Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 20 | 12% |
| Engine | 15 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 6% |
| Suspension | 8 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 3% |
| Air bags | 5 | 3% |
| Power train | 5 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 i
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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: Air bags
LAST YEAR I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS STARTED, ON I85 COMING FROM DURHAM THE CAR WOULDN'T LET ME GO NO MORE THAN 20MPH. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN GONE BAD REPLACED IT SE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
HELLO. MY AVEO STARTED, AND WHEN I TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO RUN. THIS PROBLEM PERSISTED UNTIL I PULLED A FUSE FROM THE ENGINE. I RETURNED THE FUSE TO ITS ALLOCATED SPOT, BUT NOW THERE IS ZERO LIFE IN TH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED MOST OF THE TIME OR THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BEFORE THE A
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
MY 2009 AVEO5 2009. MY BRAKES KEEP GOING OUT. BUT I AM HAVING TO REPLACE MY WHEEL BEARINGS 3 TIMES IN LAST 3 YEARS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. I AM SCARED BECAUSE THE BACK ONE IS NOW MAKING LOTS OF NOISE SO I KNOW IT'S ANOT
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
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 VEHIC
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 Pontiac G3 vehicles. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the valves inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, affecting the closing motion of the valves.
Risk: If the ABS valve corrodes it may result in longer brake pedal travel or reduced performance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module, free of charge, in any vehicle that did not have its module replaced under a previous customer satisfaction campaign. The recall began
| Reliability raw | 64 | average |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 77 | good |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 20 of them (12%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 64/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.