ChevroletAveo2008Overview/chevrolet/aveo/2008/base/

2008 Chevrolet Aveo

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Aveo.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2008 Chevrolet Aveo is a passenger car powered by a four-speed automatic transmission, delivering EPA-rated fuel economy of 23 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined while requiring 4.0 quarts of 5W-30 API-viscosity engine oil for service intervals. In the broader context of the Aveo's model history from 2004 to 2012, the 2008 model recorded 163 total owner complaints, placing it above the late-model nadir of just one complaint in 2012 but well below the 235 complaints logged in the problematic 2005 model year. The year's single recall and its Air Bag systems ranking as the top complaint area suggest a middle-ground reliability profile compared to the model's more troubled early years and its significantly improved final iterations.

Model year202520242023202120202019201420132008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque81 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/32/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP185/60R14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5-J; 6-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175
Engine air filter25199248
Spark plug96130723
Battery88866262
Front wiper blades96898048 alt 96898049
Serpentine belt96183108
Thermostat96143112 alt 96407677
Cabin air filter96962173

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length169.7 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height59.4 in
Wheelbase97.6 in
Curb weight2531 lb
Track (front / rear)56.7 / 56.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 32 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume91 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Aveo of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.2–11.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.20 sec — 2004 LS 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2007LT Sedan 1.6L I-410.80 sec18.10 sec103 hpFWD
2007LT Sedan 1.6L I-411.80 sec18.60 sec103 hpFWD
20095 2LT 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-411.80 sec16.00 sec106 hpFWD
2004LS 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-410.20 sec17.40 sec103 hpFWD
2004LS 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-410.20 sec17.60 sec103 hpFWD
2004LS Sedan 1.6L I-410.40 sec17.90 sec103 hpFWD
2004LS 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-410.90 sec17.56 sec103 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 81 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 26.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-90 · GL-3
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity3.8
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 89021184 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts81 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub221 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque18.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.12 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type150
Oil Capacity6.80 oz
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17-23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature189-216 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55-62
Engine Compression100
Engine Oil Pressure35 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH 10 inch ROTOR / WITH 9 inch ROTOR
Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle70 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.080
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.020
Brake ApplicationWITH 10 inch ROTOR / WITH 9 inch ROTOR
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.001 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
260 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees60 degrees
460 degrees60 degrees
510 degrees10 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miEVAP Purge Control Solenoid (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Timing Belt (replace)
Every 90,000 miEngine Oil Pan Drain Plug Gasket (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Aveo marks a notable improvement in the generation's federal complaint trend, recording 163 complaints — the lowest since the 2004 launch year and well below the 2005 peak of 235 — while maintaining a single recall and zero investigations, consistent with the post-2006 pattern. Technical service bulletins remain modest at 222, a sharp contrast to the 917–1,078 TSB surge that begins in 2009, suggesting the 2008 model avoided the later-service-action wave. However, the complaint profile is concentrated: air bags alone account for 45 of the 163 complaints, and the 17 crash and 16 fire reports tied to the model year are figures the data does not specify root causes for. Compared to the 2007 model's 216 complaints and two recalls, the 2008 shows clear year-over-year progress, yet it does not reach the low complaint volumes of the 2010–2011 models (66–77). For a buyer prioritizing fewer documented owner reports and a quieter service bulletin history, the 2008 is a stronger candidate than the early generation years, but the air bag complaint cluster and crash/fire counts warrant a thorough pre-purchase inspection of those systems.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
222
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
163
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 16 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 163 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags45
Exterior Lighting14
Electrical System10
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting7
Electrical System,Air Bags7
Engine4
Vehicle Speed Control4
Engine & Engine Cooling4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V261000Exterior Lighting:HeadlightsReported 19/05/2014

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo vehicles equipped with daytime running lights (DRL). In the affected vehicles, there may be heat generated within the DRL module located in the… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a revised DRL module, inspect the wiring connector for heat damage, and clean the DRL circuit grounds. Owners were sent interim…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 222 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
135982025-09-09Unknown Or OtherNew Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M2025-08-06Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Aveo. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Aveo take?

4.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Aveo have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Aveo get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 32 highway / 26 combined mpg.