Your vehicle report
2004 Chevrolet Aveo
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 206
- Received Feb 2004 to Jul 2019
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Timing chain fails and destroys engine39 complaints · 19% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Seat belt fails to latch or retract16 complaints · 7.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Airbags fail to deploy in crashes13 complaints · 6.3% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #14V261000General Motors is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo vehicles equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the center console in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
- Recall #04V407000On certain passenger vehicles, the rear safety belt can become twisted.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 23 crashes, 9 fires, 20 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 15 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 23 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 30 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 18 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 206 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timing chain fails and destroys engine | 39 | 19% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 16 | 7.8% | – | NHTSA recall #04V407000 |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 6.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 10 | 4.9% | – | NHTSA recall #14V261000 |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 10 | 4.9% | – | |
| Ignition key sticks or will not turn | 9 | 4.4% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 6 | 2.9% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 6 | 2.9% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 5 | 2.4% | – | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 4 | 1.9% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Serpentine belt breaks or slips off | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 3 | 1.5% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 3 | 1.5% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #14V261000May 19, 2014218,000 vehicles affected
exterior lighting: headlights
General Motors is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo vehicles equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the center console in the instrument panel, which could melt the DRL module.
If the DRL module melts due to the heat generation, it could cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a revised DRL module, inspect the wiring connector for heat damage, and clean the DRL circuit grounds. Owners were sent interim notices on August 14, 2014. The recall began on February 6, 2015. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). General Motors recall number for this campaign is 14236.
NHTSA recall #04V407000August 17, 200432,301 vehicles affected
seat belts: rear/other
On certain passenger vehicles, the rear safety belt Can become twisted.
If this occurs the safety belt retractor may lock in position so that the belt cannot be used. In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to the seat occupant could occur.
Remedy
Dealers will install a safety belt webbing guide to prevent the belt from twisting. The recall began on october 15, 2004. Owners should contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438. Vehicle owners located in guam should contact gm customer assistance at 1-671-648-8453.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2004 Chevrolet Aveo.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN