2004 Chevrolet Aveo: engine failure

Filed Mar 19, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · MI

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.

Filed Apr 2, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 84,000 miles · PA

As I began to accelerate onto the highway, I felt that my car was not picking up, I could only get to around 40-45mph on a highway that is 65mph. I nearly got rear-ended by cars flying up on me and I quickly pulled off to the shoulder just in time as the power steering also went out and the car appeared to have stopped running. I could not get the car to start again. The diagnostics came back that the timing belt had gone and it could be fixed for anywhere between $800 to needing a brand new motor. This floored me as I always had the oil and fluids replaced and the car only had 84k miles on it. I began to research the aveo and bam, there it was, over and over again on-line. Owners all complaining of the same problem with their aveo. The timing belt on the aveo, especially the 04-07 models go and will require anywhere from a major fix to a brand new engine. This is a big problem on a little car. I went on craigslist to look for a new engine, but instead found 10 aveos in one hour... That were being sold for parts because their timing belt went! Please take a look at this problem, I believe there is a major problem with the aveo deserving of a recall, and owners should be made aware of this serious problem and the persistent need to have their timing belt replaced or face a total engine replacement. I could have easily been rear-ended or worse because of the loss of power and power steering. Thank you.

Filed Jun 2, 2012 · Engine · 88,000 miles · IL

My stepdaughter and her friend were traveling cross-country from california to illinois. Car had just been checked by a mechanic prior to trip and said was ok. On I-40, about 40 miles west of albuquerque nm, she realized the car was getting warm, then they saw steam from hood, check engine light came on. She immediately pulled to the side of the road and called me, in illinois. Then she called aaa for towing, and was towed to galles chevrolet in albuquerque. The next day they diagnosed total engine failure due to overheating; cause of failure likely a broken thermostat housing. I searched for this issue and found many similar complaints in edmunds forum; this certainly seems to be a common problem. In the end the girls were safe, thank god. Not only was this a very expensive incident (~$5000), but it could have been a very serious safety issue, leaving two young college girls stranded in a remote desert location on a hot day, very vulnerable. The next person this happens to might not be so fortunate. I urge you to take action to require gm to recall and fix this issue. Thank you.

Filed Mar 18, 2011 · Engine · 48,000 miles · OH

Engine stopped running. At first I was told it was the timing belt but that was not supposed to be changed till around 60,000 miles. The car has only 48,000 miles on it. I went and bought a timing belt and a water pump because I was told that if I changed the belt I may as well change the water pump also. After a good deal of money I was told it was an engine failure because of a "valve ring" had worn away. I need to put a "new" engine in it at considerable cost. I have been laid off for over a year and this has created a hardship for me. I can not afford another car payment and the cost to fix this car, although cheaper than buying another, is still a lot of money for me. Not only is it hard enough to find work it is nearly impossible without a car. I believe this failure should not have happened at 48,000 miles! I am 55 years old and have owned chevy's all my life. Not happy.

Filed Apr 21, 2010 · Engine · 45,000 miles · OH

5 months ago, we replaced our 2004 chevy aveo's engine due to timing belt failure and had a new one put in. Today (2 weeks after) our car broke down again due to timing belt failure we are finding out we are needing to replace the engine again!

Filed Mar 31, 2010 · Engine · 97,000 miles · MD

Vehicle towed to dealership oct. 2009 no compression repair clean carbon from engine. Had timing belt replaced at this time as preventative maint. Engine failure on highway march 2010. Idler pulley broke bent all valves and broke 1 need to replace engine. Have read many complaints on line same issue with 04 & 05 chevy aveo

Filed Jan 20, 2010 · Engine · OH

I am driving my 2004 chevy aveo at 35 miles an hour, all of a sudden it died. I have 54,000 miles on it. I had it towed to a mechanic and they said that the timing belt broke and now I need to replace the engine. In my manual it says that timing belts need to be checked at 60,000 miles. I was told by gm that even the that is the case I am out of my warranty so tough luck. I have found about 300 complaints about the same thing happening while searching online. I don't know if there is anything you can do about this but I am trying anything I can to get my car fixed.

Filed Jan 18, 2010 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · MO

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.

Filed Oct 30, 2009 · Engine · 112,000 miles · OH

The timing belt broke on my 2004 chevy aveo. I understand that this is a problem for alot of people. I contacted my local chevy dealership and they said I would have to replace the engine.

Filed Sep 23, 2008 · Engine · NC

We purchased a preowned chevrolet aveo within aprox a year (low mileage still under warranty, also purchased extended warranty & gap insurance), taken very good care of it, including routine services as needed. Suddenly 3 weeks ago without any warning at all the engine blew.. No steam, no gage warning, no warning lights, nothing. Suddenly the engine light came on & within less than 30 seconds engine blew while driving with no warning. We had it towed to a mechanic who determined that the thermostat had went bad causing the engine to blow. We decided to have it towed to the dealership in order to process our warranty and possibly trade it in.. The service dept at the dealership states that without taking apart the motor all they can truly say is the car got hot and the engine blew. Once again, I stress- no steam, no raised temp in gauges or check lights came on. We had no warning or notice of any problems with the car. After 3 weeks the car is still sitting unusable at the dealership service dept until we decide what we are going to do, as we wait on having more diagnostic work done to file with the warranty. We decided to do some research on the car and found hundreds of complaints identical word for word on what happened to us- all stemming from thermostat and engines randomly blowing up without warranty. We have printed all of these out to present to chevrolet & our dealership where our car currently sits unusable. We have already contacted chevrolet, & our warranty company in hopes to find a resolution and we wish/hope a recall will be issued for the many cases like ours. I am willing to provide any proof if needed. This car has many complaints and commonly this complaint regarding sudden engine blowing up.. The part that has us upset is that the manufacturer and dealerships seemingly aren't taking responsibility for this and many people are losing money and possibly safety in their cars because of this issue. Please help us.

Filed May 1, 2008 · Engine · 102,000 miles · MA

2004 chevy aveo timing belt failure at 47,000 miles, and at 102,000 miles approx. 53,000 miles after the previous failure. Both failures have caused severe engine damage. I have been advised that the most recent failure could result in an entire engine replacement.