Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
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).
I was driving to my mother's house, the car was not shifting right and the engine was whining, all of a sudden I smelled smoke and seen fire under the hood. GM would only fix the harness , the vehicle would start again but you could not drive it. No power in the engine. So I had to eat $6400.00 dollars I owed and traded it with carbone auto in yorkville new york. They sold me a car with the ABS lights on the traction lights on, the tire pressure lights come on and my doors lock and I have to climb over to the other seat to get out. The salesman knew these lights were on before I signed the papers and my car is still not fixed. This past winter I had no heat and got caught in an ice storm and my windows iced right over I could not see and hit a pole by my driveway and dented and scratch the whole right side of my car. It is carbone auto that made it so my Aveo caught fire. …
I was driving on the highway and the car smelled like it was burning. And, smoke began to come from underneath the hood. I got off the freeway and I parked the car in front of a store.. I opened the hood and a mist of smoke was flowing from the transmission. I thought my car was going to go up in flames because it smelled like burning wires. I don't drive my car everyday so I should not be having these problems with my car. I also saw oil leaking from the manifold. I asked my brother to see it and that'swhat he told me. I was afraid to drive my car home. I drove it slowly home.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to an unknown engine cylinder failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. While driving 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal failed to operate and the gear failed to shift and went straight into neutral. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the coolant level sensor module needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
The gearshaft won't come out of park. I had this repaired at the dealership about two years ago and it is now happening again and paid $300 for a ground wire. My car currently has 90000 miles on it. I would like to file a formal compliant regarding the same issue. Please contact me asap I can be reached at [redacted]
While driving on i95 my rpms dropped to zero without warning and I was able to get it off the road. The tow truck driver said the engine was blown. It had 63,504 miles on it and the required maintenance had been done less than 1600 miles earlier. No lights or warning. Luckily I was able to get it off the road safely.
2007 Aveo 5 , new purchase in April 2008. 1. Highway driving is extremely scary, cannot drive at "posted speed limits in north America.roof howls & vibrates, we fear that roof will detach & blow off.tech: unable to reproduce. 2. Freezing outdoor temperatures, defroster fails, needs hand toweling, excessive moisture & frozen ice on all inside windows set on "defrost/ fresh air/ high fan/ medium high heat, even after 1 hour still very humid & wet. Difficult to see clearly while driving. Tech:no fault found 3.air bag warning light goes off & on when it wants, with people in both front seats. Tech: unable to duplicate 4. Front end groans harshly when driving over dips in road our speed bumps. Tech lubricated. 11 failed attempts on our part/in letters to GM ceo's about our safety concerns-no response, interest or reply back. …
Timing belt breaks too often. The car has now had the timing belt replace 3 times since I have owned it I bought it at 69,000 miles I was replaced at around 74K then broke and left me stranded on the side of the road at night time after hours at 121K then has broke again at 134K this is supposed to be a 60K part and is not lasting like it should and when it breaks causes other stuff around it to be affected as well. The first time I had to replace water pump, the 2nd time water pump as well as engine gaskets and it cost me $2600 to fix. This last time just the water pump and a water hose. This last time it left my daughter stranded on the side of the road after dark on her way home from college luckily her boyfriend was able to come pick her up. This car is notorious for the timing belt issue. …
I bought this 2007 Chevy Aveo brand new with only 9 miles on it. After I put about 33,000 miles the A/C went out... On a brand new car! Then the console with the shifters lights went out, blinkers would stop blinking and just stay green. I went to start my car at 10 pm and it wouldn't start it acted like it was going to be then kept clicking. So I jumped it and drove around to charge the battery. I had the battery tested and they said everything was fine. Go back and the next morning it doesn't start again, all I got was a clicking sound when trying to start the car. I took it to a mechanic and he said that it could be the starter or the alternator and that I should pay to get them both tested and replaced if needed. There has got to be some type of a recall if I google it and everyone has the same electrical and engine problems. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Aveo. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact stated that the vehicle would continue to maintain speed for miles as pressure was removed from the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure would recur at any speed. The vehicle also stalled approximately fifty times without warning. In addition, the vehicle would decelerate independently, the rpms would fluctuate and the vehicle would jerks forward erratically without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered that while the transmission was in neutral, the tires would continue to spin excessively on without depressing the accelerator pedal. The mechanic was unable to diagnose or repair the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,000. Updated 6/8/11 the consumer stated the case was closed. 06/13/11
Engine complaints in other Aveo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo, 13% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is engine (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2007 Chevrolet Aveo engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 25% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.