THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW TO DETERMINE WEATER OR NOT A AIRBAG MODULE IS COUNTERFEIT OR NOT AND WHAT TO DO IF A COUNTERFEIT AIRBAG IS FOUND.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Chevrolet Aveo airbags problems
critical 71 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
71
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
15crashes
18injuries
2fatalities
When does it fail?
Of the 71 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Chevrolet Aveo we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 71.
Airbags accounts for 33% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW TO DETERMINE WEATER OR NOT A AIRBAG MODULE IS COUNTERFEIT OR NOT AND WHAT TO DO IF A COUNTERFEIT AIRBAG IS FOUND.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NOTIFICATION OF COUNTERFEIT AIRBAGS IN AFTERMARKET.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Chevrolet Aveo has widespread airbag failures across multiple system components. The most common complaint is the passenger-side "airbag off" light staying illuminated even with an adult seated. This light indicates the airbag is disabled and will not deploy in a crash. Owners report the problem affects passengers of various weights (125–230 lbs) and persists even after dealers replace the seat, occupancy sensor, and related parts. Multiple owners state they took their vehicles to dealerships multiple times—some four to seven visits—with no permanent fix.
A second major pattern is the main airbag warning light staying on continuously. When this light is on, the vehicle manual states all airbags are disabled. Repair costs cited range from $700 to nearly $1,700, typically involving replacement of the occupant restraint control module (SDM), sensor, or wiring components.
Critically, several owners report airbags failed to deploy in actual crashes—head-on collisions, telephone pole strikes, and highway accidents. In one fatal case, a 2007 Aveo struck trees head-on at roughly 70 mph; no airbags deployed, and the driver died six days later from injuries that owners believe an airbag would have prevented.
NHTSA service bulletin SB-12-09-41-001 (2012) confirmed Chevrolet installed counterfeit airbag modules on 2006–2010 Aveo models, yet no recall has been issued. GM customer service has told owners the problems are "within specs" or "design issues" with no fix available, and some owners report dealers refusing warranty coverage.
Same Chevrolet Aveo airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger airbag sensor malfunction / intermittent off-light
The passenger seat occupancy sensor fails to detect occupants or detects them intermittently, causing the 'passenger airbag off' warning light to stay illuminated even when a passenger is seated. This indicates the airbag is disabled and will not deploy in a crash. The problem affects passengers of various weights (reported 125–230 lbs) and occurs even with adults properly seated. Dealers have replaced seats, sensors, and related components without permanent resolution.
When: Typically occurs early in vehicle ownership (as early as 10 miles) but can appear later; no clear mileage threshold
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag 'off' light stays on with passenger seated; Light illuminates intermittently; Airbag disabled / will not deploy; Problem persists across different passenger weights
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced passenger seat, occupancy sensor, and seat sensor under warranty with temporary or no resolution. Repair costs cited: $700 for sensor replacement and related work; $1,697.48 for sensor and module replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued TSB SB-12-09-41-001 (NHTSA #10047441) regarding counterfeit airbag modules (2006–2010 Aveo). GM customer service told owners the problem is 'within specs' or a 'design problem' with no fix available. No recall issued.
Airbag warning light stays illuminated continuously
The main airbag warning light illuminates and does not turn off. Owners report the light stays on from initial startup or after appearing intermittently. When illuminated, the manual and dealerships confirm all airbags are disabled and will not deploy in a crash. The underlying cause is often unclear, with diagnostic results pointing to sensor, module, or unspecified electrical faults.
When: Can occur very early (reported at 37 miles, 205 miles) or after some use; one case at 125,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated continuously; Light does not turn off or reset; All airbags disabled; Manual states airbags may not deploy; Light comes on intermittently, then stays on permanently
Repairs/costs cited: Repair costs vary widely: $700–$900 for occupant restraint control module replacement; $1,697.48 cited in one case. Dealers report needing to diagnose each component separately (sensor, module, wiring harness, clockspring, SDM). Some owners report dealerships claiming the clock must be replaced to fix the airbag light.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet TSB issued; no recall. GM customer service stated they do not have weight specifications and referred owners to NHTSA. Dealers unable or unwilling to provide permanent fixes.
Airbag non-deployment in frontal and side-impact crashes
In actual crashes with frontal and side impact, airbags fail to deploy or deploy incompletely. Incidents include head-on collisions, controlled rear-end impacts, telephone pole strikes, and highway accidents. Owners report injuries that would likely have been prevented or reduced had airbags functioned. In one fatal case, a driver struck trees head-on at approximately 70 mph; no airbags deployed and she died of a broken neck and internal injuries six days later.
When: Occurs at time of crash; mileages ranging from 6,000 to 40,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy in head-on collision; Airbags did not deploy in side-impact crash; Airbags appeared to inflate incompletely; No airbag residue visible in vehicle; Injuries consistent with vehicle without airbags
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were totaled or destroyed in crashes. No repair possible post-incident.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in these complaints. One owner attempted to have the vehicle's black box analyzed but the car was junked before retrieval.
Airbag system electrical faults / module failure
The airbag control module (SDM) and related electrical components malfunction. Owners report the vehicle has electrical issues affecting multiple systems (lighting, fuses, shift interlock) alongside airbag warning light illumination, suggesting a shared electrical fault. Service technicians have replaced the SDM, clockspring, and wiring harnesses with only temporary fixes or no resolution.
When: Can appear early or later in vehicle life; one report at 52,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated; SDM failure diagnosed; Concurrent electrical system faults (blown fuses, lighting failures, shift-interlock malfunction); Clockspring fault; Wiring harness issues
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced SDM ($900 cited), clockspring, wiring harness, and service connectors. Repairs are temporary, with failures recurring within weeks to months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chevrolet dealer service and GM customer service acknowledged 'ongoing issues' but declined to issue a recall.
Counterfeit airbag module installation
According to NHTSA service bulletin SB-12-09-41-001 (ID #10047441), Chevrolet installed counterfeit airbag modules on 2006–2010 Aveo vehicles. Owners report discovering this bulletin on the NHTSA database and note service bulletins also referenced counterfeit airbag modules without identifying which vehicles actually have them. This manufacturing defect directly links to airbag system failures, non-deployment, and warning light issues.
When: Vehicles produced 2006–2010
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated; Airbag system failure; Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Repairs/costs cited: No repair option offered by manufacturer. Owners must pay out-of-pocket for module replacement if diagnosed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA TSB #SB-12-09-41-001 issued (2012) stating GM provided 'information regarding counterfeit vehicle airbag module' for 2006–2010 Aveo. No recall issued despite widespread complaints and confirmed counterfeit parts.
Driver-side airbag sensor malfunction / warning light
The driver-side front airbag sensor malfunctions, causing the airbag warning light to illuminate. One owner reported the driver-side airbag light appearing years after purchasing the vehicle, requiring successive replacements of the clockspring and SDM module without permanent resolution.
When: Can occur several years after purchase; one case reported around year 8 of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side front airbag warning light illuminated; Recurring failures after component replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Clockspring replacement; SDM module replacement; dealership cited need for further 'clock' replacement. Repairs are recurring and not permanent.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; dealership acknowledges 'ongoing issues' with these cars.
Inadvertent driver-side airbag deployment
The driver-side airbag deployed unexpectedly while the vehicle was being driven on the interstate at highway speed, causing the driver to lose control and strike a concrete wall. The driver sustained multiple injuries including five broken ribs and a broken back in seven places. GM disputed the claim, stating that without video evidence, they cannot rule out that impact with the center wall caused the deployment.
When: Occurred while driving at highway speed (interstate)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag deployed without collision; Vehicle lost control; Driver struck center wall
Repairs/costs cited: Not documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM refused to acknowledge the failure without video evidence, claiming the center wall impact could have caused the deployment instead.
Synthesized from 71 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
"passenger airbag is off" light comes on when adult is seated indicating airbag is disabled. Have had it in for service four times. Have been told we were not sitting in the seat properly. Gm replaced seat and sensor, but did not correct the problem. Last service date is 12/24/2008. Was told that the problem cannot be fixed. Reported at 8297 miles; current mileage is 53783. I was informed…
Air bag deployed light came on approximately 12/3 and stays on. Will this cause the bag not to deploy if there is an accident? I have noticed on line this has been mentioned by others as well. Should this be a recall issue or should the vehicle owner be responsible for the correcting of the problem? *tr
2007 Chevrolet aveo passenger airbag light stays on when my wife who weights about 130 lbs. I have had the auto into the dealership 7 times since I purchased it in feb 2007 to repair this problem. They claim that they have contacted gm about this problem, but not come up with a fix for it. I called gm customer relations about this problem. They are no help either. They claim they replaced every…
"takata recall" I bought my car in 2009. About 6 months later the airbag light came on and the dealer went out of business. When I checked the VIN number it was not among the many, many aveos tagged for recall to replace faulty airbag systems. And I'm not alone. Complaints keep piling in from aveo owners about the airbag safety lights that never turn off, nearly catching up with 20 years of…
Airbag warning light stays on. *tr
It was a car accident in which air bags failed to deploy. Suffered back and neck injuries. *tr
I would like to suggest the Chevrolet aveo only has frontal air bags and should have more air bags especially for side collisions.
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Chevrolet Aveo?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Chevrolet Aveo?
It's a serious issue. 71 complaints have been filed, including 15 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 45 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 26,000 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,000; a quarter make it past 85,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Chevrolet/Aveo.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.