This service bulletin provides information on replacing the intake manifold when the engine is replaced after severe internal engine damage.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2010 Chevrolet Aveo engine problems
moderate 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 16 engine complaints filed for the 2010 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
Engine accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine 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.
The service bulletin advises the tech of a normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal for the delay.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains Unscheduled Supplemental Services and the importance of GM Simplified Maintenance Schedules.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides guidelines and diagnostic/repair information to technicians regarding vehicle engine oil consumption.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for maintenance cleaning of the fuel injectors and gasoline detergent additive.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a cluster of stalling and power-loss failures that strike without warning. The most consistent complaints center on the vehicle losing all engine power or responsiveness while driving at highway speeds—sometimes for 3–5 seconds at a time—then resuming normal operation. Other owners describe sputtering and rapid vibration at red lights before complete shutdown.
Thermostat failures appear in multiple complaints, with the thermostat sticking open or closed and causing sudden engine shutdown with no warning lamp. Two owners at around 68,000 miles report catastrophic overheating after thermostat failure, requiring major head and gasket repairs. Owners also report O2 sensor failures recurring multiple times and fuel pump/sensor replacements that don't fix the underlying power loss.
A few complaints document check engine lights that illuminate but cannot be diagnosed by dealers. One owner's transmission failed two months after dealer radiator work—the technician had failed to reattach the transmission properly. Dealers frequently cannot replicate or diagnose these failures, leaving vehicles unreliable and in some cases inoperable. Emissions recall work and technical service bulletins are mentioned but did not resolve power loss in several cases.
Same Chevrolet Aveo engine reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Thermostat failure (stuck open/closed)
Thermostat sticks open or closed, disabling temperature control. No warning lights alert drivers before stall or overheating occurs.
When: 68,000 miles reported in two separate complaints; one at 122,000 miles with concurrent head gasket failure
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning while driving highway speeds; Overheating with no temperature warning light illuminated; Temperature gauge climbs above halfway point; Sudden loss of all engine power
Repairs/costs cited: Head gasket replacement, timing belt replacement, upper radiator hose replacement, and radiator/thermostat replacement ($1,000 reported in one case); major engine work required due to overheating damage
Power loss / unresponsive acceleration
Vehicle loses engine power or becomes unresponsive to throttle input while driving. Stalling and reduced speed occur intermittently across all driving conditions. Restarting temporarily restores function.
When: Several months after purchase through 7+ months of occurrence; failures reported at 1,500 miles, 25,000 miles, and various undisclosed mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slows or stalls at red lights; No response to accelerator pedal for 3-5 seconds; Complete loss of engine power while driving; Sputtering and rapid vibration before shutdown; Slow acceleration response; Vehicle hesitates to accelerate
Codes mentioned: PO132
Repairs/costs cited: O2 sensor replacement attempted multiple times (including second O2 sensor failure reported); fuel pump and fuel sensor replacement attempted; repairs often did not resolve issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Bulletin 100604012 performed; emissions recall performed May 22, 2012; issue persisted after recall; TSB Campaign 11290B referenced for misfire (already remedied per dealer); manufacturer stated nothing could be done because NHTSA issued recalls
Engine misfire (cylinder 4)
Engine cylinder 4 misfires, affecting transmission operation and drivability.
When: 74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfire in cylinder 4; Transmission affected by misfire
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic identified cylinder 4 misfire; TSB Campaign 11290B confirmed by dealer as previously applied
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB Campaign 11290B; manufacturer stated nothing could be done because NHTSA issued recalls
Engine stalling with check engine light
Service engine warning lamp illuminates and vehicle stalls multiple times. Hesitation and inability to drive result from intermittent stalling events.
When: 38,025 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Service engine warning lamp illuminated; Vehicle stalls several times; Engine hesitation; Unable to drive vehicle due to stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Authorized dealer towed vehicle but was unable to replicate code or diagnose failure; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
Engine shaking / violent vibration at highway speed
Engine shakes violently at speeds of 55 mph or higher, causing vehicle to sway back and forth.
When: 1,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shakes violently when driving 55 mph or faster; Vehicle sways back and forth; Slow response to acceleration attempts; Transmission lost communication with vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer advised cold air intake was needed but engine was too small for installation; dealer unable to diagnose failure; no repairs completed
Intermittent starting failure
Engine fails to start intermittently without warning.
When: 66,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent starting failure without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer confirmed VIN was not subjected to any recall
Check engine light with no diagnosis
Check engine warning light illuminates sporadically, particularly during cold starts, but no diagnostic code is captured or root cause identified.
When: 8,349 miles and 25,000 miles reported; also 2 months after radiator/thermostat repair
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates sporadically; Check engine light during starting attempts; No observable symptoms in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose cause in multiple cases; vehicle not repaired; resetting gas cap did not resolve issue
Strange exhaust odor
Exhaust system releases strange odor during driving.
When: 189 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strange exhaust odor when driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer test drove vehicle but unable to locate cause; vehicle not repaired
Transmission failure after radiator work
Transmission loses communication with vehicle and fails to shift gears properly following radiator replacement. Technician failed to properly reattach transmission during repair.
When: 2 months after radiator and thermostat replacement; mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle would not shift gears or accelerate over 40 mph; Transmission lost communication with vehicle; Transmission hose hanging from underneath vehicle post-repair
Repairs/costs cited: Initial radiator and thermostat replacement cost $1,000; transmission repair covered under powertrain warranty; technician failed to reattach transmission to radiator properly during radiator work
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Powertrain warranty covered transmission repair
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
2010 Chevrolet aveo. Consumer writes in regards to a faulty radiator and unsatisfactory customer service at dealership. *smd the consumer stated in september 2013, he started experiencing problems with the cooling system, where the temperature gauge would start to climb above the halfway point. Thinking it was just loss of coolant, he added more to the reservoir, but to no avail. He decided…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet aveo. The contact stated that the vehicle was smoking while idling. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician diagnosed that the head gasket, manifold gasket, lube valve cover, timing belt, and upper radiator hose malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. After the failure, the check engine warning…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet aveo 5lt. The contact was driving approximately 60 MPH when the vehicle independently decelerated to 30 MPH. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who informed the contact that the transmission had lost communication with the vehicle, causing the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that when attempting to accelerate, the…
My daughter was driving on the highway and streets the car will loose speed while your driving and stall as if it's not getting fuel. She was on the expressway and lucky she was in the right lane and was able to coast to the shoulder before the car died out. I had this problem check several times and replaced the fuel pump and fuel sensor and still am having the problem. I have an appointment…
To "echo" this complaint: upon approaching a red light, I began slowing down and immediately the car started sputtering and once at a complete stop, the car rapidly vibrated for 5 seconds and then completely shut down. I waited a few seconds to try and restart and was able to make it home. This issue has been going on in different severities over the course of the past 7 months, dating back to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet aveo. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning, on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. Pam updated 10/22/2014*lj updated 02/03/15
Had engine trouble with your 2010 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 engine problem on the 2010 Chevrolet Aveo?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 16 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 38,025 and 68,000 miles, with the median around 63,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 38,025; a quarter make it past 68,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2010/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.