YearToAvoid

2009 Chevrolet Aveo Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 8 Aveo years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo has 169 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 8 Aveo model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (79 complaints, 47% of the total). Complaints report 13 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
169
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
13 / 3
Injuries / deaths
13 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 34 hwy

Top 2009 Chevy Aveo problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine79 (47%)
  2. Electrical System57 (34%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires30 (18%)
  4. Fuel System19 (11%)
  5. Airbags16 (9%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain14 (8%)
  7. Brakes11 (7%)
  8. Other11 (7%)
  9. Steering9 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body8 (5%)
2009 Chevrolet Aveo complaints: complaints filed per quarter362009 Q32011 Q12012 Q32014 Q12015 Q32017 Q12018 Q42024 Q1
255 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q3 to 2024 Q1; peak 2014 Q2 (36).

2009 Chevrolet Aveo recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V460000Jul 29, 2014Brakes1,968 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:fluid

    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.

    Remedy: 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 in late September 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac). GM's number for this recall is 14505.

2009 Chevrolet Aveo fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,225
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Aveo years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid86216226.5
2008Caution71163126.5
2009Avoid100169129
2010Good2966129
2011Best1477028.5

All Chevrolet Aveo years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo ranks worst among Aveo model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 169 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo?
The most reported problem areas are engine (79 complaints), electrical system (57 complaints), and suspension, wheels & tires (30 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 44,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo, most recently reported 2014, covering brakes.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo?
EPA rates the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo at 29 MPG combined (26 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,225. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.