FaultScore

2008 Chevrolet Aveo airbag problems

70 of the 251 complaints about the 2008 Chevrolet Aveo are about the airbag system — 28% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 60,873 miles.

F

70

Complaints

13

Crashes

1

Fires

10

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 64 91.4%
Frontal 4 5.7%
Side/Window 1 1.4%
Status Indicator Lamp/Light 1 1.4%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Aveo year

2004 23 8.6%
2005 16 6.0%
2006 58 21.7%
2007 84 31.5%
2008 70 26.2%
2009 16 6.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Richmond, VA

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:STATUS INDICATOR LAMP/LIGHT

The contact's son owns a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11452488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,200 miles Fairlawn, NJ

AIR BAGS

2008 CHEVY AVEO SEDAN - [XXX] - AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON AT ALL TIMES - NO BODY CODES ARE PRESENT / DETECTED - (USING FOXWELL ELITE NT630 SCANNER WHICH CLAIMS TO READ / CLEAR AIRBAG CODES) - I'VE ALREADY RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE - "MUCHO PROBLEMOS" - WITH OVER HALF OF ALL CHEVY AVEO COMPLAINTS INCLUDING AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON. IT'S MOST LIKELY EITHER THE CLOCK MODULE - WHICH PASSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SIGNALS TO THE MAIN SRS CONTROLLER, THE SRS CONTROLLER MODULE (LOCATED UNDER CENTER SHIFT CONSOLE AREA) OR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ITSELF - CODE SCANNER ONLY SEES PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAGE 2 - (NO STAGE 1 SEEN) ... DRIVER'S SIDE SHOWS BOTH STAGE 1 AND STAGE 2 ... ALL PRETENSIONERS ARE PROPER (2 OHMS CIRCUIT RESISTANCE) ... BATTERY STRONG / GOOD / NEW - 1 YEAR OLD - 13.5 VOLTS - I'M WORRIED DEALER (HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET - HAWTHORNE NJ) WILL ACTUALLY NOT KNOW THE EXTENSIVE ISSUE WITH CHEVY AVEO AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON - AND WILL WRONGLY DIAGNOSE AND TRY TO CHARGE BIG BUCKS - AND PROBLEM WILL RETURN - THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - SINCE WITH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYING ON - SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE, NO AIRBAG PROTECTION - I HAVE ALSO NOW CONTACTED CHEVROLET ON THIS SUBJECT / PROBLEM - WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY - LOCATED IN NORTHERN NJ - HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET WOULD BE THE PROPER DEALERSHIP - (I PURCHASED THE CAR THERE - 10 YEARS AGO - THEY HAVE SERVICED THE CAR FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS) ... WILL BE CONTACTING THEM ON THIS SRS AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM - BUT WORRIED THEY ARE NOT REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE ON IT ... THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM - SRS / AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYING ON - SAFETY RELATED FAILURE - CHEVY KNOWS ABOUT THIS BY NOW FOR SURE - INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11283037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 62,000 miles NEW York, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

CAR SHUTOFF WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11203401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,744 miles Indianapolis, IN

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, HAS BEEN ON WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER, SAID PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FUSE WAS BAD, NEEDED REPLACED. NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER ON/OFF WILL AT RANDOM TURN ON OR OFF OR NOT EVEN SHOW AT TIMES, I HAVE ALSO NOTED THE SEAT MAKING SOME SORT OF NOISE WHEN TURNING THE CAR ON.

NHTSA complaint #11186052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, GA

AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND NEVER GOES OUT. ALWAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #11149543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Chesapeake, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG PASSENGER LIGHT COMES ON AND MULTIPLE TIMES REPAIR SHOP CLEARS IT, STAYS OFF FOR A BIT, THEN COMES BACK ON, BEEN TOLD NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #11122346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Racine, WI

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (FRANK BASHAY IN RACINE, WI) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #11079821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Kirkland, WA

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG INDICATOR HAS DISAPPEARED FROM DASHBOARD. THE AIRBAG ON/OFF SYMBOL IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED ON MY DASH AND MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS TURNED ON. IT STARTED AS THE AIRBAG ON/OFF LIGHT WOULD SOMETIMES BE ILLUMINATED, AND SOMETIMES NOT BE ILLUMINATED, AND NOW THE INDICATOR IS COMPLETELY GONE (NEVER SHOWS ON OR OFF).

NHTSA complaint #11075474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Lincoln Park, MI

AIR BAGS

I MADE A REPORT MORE THAN A WEEK AGO. THE HEADLIGHTS SPORADICALLY TURN OFF WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OUT. I HAVE TO DO NIGHT DRIVING WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF HAZARD LIGHTS ONLY. UNSAFE!!! THIS SITE CLAIMED I WOULD BE CONTACTED 72 HRS. AFTER I MADE THE FIRST REPORT. WELL, I'M STILL WAITING. I AM STILL WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS. PERIODICALLY, THERE WAS ELECTRICAL (OZONE) SMELLS. SINCE THE LIGHTS ARE OUT, THIS IS NOTICED LESS, BUT I HAVE SMELT IT ON A FEW OCCASIONS.

NHTSA complaint #11055560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Lincoln Park, MI

AIR BAGS

CHIEF DEFICIENCY: HEADLIUGHTS HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY STOPPED ILLUMINATING. NO HIGH OR LOW BEAM FUNCTION OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER HEADLAMPS. BULBS WERE JUST REPLACED BECAUSE LIGHTS WERE DIMMING. UPON REPLACEMENT IT WAS NOTED THAT THE PASSENGER PLUG IN/SOCKET WAS PARTIALLY MELTED. WORKED FINE FOR 20 DAYS; NOW NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL. THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AFTER DARK. I FOUND THERE IS A GM RECALL CAMPAIGN 14236, DATED 19MAY2014: RECALL # 14V261000 FOR EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, TO WHAT IS NOTED ABOVE, I HAVE BEEN SMELLING PERIODICAL WHIFFS OF OZONE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THESE PAST FEW DAYS. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL).

NHTSA complaint #11052871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Pueblo West, CO Crash Fire 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY IN SLOW AND GO TRAFFIC. I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW PACE, ABOUT 15 MPH.THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. WHEN HE HIT ME, HE FORCED MY VEHICLE INTO THE ONE IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES ABOUT 5 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE FLAMES WERE COMING UP FROM THE ENGINE. MY CAR IS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THIS. I AM 12 WEEKS PREGNANT WITH TWINS. ONE OF MY PLACENTA'S HAS A TEAR IN IT AND IS BLEEDING AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. I WILL HAVE TO BE ON BED REST FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY PREGNANCY. I AM AT RISK OF MISCARRYING ONE OR MAYBE BOTH OF MY BABIES.

NHTSA complaint #10980559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Norfolk, VA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA complaint #10980117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 800,000 miles Wheaton, MD

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF STAYS ON ALL THE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #10969662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,164 miles Perryville, MO Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED RIBS INJURIES, THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED KNEE AND HEAD INJURIES, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED RIGHT HAND AND NECK INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,164.

NHTSA complaint #10947479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles South Chesterfield, VA

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10944155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Merrillville, IN

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10944161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Citrus Heights, CA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WAS TOLD PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG PROBLEM ARE COMMON ON THE 2008 CHEVY AVEO. I USE THIS VEHICLE FOR A COMMUTER CAR. LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 25,000 MILES. HARDLY EVER HAVE A PASSENGER IN THIS CAR. CHEVY NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BY THE INCREDIBLE LARGE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10938951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fayetteville, NC

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. THERBY DISABLING AIRBAG FUNCTIONALITY. DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A RECAL ALREADY. BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED A RECALL ON PRIOR YEARS. HEADLIGHT PLASTIC DETERIORATION. PLASTIC HAS CRUMBLED AND WILL SOON MAKE VISIBILITY UNSAFE.

NHTSA complaint #10934493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,985 miles Perrysburg, OH

AIR BAGS

THIS 2008 CAR HAD 30,985 MILES ON IT WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE MAIN DASH WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD GO OFF WHEN NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. ON 10/19/16 THE GM DEALER SAID THAT IT NEEDED A NEW BATTERY (CHECKED OUT OK IN LATE JULY) AND POSSIBLY A REPLACEMENT PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE (THE ENTIRE SEAT BOTTOM). THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE LIGHTS WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL 11/12/16. THE SENSOR/SEAT HAD TO BE PREPAID FOR $1,195 AND THE WORK WAS DONE BY THE DEALER ON 11/15/16 FOR A TOTAL COST OF $1,386. I SAVED THE OLD PART. AS OF 12/9/16 THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10934094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Carrollton, TX

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW. THE CAR WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENTS WHEN THIS OCCURED. IT WAS PARKED ON FRIDAY AND NOT USED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. ON THAT MONDAY MORNING, THE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON SINCE THEN.

NHTSA complaint #10916042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Columbas, IN

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE HOLD BUTTON TO ACTIVATE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE OTHER FAILURES; HOWEVER, ALL THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 12/20/16*LJ UPDATED 12/21/16.

NHTSA complaint #10908658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 127,911 miles Newark, NJ

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL ON AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #10870148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,637 miles Clifton, ME

AIR BAGS

THE AIRBAG MODULE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IT WILL COST $1400.00. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER IT.

NHTSA complaint #10838028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chesapeake, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG (RED LIGHT) LIGHT STAYS ON. ALSO HEADLIGHTS PLASTIC MOUNTS, WHERE THE BOLTS GO IN TO HOLD HEADLIGHTS IN PLACE, ARE DETERATED, HEADLIGHTS B BHEARLY HOLDING ON.

NHTSA complaint #10824433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,675 miles Houston, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

I WAS REAR ENDED AND IT WAS NOT A BAD ACCIDENT BUT NEEDED A BUMPER AND I NOTICED THAT AFTER THIS HAPPENED MY AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN THAT I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT THEN THE BUMPER. THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. WHEN WE PICKED UP OUR VEHICLE THEY SAID THEY LOOKED AT THE AIRBAG LIGHT SENSOR AND RESET IT. NOW 6 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SUGGESTED I CHECK ON THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS. I DID NOT SEE ANY. CAN YOU SUGGEST ANYTHING. I FEEL THAT THEY DID NOT REALLY PROPERLY CHECK OUT THE SENSOR LIGHT OR TO MAKE SURE THE AIRBAG IS OK.

NHTSA complaint #10809052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,994 miles Kokomo, IN

AIR BAGS

MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN I HIT A DEER IN 2013. NOW MY WIRING THAT COMES FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT CONTROLS MY WINDOW LOCK AND POWER WINDOWS IS SHORTING OUT. MY NEIGHBOR HAS A 2007 CHEVY COLORADO HAS GOTTEN A RECALL ON HIS DUE TO SAME REASON.

NHTSA complaint #10794903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midlothian, VA

AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY

NHTSA complaint #10785024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 64,000 miles Delta, UT

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 64,000.

NHTSA complaint #10779045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Waldoboro, ME

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #10735878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 114,000 miles Brooklyn, NY

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

NHTSA complaint #10733103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2008 Chevrolet Aveo problems

← Full 2008 Chevrolet Aveo report