Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2007 Chevrolet Aveo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the driver's side front air bag sensor warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and completed a diagnostic test which displayed a failure with the front driver's side air bag. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately of 52,000.
While driving, the vehicle began experiencing repeated electrical failures including blown fuses, inoperative headlights and brake lights, and the transmission becoming locked in PARK. When the fuse blows, the gear shift cannot be moved out of PARK and the ignition key cannot be removed, leaving the vehicle stuck and unable to be driven or safely turned off. The brake lights and daytime running lights also stop working, making the vehicle unsafe to operate in traffic. This condition has been occurring repeatedly and requires frequent fuse replacement just to move or shut off the vehicle. An emergency override hole on the shifter had already been exposed, indicating the problem existed before and the vehicle was previously being forced out of PARK manually. A tow truck driver had to use this override to move the vehicle. …
The airbag warning light has remained illuminated since I acquired the vehicle in January 2025. The warning light stays on continuously and does not reset. This indicates a fault in the airbag system, and I have been advised that when this light is on, the airbags may be disabled and may not deploy in a crash. The vehicle has also experienced ongoing electrical problems, including lighting failures, blown fuses, and shift-interlock malfunctions, which suggests an electrical system fault affecting multiple safety-related systems. These issues create concern that the airbag control system may be impacted by the same electrical malfunction. The vehicle has not been repaired or diagnosed by a dealer for the airbag issue. The condition is still present and the warning light remains illuminated. …
In June, 2011 my sister was driving a Aveo and clipped a road sign on the right front bumper, continued to go straight over to left down an embankment of approx. 6 ft and 40-45 MPH and hit steering wheel so hard that it broke steering wheel and busted her heart killing her instantly. I went to school for automotive and know a lot about cars and this accident makes no sense. I took pics of everything. Even though the airbag was out it didn't appear to have inflated completely and the clothing my sister had on she should've had some sort of cuts, burns,abbrasions,but instead nothing but a busted heart. She also hit the windshield with her forehead. I saw no sort of residue on or in the car as evidence that the airbag did what it was supposed to. She sustained injuries common to those injuries sustained from a car not equipped with an airbag. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. While making a turn at 20 MPH, the steering wheel locked up and caused the vehicle to spin out of control. The contact crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The police was called to the scene and a police report was filed. The contact was uninjured; however, the pregnant driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries that required medical attention. The contact's vehicle was destroyed and towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,859.
Tl* the contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact's vehicle crashed head on into another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck injuries that did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.
"Takata recall" I bought my car in 2009. About 6 months later the airbag light came on and the dealer went out of business. When I checked the VIN number it was not among the many, many aveos tagged for recall to replace faulty airbag systems. And I'm not alone. Complaints keep piling in from Aveo owners about the airbag safety lights that never turn off, nearly catching up with 20 years of "complaints involving Takata inflators..." my car was parked when an individual backed into my passenger door. The collision was so severe the door had to be replaced. Yet it triggered no airbags. Did you know while the airbag light is engaged, the car cannot be sold? You think this might be due to the fact that it indicates a serious problem with the airbag system - that most prominent feature in Aveo's highly touted "5-point" safety rating? So what's its rating without airbags? …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH on a highway, the vehicle had lost all power on three separate occasions. The warning lights illuminated on and off and the engine idled as the vehicle coasted to a stop. The vehicle restarted, and then stalled after a few minutes. The vehicle was towed to the sales/service dealer, where the problem could not be recreated. The second time, the electronic ignition switch was replaced and the third time, the alternator was replaced. Also, while traveling 45 MPH, the vehicle avoided the tire tread thrown off the tire of a tractor trailer, and struck a median divider. The frontal air bags failed to deploy. The 18 year old driver sustained chest bruises from the seat belts and the 42 year old female sustained bruising due to the seat belt and skinned the left shin. Neither occupant went to the hospital. There was a police report taken. …
Lost control while braking/steering on black ice after a curve to avoid wrecked vehicles and motorists in lanes. Car spun 180 and rolled 360 off road (rolled over the left side of the vehicle, shattering the left rear pass window, coming to rest on wheels). Believe the aveo5 svm should come standard with side airbags. No airbags deployed. Was wearing seatbelt, shaken but able to exit vehicle safely. No passengers. Vehicle has a history of sir light coming on several times and had been serviced by 2 separate Chevrolet/GM goodwrench dealerships multiple times to replace airbag control module, wire harness, and service connectors. Sir light was not on at the time of incident. Exact vehicle speed at time of rollover is unknown, 25 MPH is a rough guess of speed after braking.
My mother was killed in a 1 car accident outside tallahassee, fl on i10 on 8 May 2007. She went into the median and hit trees head-on. The posted speed limit is 70 MPH and the fhp on the scene indicated she applied her brakes from the time she left the pavement until she hit the trees. She died 6 days later of a broken neck and multiple internal injuries. She was driving a 6 week old 2007 chev Aveo with front and side air bags. None of these air bags deployed. I truly believe she would have surviived this accident if the front air bags had deployed. From everything I have read, this is the perfect scenario for front air bag deployment. Are there similair complaints against GM for the 2007 chev Aveo?
Airbag complaints in other Aveo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo?
NHTSA has 84 complaints about the air bags of the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo, 39% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chevrolet Aveo airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2007 Chevrolet Aveo airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 40% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 20 crashes, 1 fire and 24 injuries and 2 deaths to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.