODULE OPEN AGAIN AND REPLACED THE TIRE SENSOR MODULE 5.890. ALL WORK WAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 926 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241118 at NHTSA ↗

ON MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 2008 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT, THAT I BELIEVE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO FAULTY BRAKES. ON TWO PRIOR OCCASIONS, DIFFERENT LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS WERE CONTACTED. ON THE 2ND VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE NEVER "ADJUSTED" WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, AND MADE AN ADJUSTMENT. THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE "GLAZED" DUE TO THE PRESSURE ON THEM, AND NOT EQUAL PRESSURE ON ALL FOUR BRAKES. THEY STATED THEY CLEANED THE FRONT BRAKES THE BEST THEY COULD. THE BRAKES NE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246867 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE OF 2008, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BEING UNHOOKED. THE DEALER HOOKED THE SYSTEM BACK, BUT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATORS CURRENTLY REMAIN ILLUMINATED. HE TOOK THE PASSENGER WITH HIM TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252521 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE AT A GAS STATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COVERED IN BRAKE DUST. AFTER LEAVING THE GAS STATION, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE SWITCHED LANES IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING ROUGHLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IS OUT OF BUSINESS. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,733 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253044 at NHTSA ↗

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.