Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
26–27 mpgcombined; city 23–24, highway 32–34; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,030–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $10,750–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2008 Aveo. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 163 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Aveo. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air bags
70
13
1
14
Electrical system
44
2
7
3
Exterior lighting
30
1
5
1
Engine
20
2
3
3
Power train
15
0
0
0
Suspension
9
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
8
1
3
1
Vehicle speed control
8
0
0
0
Structure
7
1
1
3
Unknown or other
6
1
2
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
5
0
0
0
Steering
5
1
0
2
12 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
1
0
2
Seat belts
3
1
0
1
Tires
3
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
2
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
0
1
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Wheels
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Fuel system, other
1
1
1
0
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
Seats
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Aveo over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 222 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 Aveo, the latest on Sep 9, 2025. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (75), electrical system (41), engine and engine cooling (41), power train (24), engine (16).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 Aveo.
EPA class: subcompact cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Aveo Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
24 / 34 / 27
Aveo Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 32 / 26
Aveo 5 Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
24 / 34 / 27
Aveo 5 Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 4-spd
Regular Gasoline
23 / 32 / 26
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data