YearToAvoid

2009 Chevrolet Aveo Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2009 Chevrolet Aveo has 169 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 100, the highest among all 8 model years tracked, ranking it worst overall and giving it an Avoid verdict. Engine and electrical issues dominate, with 79 and 57 complaints respectively.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 8 Aveo years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
169
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
13
reported in complaints
Fires
3
Injuries
13
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2011
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
26 city / 34 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 1

Top 2009 Chevy Aveo problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel reportedly seized or became hard to turn at highway speed, sometimes causing loss of control and a crash.
  • Airbags did not deploy in multiple reported crashes, including a rollover and repeated highway collisions.
  • Brakes reportedly failed to respond when the pedal was depressed, leading to crashes at low and moderate speeds.
  • Wheels reportedly detached or tires came off during a steering-related loss of control incident.
  • Engine compartment fires were reported, including one where the vehicle caught fire while driving on the highway.
  • Electrical issues reportedly caused loss of power steering and the engine shutting off unexpectedly while driving.
2009 Chevrolet Aveo complaints: complaints filed per quarter222009 Q32011 Q12012 Q32014 Q12015 Q32017 Q12018 Q42024 Q1
169 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q3 to 2024 Q1; peak 2014 Q2 (22).

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 reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2009 Aveo has a complaint index of 100, the worst of the 8 model years with data, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Aveo years.
What problems does the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo have?
Owners most often reported engine issues (79 complaints, 47% share) and electrical system problems (57 complaints, 34% share), with a median failure mileage around 40,000 for engine complaints.
Does the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 14V460000) covers brake fluid that could corrode ABS module valves; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
What year Chevrolet Aveo should I avoid?
Among Aveo years, 2009 and 2007 both carry an Avoid verdict, with complaint indexes of 100 and 86 respectively, the two highest in the lineup.
Which Chevrolet Aveo model years are better than 2009?
The 2011 model year is rated Best with a complaint index of 14, and 2010 and 2006 are rated Good, all far below the 2009 index of 100.

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.