Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-80
As a mechanic, I can assure you that you paid WAYYYYY too much for your routine servicing on your Aveo. If you purchase a good service manual and FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS (very important) you can do all this stuff yourself. At around 65,000 miles I changed the timing belt on my OHC Ford vehicle. The cost: about $20. Paying $130 for a cooling system flush is ludicrous unless they filled it with vintage champagne. My transmission filter change cost me a whopping $10. I DO recommend changing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt because of the hassle in getting to it, although my last water pump only cost me $40.
I always encourage people to learn some about repairing and servicing their own cars. It will save enough to buy you a new car over a period of 5 or 6 years, especially if you own a high-maintenance import. Several months ago I replaced the front brake pads on my GM compact. I've heard of people paying well over $100 for this. It cost me $17 and took all of 15 minutes (it's an INCREDIBLY SIMPLE procedure). $15-$35 for a good repair manual and about $50 for a few good tools will be repaid on your FIRST REPAIR.
I purchased my Aveo in February 2004. From November 2007 - July 2008, I had my car in the shop 18 different times for various issues. At this time, my DRL aren't coming on and either are my dims. I only have my brights available. So, can anyone help me with that? We have tried the relay and the fuses and those are all fine. What do I need to do?
Anybody who thinks import cars and trucks are expensive to service and repair has not been watching what's going on in the world. Ford, Chev and Dodge are doomed because they keep making poor quality, overpriced, inefficient vehicles.
I wish they would have listened 10 years ago when we all started leaving them for "Japanese Scrap".
Honda has killed our auto giants by making cars people want.
"Anybody who thinks import cars and trucks are expensive to service and repair has not been watching what's going on in the world. Ford, Chev and Dodge are doomed because they keep making poor quality, overpriced, inefficient vehicles"
Another myth. I am a MECHANIC, I DO watch what's going on in the world. That's why EVERY ONE of my family's last 10 new vehicles has been a solid, reliable DOMESTIC. The problem with the Big Three is not about quality. Their cars are literally some of the best in the world. The problem is an American public who DEMANDED gas-guzzling SUV's. The American auto makers simply supplied what the public kept asking for. Then the economy went down the tubes due to a horrible government and no one wanted ANY cars because they couldn't AFFORD them.
Honda and Toyota sales are down MORE than Ford's sales. If it were about quality this wouldn't be the case. In addition, domestics offer far, far better warranties because the quality of their current products is so high. No Japanese manufacturer has yet had the confidence in their vehicles to match the U.S. makers warranty.
Finally, many people are waking up to the fact that if we truly care about the future of our country, we will support U.S. industry. Many of our friends and neighbors are making the decision to buy U.S. company's products over those that take money away from our citizens. My family even chooses to buy our electronics and appliances from companies based in the U.S.
I visited a friend at a local GM dealership last week. He was ecstatic because in one day they had sold FIFTY-ONE new GM vehicles!! Granted, our area of the country is far more patriotic than others, but that is still an awesome number of cars for a dealership in a town of 40,000 people to sell in ONE day. My best friend asked me a few days ago if I'd help him pick out a car as a Christmas gift for his son. My reply was "Only if it's a domestic". He readily agreed.
I own a 2006 Aveo. I have had the car for three years, and had quite a few problems with it from the beginning. My Aveo now has 53,000 miles on it and it is falling apart. I was told today I need to replace the head gasket, so I wanted to do a little research on the low quality parts that make this car a huge pain. I have had the same problems that are mentioned in the previous posts. I would not advise anyone to buy this vehicle. It is great on gas and cheap, but I wouldn't expect problems like these until I hit 100,000 miles. I had a late model Geo Metro than ran great and did not start having issues until it hit almost 400,000 miles. I will never buy another GM, and when I have contacted the dealer they blow me off. They refused to repair my shifter because I was 500 miles over warranty and I never had my oil changed by them.
My Chevy Aveo 2004 LS hatchback has been reliable and without problems for 54,000. Good gas mileage, able to carry a variety of things, and easy to park in NYC. It handles the road better than my Honda and has more space than the hatchback. Acceleration is OK.
I also appreciate the MP3 player, and automatic headlights.
Had my mechanic check it recently, and he said nothing needed replacement apart from two tires. I will have the timing belt changed soon with one from "gates". That sounds like money well spent.
To comment 19:14: Aveo is NOT a GM, so not buying another GM makes ZERO sense. Aveo is a Korean made vehicle sold through GM. You should have opted for one of the GM built compacts, which are bigger, faster, much more reliable, cheaper AND get better gas mileage.
The Aveo is an import, and like Honda, Toyota or Nissan, it can't be expected to be as reliable as A GM built car. That's why GM warrants their cars for 100,000 miles.
Before buying a car you should do a bit more research. As a mechanic and car enthusiast I get tired of hearing U.S. companies being put down because of flaws in cars not built by U.S. car makers. When my friends back in the late 80's used to gripe about their Chevy Novas falling apart at 50,000 miles, I was quick to point out that it was a Toyota, NOT a GM. Now when friends have trouble with their Pontiac Vibes, I let them know that the car is a Toyota sold by GM. You need to make yourself aware of what companies actually produce the cars you're buying and avoid poorly built imports. Never buy from any manufacturer that does not have the confidence in their product to warrant it for 100,000 miles as GM does.
I bought my 2004 and loved it at first. I was mistaken. Damn near everything but the clock problem has happened, and I got burned badly by the extended warranty. Turns out that I pay for diagnostic if they can't find the problem. Talk about paying for nothing.
And yes, I do know it's my own fault for not reading the fine print. That doesn't reduce my annoyance.
The car now known as the ugly troll is currently in the shop having its engine replaced because I didn't read the manual and inquire as to whether or not someone should replace my timing belt. I have to wonder why no one at the dealership mentioned that I ought to have this checked when I came in for servicing???
Blah, Blah, Blah... still ends up being my own damn fault.
You know... I've never heard anyone complain about buying a Camry. Food for thought.
I just did a water pump and cam and crank seals for a friend. With new belts and tensioners and idler, plugs and wires, cam cover seal and the new design aluminum thermostat housing the parts and shipping, came to about $430 from a Chevy dealer in Texas online. The biggest hassle was getting all the bolt torque values off the Internet, which I finally found by Googling "Aveo camshaft bolt torque". He says the engine now at 58K runs like new.
Racing these cars around will destroy them quickly.
The only problem I've had with my 2004 Aveo was that the engine light kept coming on. While it was under warranty the dealership did extensive engine repairs that failed to keep the light from coming on. Eventually they concluded that it was a leaky gas cap! Since that was replaced I haven't had any problems.
My Aveo 5 has been a good car, it has about 65,000 miles on it (113,000 kms.)
I have an engine light on, I'm pretty sure the last guy's call was right. The gas cap is no good. It's due for an oil change anyway, so I'll take it in, have them look at the belts like another guy said. Check the gas cap first. Mine is loose and never seemed right. Having read this stuff I'm looking to a defective gas cap first. Might save you hundreds. Have a look, belts are next.
L in Ontario.
I purchased a clean 2005 Aveo for my wife in June of 06 (USED), from a small independent car lot. The vehicle only had 10K miles on it, and before I purchased the vehicle I made sure that the basic 3/36 GM warranty was valid as well as the 5/60 powertrain warr.
For 8K out the door for a gas saver, I have to say the vehicle has been great so far. My wife only drives about 11K a year, the car has 37K on it now, we have driven it twice from Los Angeles to Las Vegas during the gas rip off contest days in 100 degree heat and this little buggy drove better than the Honda Oddy Van.
Yes, I'm a X mechanic of the 80's and early 90's, and can extend a vehicles life far beyond expectation. I have to say that too many people still neglect the servicing of their vehicles. People spend 40 K on vehicles and don't change oil??? In all due respect for GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicles - me being born in the middle 60's, many of us came home from the hospital in one of these brands! Yes I agree that the product quality is back, but the issues and treatment from dealers during the 70,80,90's caused a lot of otherwise AMERICAN car owners to go to import dealers. These same import dealers have made great strides to capture customers and their re-purchase intent. The import mfg's spend millions and millions each year for out of warranty goodwill repairs - which causes consumer expectations to be high!
I have contacted Ford and GM customer relations on warrantable issues in the past, and they would not even talk to me. They were unaware of their own warranties that I had access to from a technical source. Once I provided their own publication information to them, they got on the horn to the dealership and fixed the car. I just wonder how many people paid for otherwise warrantable repairs to American Car dealerships??
I currently work for a import mfg and they have strong relationships with their dealers, thus resulting in high customer retention and repurchase of their products. This something that American car MFG's need to focus on, and stop hiring service sales people that are only interested in their own financial needs instead of focusing on what the customers needs are! Until that concept is re-born in the dealers, American car sales will continue to slide!
Hi, I'm using an AVEO 2007 model.
I am having a weird problem, my RPM is about 0.75 normally, when I put my gear into reverse it drops a bit at about 0.65, then goes back to normal.
When I turn the power steering, the RPM drops till 0.5, the car starts shaking a bit, sometimes it recovers and sometimes my car's engine just stops. This happen mostly in reverse gear. In forward gears it still works. I find just a bit of RPM drop when I turn my steering.
My transmission oil has already been changed and my mileage is at 52k now.
Anyone having the same problem, and managed to solve it?
We have a 2004 Aveo... timing belt went at 60,075 miles, 75 miles off warranty. GM refused to offer any sort of good will partial payment, told us it was our problem. Our dealer never told us to have the timing belt replaced before 60,000 miles... much damage to the engine...$2500 repair. (one week before timing belt went, thermostat also went (which we understand is another problem with this car... had that repaired. Wondering if it is worth the repair or should we send it to the junk yard? Very worried that our $2500 will be money thrown out the door... and something else major will happen. Luckily, we paid cash for the car 3 years ago. Does junking a car cost money, too? GM may not make the car, but they sell them through their Chevy dealership... they should stand by their product!!!
People are quick to get on their computer and complain about something, but we rarely hear about the good... I have a 2007 Aveo hatchback with 65,000kms. The only problem's I have had with it is a bad oxygen sensor and the hatch door handle linkage... Excellent car as far as I'm concerned!