YearToAvoid

2011 Chevrolet Aveo Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 3 Aveo years

The 2011 Chevrolet Aveo has a complaint index of 100, the highest among the 3 model years with data, ranking worst-first at #1. Owners reported 77 complaints, mostly engine issues (43%), with 10 crashes, 1 fire, and 1 death, but NHTSA lists no recalls for this year.

Complaints
77
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
10 / 1
Injuries / deaths
4 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28.5
26 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2011 Chevrolet Aveo problems

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

  1. Engine33 (43%)
  2. Electrical System16 (21%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain11 (14%)
  4. Other8 (10%)
  5. Airbags7 (9%)
  6. Brakes7 (9%)
  7. Fuel System6 (8%)
  8. Steering6 (8%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (8%)
  10. Structure & Body3 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report tie rod failures at speed that cause a front tire to separate from the vehicle and lead to loss of control.
  • A wheel bearing failure has caused an entire wheel to come off while driving, damaging the front end and rear bumper.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in low-speed and high-speed crashes, including one involving critical injury.
  • Brake pedals reportedly traveled to the floor with a spongy feel, with owners saying the master cylinder was replaced but the problem returned.
  • Engine and transmission issues include hard-to-move gear shifters, an illuminated 'hold' light, and unexpected acceleration dragging.
  • One owner reported a sulfur smell from the air vents along with a burning smell and brake pedal traveling to the floor while parking.
2011 Chevrolet Aveo complaints: complaints filed per quarter102010 Q42012 Q32013 Q32014 Q32015 Q42016 Q42017 Q42019 Q1
105 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q4 to 2021 Q1; peak 2014 Q3 (10).

2011 Chevrolet Aveo recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Chevrolet Aveo fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
33.5 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,275
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.

2011 compared with other Aveo years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict5066129
2011No verdict10077028.5
2012No verdict010—

All Chevrolet Aveo years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo reliable?
Among the 3 Aveo model years with data, 2011 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst-first at #1, with 77 complaints logged, most tied to the engine.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo?
NHTSA data shows the top problem area is the Engine, accounting for 43% of complaints (33 of 77), followed by Electrical System at 21% and Transmission & Powertrain at 14%.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, though 77 owner complaints have been filed, including reports of crashes, a fire, and a death.
At what mileage do 2011 Aveo problems tend to occur?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints for the 2011 Aveo is 56,321.5 miles, though engine complaints show a median of 45,000 miles.

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.