Chevrolet Aveo Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Chevrolet Aveo model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2012 drew the fewest (1) and the 2005 the most (235).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2010 Among the fewest complaints |
66 | 1 | Engine | — | 28–30 |
| 2011 Among the fewest complaints |
77 | 0 | Engine | — | 28–29 |
| 2008 | 163 | 1 | Air bags | — | 26–27 |
| 2009 | 169 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 28–30 |
| 2006 | 189 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 25–26 |
| 2004 Among the most complaints |
206 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 26–27 |
| 2007 Among the most complaints |
216 | 2 | Air bags | — | 26–27 |
| 2005 Among the most complaints |
235 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 26–27 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Chevrolet Aveo years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2005 Chevrolet Aveo: 235 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 67 (29%); Engine and engine cooling 62 (26%); Exterior lighting 48 (20%).
Reports mention 19 crashes, 17 fires, 16 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 63,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2007 Chevrolet Aveo: 216 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 84 (39%); Electrical system 50 (23%); Exterior lighting 32 (15%).
Reports mention 25 crashes, 13 fires, 25 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 52,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2004 Chevrolet Aveo: 206 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 62 (30%); Electrical system 37 (18%); Air bags 23 (11%).
Reports mention 23 crashes, 9 fires, 20 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Chevrolet Aveo years with the fewest complaints
2012 Chevrolet Aveo: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (100%); Electrical system 1 (100%); Engine 1 (100%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Chevrolet Aveo: 66 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 23 (35%); Electrical system 16 (24%); Air bags 9 (14%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 8 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 47,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2011 Chevrolet Aveo: 77 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 22 (29%); Electrical system 15 (19%); Power train 11 (14%).
Reports mention 10 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 57,643 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Chevrolet Aveo owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 77 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 57,643 |
| 2010 | 66 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 47,000 |
| 2009 | 169 | 13 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 43,000 |
| 2008 | 163 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 0 | 62,000 |
| 2007 | 216 | 25 | 13 | 25 | 2 | 52,000 |
| 2006 | 189 | 13 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 59,000 |
| 2005 | 235 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 1 | 63,000 |
| 2004 | 206 | 23 | 9 | 20 | 2 | 60,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Chevrolet Aveo recalls
- Daytime Running Light Module Overheating (2004–2008 model years; 218,000 vehicles across all models; filed May 2014; 14V261000)
- GM/REAR SAFETY BELT TWISTED (2004 model year; 32,301 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2004; 04V407000)
- FUEL LINE AND FUSE BLOCK (2007 model year; 17,676 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2006; 06V398000)
- Brake Fluid may Corrode Brake Module (2009–2010 model years; 1,968 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2014; 14V460000)
All 4 Chevrolet Aveo recall campaigns · Chevrolet Aveo problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Chevrolet Aveo years FAQ
Which Chevrolet Aveo year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2012 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Chevrolet Aveo years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2005, 2007 and 2004 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Chevrolet Aveo problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (347 of 1,322 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Aveo have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the Chevrolet Aveo. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Chevrolet Aveo recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.