284 of the
1,930 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Aveo
are about the airbag system —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
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 is also illuminated, indicating the safety restraint system may not function properly in a crash. These failures create a serious safety risk due to loss of exterior lighting, inability to shift, inability to turn the ignition off, and possible airbag malfunction. This failure is consistent with a known defect involving the Daytime Running Light (DRL) module overheating and causing electrical shorts, as documented in manufacturer recall and technical service bulletins for this vehicle. The problem has been reproduced multiple times and remains unresolved.
NHTSA complaint #11713135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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. This failure creates a serious safety risk because the airbags may not function in the event of a collision.
NHTSA complaint #11713137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11427530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH WHENEVER I GO TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR, SOME OF IT GOES ON THE GROUND. NOT ALL OF THE GAS GOES ON THE GROUND, BUT A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT I PURCHASED. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I CAN'T HARDLY SEE WHEN I'M DRIVING AT NIGHT. ALSO, MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON? THERE'S ONE THERE AND NOTHING BIGAMY WRONG WITH IT THAT I CAN SEE. THE STEREO.....ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SPEAKER WORKS, THE OTHER THREE DOESN'T WORK AT ALL....PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE FEW THINGS OR GIVE ME SOME SORT OF IDEA OF WHAT I CAN DO
NHTSA complaint #11306218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
OUR SON HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGH I -49 N, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BREAK. HE SUBSTAINED HEAD ,NECK TRAUMA , BACK AND LEG IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11281877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL. ON OCTOBER 13TH 2018 I WAS IN A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY WAS AN SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT MY TIRE SHREDDED BUT STILL MAINTAINED AIR AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY ON EITHER SIDE AND I GOT A BROKEN NOSE AND A FEW FACIAL FRACTURES. NOW I HAVE SEVERE HEADACHES EVERYDAY SINCE THEN.
NHTSA complaint #11234617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SO I WAS AT HOME AND MY CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE INSIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. IT DAMAGED THE DASHBOARD AND THE WINDOW. I HAVE READ THAT IT IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WHICH CAUSES IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERA140093 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER14V261 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE
NHTSA complaint #11210190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET AVEO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL DRIVEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY A PARENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,512.
NHTSA complaint #11190040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
"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? OR DO WE NEED A HIGHER BODY COUNT BEFORE THE MAKERS AND SAFETY REGULATORS ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THAT? NEED WE REALLY TOIL WITH THE QUESTION ABOUT WHY AMERICA LOST ITS PLACE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY? WE NEED GO NO FURTHER THAN RIGHT HERE.
NHTSA complaint #11155287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.