2004 CHEVROLET AVEO Power Train Problems

I AM ON A FIXED INCOME. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT WHICH I INTENDED TO TAKE CARE OF AND DRIVE FOR YEARS TO COME, IN FACT INTO THE GROUND. THE MANUAL I RECEIVED WITH THE CAR INDICATED THAT THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 100,000. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA WHERE YOU REALLY NEED A VEHICLE. I HAD DRIVEN TO ANOTHER TOWN FOR A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT. WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH THE CAR JUST DIED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A 55 MPH ZONE. I WAS LUCKY THAT A GOOD SAMARITAN HELPED ME OUT OF THE DANGEROUS CONDITION I WAS IN ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAD 65,321 MIIES ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING VALVE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $5,000 TO REPAIR IT WHICH IS WHAT I PAID FOR THE VEHICLE. I DID NOT HAVING $5,000 SO I JUNKED THE CAR. THIS ORDEAL CAUSED SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FOR ME FINANCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY. I WAS 62 AT THE TIME. THE WEBSITE CARCOMPLAINTS HAS 56 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS RELATED TO 2004 CHEVY AVEOS. ALL OF THE TIMING BELTS FAILED BELOW 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2005 CHEVY AVEO. WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SO I WOULD NOT LOSE MY SHORTS ON MY VEHICLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE EVENT WAS TERRIBLY FRIGHTENING. I SUFFER FROM HEART FAILURE. MY NEW CAR PAYMENT IS VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH ON A FIXED INCOME. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF THE CAR. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT SUCH DANGEROUS CONDITION. I WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS.

Mileage: 65,321

THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS NHTSA INCIDENT 10393028 (SNAPPED PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT). DRIVING ON A MULTIPLE LANE FREEWAY AT ~65MPH AND THE TIMING BELT SNAPPED (HIGH PITCHED WHISTLE LIKE THE CAR WINDOW WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN). IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL SPEED CONTROL AND BEGAN RAPIDLY DECELERATING. THANKFULLY, WAS IN RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD I BEEN IN ANY OTHER LANE IN MORNING TRAFFIC AND LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. ONCE STOPPED, CAR COULD NOT BE TURNED BACK ON AND WOULD NOT MOVE UNTIL TURNED INTO ACC MODE WHERE IT FINALLY ALLOWED ME TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. HAD TO BE TOWED, EVENTUALLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. ENGINE DAMAGE WAS CATASTROPHIC AND REQUIRED EXTENSIVE AND EXPENSIVE REPAIRS (3 WEEKS AND APPROXIMATELY $2,700). SNAPPED TIMING BELT ALSO BENT PISTONS AND VALVES AND REQUIRED THE WATER PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS CLEARLY A KNOWN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH BY CHEVROLET, RATHER THAN HIDING BEHIND THE 60,000 MILE REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS LAUGHABLY LOW FOR A TIMING BELT. FURTHER - MY TIMING BELT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES AND THUS NOT ONLY DID A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP LIE TO ME, THEY PUT MY LIFE AT RISK BY KNOWING THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WOULD INEVITABLY OCCUR LONG BEFORE THE NEXT SCHEDULED BELT REPLACEMENT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ONLY 5,000-10,000 MILES DRIVEN/YEAR. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE TIMING BELT TO SNAP OTHER THAN BEING A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD A STRANGE, LOUD RUBBING/ CLATTERING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. MY BOYFRIEND, WHO IS A MECHANIC, LOOKED AT THE ENGINE AND SAID THE TIMING BELT WAS BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED. NOW I AM FINDING OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THIS PARTICULAR 4 CYLINDER GM VEHICLE. THIS ENGINE IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE. THIS MEANS THAT THE ONLY THING PREVENTING THE VALVES FROM STRIKING THE PISTONS DURING VEHICLE OPERATION IS THE TIMING BELT. IF/ WHEN IT BREAKS, IT CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE, OFTEN REQUIRING ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ONE OR MORE OF THE TIMING BELT PULLEYS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC. WHEN THE TIMING BELT PULLEY BREAKS, SHARDS OF PLASTIC SNAP OFF AND BECOME LODGED INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, RENDERING THE ENGINE USELESS. ALSO, AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THE VALVES BECOME BENT WHEN THE BELT/ PULLEY(S) MALFUNCTIONS. THIS IS BOTH COSTLY AND DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER, AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE MADE ALL PULLEYS AND MOVING PARTS ON THE ENGINE OUT OF METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *TR

DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE CAR FELT LIKE CAME OUT OF 5TH GEAR. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE CAR WAS IN GEAR. PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN (VERY TIGHT). THE CAR WAS LOOSING POWER BUT TACH WAS STILL AT 3000. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE CAR HAD NO SPARK. LIGHTS STILL WORKED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED WHICH TOOK OUT THE WATER PUMP AND DAMAGED MY HEAD. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. AT THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MECHANIC AND 2 CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THANK GOD IT WAS 5:15 AM AND NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 78,423

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN A CHILD WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARD UNTIL CRASHING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TAKING OF FROM A STOP SIGN, I HEARD A QUICK WHIRRING SOUND AND THE CAR DIED. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN PREMATURELY. IT WAS NOT DUE TO BE CHANGED UNTIL 60,000 MILES. (ORIGINALLY 90,000 IN THE MECHANICS BOOK, AMENDED BY GM) THE TIMING BELT FAILURE CAUSED THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE TO BE BENT AND THE ENGINE RENDERED USELESS.

Mileage: 53,362

CAR STALLED ON A BUSY 4 LANE INTERSTATE WITH MY SON INLAW DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER IN VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR BARELY COASTED ENOUGH TO MAKE IT OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO EMERGENCY LANE. CAR FAIL TO START AGAIN. HAD CAR TOWED TO CHEVY DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND SAID THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN. THE CAR ONLY HAD 59,000 MILES ON IT. I STATED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE BELT SHOULD STILL BE UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT ABOUT IT. HE AGREED ALSO THAT THE BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED WITHIN THAT AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. HE GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO CALL CHEVY TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A PILE OF JUNK BECAUSE THEY USED A CHEAP MADE BELT THAT HAS PREMATURELY FAILED ON COUNTLESS 04 & 05 AVEOS ENOUGH TO HAVE A WEBSITE CALLED AVEOSFAIL.COM. I READ STORIES THAT STATED THESE CHEAP BELTS FAILED ANYWHERE FROM 18,000 UP. MOSTLY WHERE IN THE 59,000 TO 65,000 MILE RANGE. US TAX PAYERS HAD TO BAIL THE COMPANY OUT WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM? THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE REASONS THEY HAD TO BE BAILED OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE, BECAUSE I WOULD BUY A STUBBORN MULE BEFORE I EVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVY! THE MULE WOULD BE MORE RELIABLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE. I TOOK APART THE TIMING COVER TO FIND THE BELT WASN'T BROKEN BUT THE RIBS ON THE BELT WERE BASICALLY FALLING OFF THE BELT, LIKE THEY HAD COME UNGLUED. WHY SHOULD WE ALL SUFFER BECAUSE OF THEIR POOR BELT DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER FLAWS. IF THEY DON'T STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBLITY THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED AND SHOULDN'T BE BAILED OUT BY THE TAX PAYERS PERIOD. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

I HAVE A 2004 CHEVY AVEO THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. SINCE IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED THE CLOCK HAS CHANGED TIME BY ITSELF AND THE GEAR SHIFT GETS STUCK IN PARK. *TR

WHEN STARTING THE CAR AND THEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM "P" TO "D" WILL NOT MOVE HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF PUT KEY IN SHIFT LOCK HOLE AND THEN SHIFT TO "N" AND THEN DEPRESS THE BRAKE, START THE VEHICLE THEN SHIFT DOWN TO "D" OR UP TO "R". *TR

Mileage: 115,000

DRIVING BACK TO SAINT LOUIS MISSOURI FROM LAKE WALES FLORIDA WHEN TIMING BELT BROKE ON MY 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. ENGINE DIED AND FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET THE ENGINE DESIGN ON THESE CARS IS AN "INTERFERENCE" ENGINE WHICH MEANS WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS IT BASICALLY DESTROYS YOUR CAR. I CANT UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY WOULD KNOWINGLY SELL AND NOT WARN CUSTOMERS THAT CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR FROM A SIMPLE BELT BREAKING ON THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2007 WITH 61,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT FAILED AND ALSO CAUSED THE ENGINE RODS TO BREAK. THE REPAIRS WERE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. TRANSMISSION COMPUTER ALSO FAILED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,999 AND THE CURRENT WAS 103,000.

Mileage: 99,999

CHEVROLET AVEO 2004 THE AC AND THROTTLE VALVE LOCKED IN BELOW 0 WEATHER . *TR

Mileage: 58,900

FIRST THING THAT WENT WRONG WITH THE CAR IS THE CLOCK FOR NO REASON AT ALL IT CHANGES TO 12:00 IT DOES IT WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND RUNNING IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN YOU FIRST TURN THE CAR ON. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND HAS FAILED A SECOND TIME AGAIN. SECOND IS MY GEAR SHIFTER I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC AND IT STICKS IN PARK ALL THE TIME AND ALL YEAR LONG THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS SITTING AT A GAS PUMP AND I WAS COMPLETELY STUCK AND IT WOULDN'T MOVE SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT BUT IT STUCK 10 + MORE TIMES SINCE 5 TIMES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND 3 TIMES IT WAS REPAIRED. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2004 AND TOO THIS DAY IT STILL STICKS I ACTUALLY HAVE PARTS BEING ORDERED AGAIN TO GET IT FIXED. THIRD IS MY KEY AND ALARM I CAN'T USE MY SECURITY ALARM ON MY CAR BECAUSE WHEN ITS SET ON IT GOES OFF ABOUT EVERY HALF HOUR FOR NO REASON. FOURTH IS MY HEAD LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I WAS TRAVELING IN A BIG CITY BUFFALO WHEN ALL THREE OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING I WENT TO AN AUTO SHOP TO GET THEM REPLACED AND THEY REPLACED THEM RIGHT THERE AND THE NEW ONES WOULDN'T EVEN WORK. MY HEADLIGHTS GO OFF WHEN EVER AND TURN BACK ON AFTER AWHILE. EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN THE STREET BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT PART. FIFTH IS MY BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTED AND I WENT THREW 4 PAIRS OF TIRES WITHIN 2 YEARS BEFORE MY DEALER REALIZED WHAT THAT PROBLEM WAS. SIXTH BOTH THE REAR STRUT HOLDING MOUNTS JUST FELL OFF CAR AND MY STRUTS WENT THREW MY BACK BOTTOM TRUNK. THE DEALER SAID HE NEVER SEEM ANYTHING LIKE IT. THE RIGHT SIDE WENT FIRST AND THAT WAS FIXED THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE LEFT SIDE WENT I REPLACED EVERYTHING BRAND NEW AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN A THIRD TIME THE LEFT STRUT AND HOLDING MOUNT FAILED. I ACTUALLY HAVE PARTS ORDERED FOR THAT AS WELL RIGHT NOW. A SMALLER COMPLAINT IS THE CIG. LIGHTER OUTLET DOESN'T WORK, AND THAT'S BEING REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO . THE VEHICLE HAD A WHISTLING IN THE BRAKES. THEN THERE WAS NOISE IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AWHILE. EVERY TIME WHILE BACKING OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A SMALL NOISE. MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04069. WAS ISSUED. AT THIS TIME CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE NEXT PROBLEM CONCERNED TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING OVER FILLED WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE TRANSMISSION AXLE WAS BEING CHECKED .*AK

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET AVEO . THE VEHICLE HAD A WHISTLING IN THE BRAKES. THEN THERE WAS NOISE IN THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AWHILE. EVERY TIME WHILE BACKING OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY THERE WAS A SMALL NOISE. MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 04069. WAS ISSUED. AT THIS TIME CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE NEXT PROBLEM CONCERNED TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING OVER FILLED WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE TRANSMISSION AXLE WAS BEING CHECKED .*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. ALSO, REAR SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED, IT DID NOT RETRACT. *AK

DURING COLD WEATHER THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REFUSES TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR FOR THE FIRST 1/2 MILE. THE "HOLD" BUTTON IS NOT ON.*AK

Mileage: 9,300

WHILE DRIVING ON I-94 MADE A SUDDEN DECREASE IN SPEED FROM 70 MPH TO 60 MPH AND CAR SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL, AND THE ONLY THING SAVING ME FROM FLIPPING THE CAR WAS AFTER MARKET RIMS AND TIRES. THUMP SOUND, SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE, CHECKED ALL THE TIRES AND THEY WERE FINE. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, ENGINE WAS TITLED TO DRIVER'S SIDE, AFTER INSPECTION ON SIDE OF EXPRESSWAY FOUND OUT THAT THE HALF SHAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLTS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE BOLTS TO FAIL IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN RESPECTIVELY. *AK

Mileage: 5,600

WHILE DRIVING ON I-94 MADE A SUDDEN DECREASE IN SPEED FROM 70 MPH TO 60 MPH AND CAR SWERVED OUT OF CONTROL, AND THE ONLY THING SAVING ME FROM FLIPPING THE CAR WAS AFTER MARKET RIMS AND TIRES. THUMP SOUND, SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE, CHECKED ALL THE TIRES AND THEY WERE FINE. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, ENGINE WAS TITLED TO DRIVER'S SIDE, AFTER INSPECTION ON SIDE OF EXPRESSWAY FOUND OUT THAT THE HALF SHAFT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION MOUNT BOLTS. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE BOLTS TO FAIL IF THE CAR IS DRIVEN RESPECTIVELY. *AK

Mileage: 5,600

CAR WENT THROUGH GARAGE DOOR. I PLACED CAR IN PARK TO LEAVE CAR MOMENTARILY. I T DID NOT GO INTO PARK PROPERLY AND CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD THROUGH GARAGE DOOR. THE CUP HOLDER HAD A COFFEE MUG WITH A HANDLE IN IT. I AM ASSUMING IT STOPPED CAR FROM GOING INTO PARK FULLY. I HAD LEFT CAR AND SHUT DOOR WHEN CAR BEGAN TO GO FORWARD THROUGH GARAGE DOOR. I JUMPED IN AND STOPPED CAR OR IT WOULD HAVE PROCEEDED THROUGH A WALL. IT CAUSED ABOUT 2000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO CAR AND DOOR. THIS HAPPENED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR. HE STOPPED CAR AND PROCEEDED TO PLACE CAR INTO PARK. IT WOULD NOT GO COMPLETELY INTO PARK. THE SAME COFFEE MUG WAS IN HOLDER. NO DAMAGE HAPPENED THIS INCIDENT. WE BOTH WITNESSED THE CAR REFUSING TO GO INTO PARK THE SECOND INCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 5,241