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 2009 Chevrolet Aveo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle shut off independently. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the dealer. The dealer informed the contact that they could not diagnose the vehicle because the vehicle failed to start. The dealer informed the contact that an unknown wiring harness might need to be installed to restart the vehicle; however, the part had been discontinued. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to GM Campaign Number: N110290. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The vehicle caught fire while travelling at approximately 40 MPH on the highway, us route 93 at exit 33, south in massachusetts, and burnt and the gas tank exploded. There was no accident preceding the fire. The vehicle is a total loss.
My 2009 Chevy Aveo has been nothing but trouble! The problem started with 89,000 miles. In idle, after about 2 minutes, the car would shake violently. I began to drive normally with no problem then the car surges, looses power, then stalled in traffic. After about 3 minutes of sitting, the car suddenly started then after about 4 blocks, lost power again. The car kept dying & restarting. Finally got home. Turned the car back on , the idle was going up & down, shaking violently while idling in park. The throttle body was changed, o2 sensor changed, mass air sensor changed. Air filter clean. This car is terrible. I will never trust & buy a Chevy again!!!!! Shame on you Chevy.! Get your quality control in check. I want people to know to stay clear of Chevy cars!!!!!
Driving home from work, stopped at a store in a parking lot, car ignition would not turn off, could not get car keys out of ignition. Drove to a dealership, who said the ignition needed to be replaced because it was shifting. Said it would cost 4 to 5 hundred dollars, did not have it fixed. But since then, it has been difficult at times to get the car to turn on, or if turned off, hard to get keys out. A valet could not get it to turn off and when he finally did, could not get the keys out,so he left them in my car. I think this has something to do with the GM faulty ignition switches.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. While driving various speeds, the vehicle attempted to stall and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,432.
Engine keeps overheating. Two blown head gaskets in the past 6 months. Hoses burst with no warning or prior damage, causing car to overheat. Engine is building pressure for some unknown reason. Mechanic is unable to determine the root of the overheating. Replaced thermostat, water pump, multiple hoses, two head gaskets and it is still overheating and running hot.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. While driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle would accelerate without warning. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the spark plug and the air filter were replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.
You can't drive it anywhere it runs right then for no reason it loose power and won't accalrate while driving it will drop below 10 MPH in traffic or lose all power while crossing road or turning I'm afeead I'll b hit in side or ran over in traffic.
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 happened was when I slightly let off the brake to move forward, the car lunged. I hit the brake and the RPM started dropping and the car started sputtering; so I let off the brake and it lunged again. When the light turned green, I pushed on the accelerator and it was if the engine was not getting gas. …
Vehicle lost power to the engine. Stepping on the gas pedal did nothing. The car lurched and decelerated quickly. Power was suddenly restored to engine causing the car to speed up quickly, then engine lost power again. Car came to a stop, engine sputtered and then died. No warning lights came on. Restarted engine, car drove as normal. Took to dealership, they could find nothing wrong. Problem has continued intermittently for almost a year. Have taken the car to the dealership multiple times, they can find nothing wrong. The sudden deceleration has occurred at all speeds, including on the freeway almost causing a collision. The car went from 70mph to 40mph in one minute, sputtered for a while, and then came back to drive normally after several minutes. The problem happens within the first ten minutes of driving. It has happened twice in the same day after the car sat for 8 hours. …
Engine complaints in other Aveo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo, 38% of the model year's 169 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Aveo engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo, though it has 1 recall 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 2009 Chevrolet Aveo engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 28% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire 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.