This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that driving 20 mph, she heard an abnormal noise as the lights on the instrument panel began to illuminate. In addition, the fuel gauge began to fluctuate rapidly and the engine began to surge. The vehicle was shut off, restarted ten minutes later, and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis but no remedy could be determined. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 56,000.
I don't know if its an electrical problem tc light goes on and engine light goes on, car jumps alittle this has been happening for a while, this car is only 49000 miles I bought it brand new and paid it off like a Mercedes Benz since my credit was screwed up and now I am having problem am retired and wife not working please help us out I need my car to get around, I didn't think I was going to have any problems for 10 yrs...........................................
Pulled into garage, placed shifter in park, ignition key would not rotate to last detent position and key could not be removed, leaving some electrical items on. Shifter button was depressed and would not unlock but shift could be put in any gear. I searched internet for problem and learned how to remove cover under ignition switch and manipulate a button inside the column to allow key to be released. Car can be started again but to shut off and remove key, same process required. A big problem I have found on internet from other owners is that instead of paying the outrageous cost to fix, many drivers are doing the above, which is a dangerous situation because the shift lever can easily, accidentally be shifted into another gear while in motion ! this problem is caused be a metal pin, mounted in an inferior plastic piece, which breaks or otherwise allows the metal pin to fall out of position. This is reported in all year models, at all mileages. My car is a 2006 with 11000 miles- 7 years old, and obviously hardly used, let alone abused, and of course, out of warranty ! GM has upgraded the replacement part with a shroud of metal reinforcing the plastic, and has repaired and replaced under warranty on models from 2009 to date. This is obviously a design defect, and also a safety issue. GM needs to recall all models with this defect ! they are not offering any solution for a repair that many owners have paid up to $600 of their own money, and I for one am going to fight this in all ways possible. Gov.'t, media, BBB, social media, etc ! review the internet by searching " Chevy HHR ignition key stuck". this also affects Chevy cobalt and Pontiac G5.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While parked, the contact attempted to exit the vehicle when the driver's side door handle fractured and became detached from the vehicle. Several weeks later, the failure occurred on the passenger's side door handle as well. The contact stated that months later she experienced issues with the key becoming stuck in the ignition while the vehicle was powered on and off. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000 and the current mileage was 75,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Orlando , FL, USA
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Originally the power steering stopped working randomly when driving but now it stops working after 30 seconds or so every time car is started and failure alert is displayed. Also while driving the power door locks unlocked, the gauges stopped working, the car hard shifted down, and it also started to display it was running at least 20 degrees hotter than normal. This has happened twice but seems fine later.
Power steering message on dash; security light comes on; RPM, speed, and gas gauges jump, transmission jerks, clicking in center console under shifter. After turning engine off for period of time runs like normal, restart an drive for period of time and power steering goes out while driving.
Chevrolet HHR's have a tsb on the rear liftgate not opening. It is faulty and many complaints I have found via google. If a child or animal is trapped in the rear they cannot get out, there is no pull lever to open the liftgate. They would have to climb over the seats to get out during a potential fire.
Water intrusion when raining leaks on electrical components like blower motor, wiring, insulation, and floor of passenger side..once the water corrodes the electrical components they stop working... GM Corp has this problem for over 20 years on several models and makes.. very bad design..they will not recall.. this can be serious safety issue.. if the electrical defrost motor will not work.. then you cannot see out the windshield.. crash can ensue.. they need to change the water evacuation system from below the windshield...see www.youtube.com/watch?V=fnykjlhusxi this is about others who have had this problem with many GM models...
I was driving on interstate 195 in NJ & highspeed & power steering went out & whole dic instruments went haywire car started bucking & almost lost control of vehicle & went into other lane with on coming tractor trailer there. I pulled over & shut car off waited 5 mins & all was fine, I thoughtstrange so I continued & it did same thing 2 days later going 45 mph. Dealer cant solve it but its happening to lots of HHR on HHR forums. There all complaining about electronic power steering motor is bad & cost is over $500 to repair, however the Pontiac & Chevy cobalt which have same frame & parts as HHR are all being recalled but nothing about the HHR"?" how is this possible when the cobalt & HHR are same car but different body & made by GM. I know & see alot of older folks drive these HHR & I'm 6' 250 lbs & was able to handle this to safety but these older folks wont be so lucky. Its extremely dangerous to drive when the power steering goes out when your doing 70 on an interstate with everyone doing same speed & sometimes faster. Something must be done from GM to correct this problem when 100-1000 are experiencing same problem & that the cobalt has been recalled but not the HHR & its the same exact car. I hope it gets resolved before someone gets killed or badly injured, concerned HHR owner.
This vehicle was being towed behind a motorhome. When we arrived at our destination the battery was dead. The battery is located in the rear hatch section. We were able to manually unlock the driver door with a key. There is no key lock on the outside to the hatch section to access the battery to charge it. I climbed inside the car and got into the back hatch area to locate a manual lock (there was none ),. I was trapped, and then had to get back to the front to get out the driver's door. If there was an accident and that was the only way to get out of the vehicle, I would be trapped inside. I have tried to contact Chevy about this problem, but have not heard anything to date.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that she was unable to remove the key from the ignition. In order to remove the key, the contact had to shift in and out of park several times. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 142,000.
I am a 35 year old mother of 3 and I recently had a dangerous close call while driving my 2006 Chevy HHR. I was driving with my children on board and I suddenly lost power steering. I quickly managed to control my vehicle but it was a close call. I took my vehicle to my nearest Chevy dealer for inspection. I was told what was the exact problem with the steering column and the estimated cost of repair would be $1600. I went home and quickly researched into the problem. I found out that I was not the only owner of a Chevy HHR to have this similiar problem. I found out also that the Chevy cobalt (which also has the same steering column) has a recall on it but not the Chevy HHR. It is only logical that the Chevy HHR should have a recall also because the steering column is identical. Public safety should be the number one concern.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an intermittent failure in which the ignition would not shut off. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed of how to release the key through the steering column. The dealer showed the contact how to take off the panel below the steering column, where a switch could be engaged to shut off the vehicle. The contact stated that the make shift remedy only functioned successfully for a short period of time. The vehicle had been taken back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 104,000. Updated 05/31/12
Display showed power steering error and transmission box was clicking. Car started bucking as if transmission was going out. Took to dealer who could not replicate error after three days. Picked up car and now cd player shows err O. this is frustrating as heck! dealer did say that there was a bulletin that 2006 HHR's did have this type of problem. Dealer rep. Owns 2007 HHR and hoped he did not have the same issue. Spent over $700 total and problem still there" Chevrolet / GM where is your loyalty to your loyal customers" issue a recall and fix these issues before there are deaths because of them and you are forced to do what is right by the gov.'t.
The key will not come out of the ignition at times. I take the vehicle out of drive and put it in park several times and do the same with the brakes before the key will come out. My mechanic has said that it is a brake issue and not the transmission.
I have a 2006 Chevy HHR with 44,000 miles. While driving the power steering light came on the dash, then the power steering went out, almost causing me to loose control of the car in a curve. I am a 65 year old female, I do not have the strength in my arms to maneuver a vehicle that looses power steering unexpectedly. I made it home and did a search on the internet for a recall, I found where GM recalled 1.3 million cobalts with the same electric motor as the HHR, however, there is no recall for the HHR. GM is well aware of the problem. HHR owners are all over the internet complaining about this power steering problem. I am told that it could cost over $2000 to fix this problem.I am a senior citizen with a limited income, I can't afford to pay to have the car fixed or to purchase a new vehicle. I read on the internet that several people have already been hurt due to this defect. This is a very serious safety problem that needs to be addresses by GM and fixed as soon as possible, before someone is seriously injured or killed. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the battery died without warning. The battery was replaced, but the vehicle could not be started. The engine shut down warning light was also illuminated. The contact spoke with the manufacturer in regards to the failure and the manufacturer advised that the engine would need to be reset. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 55,000.
I put my car in park and when I went to take the key out of the ignition it would not come out. I realized that the key would not come out because the gear shifter piece was pushed all the way in, it was broke. This meant that my car was left on and the battery was drained because I could not turn my car off. Now my car will not start at all the battery is charged but the car will not turnover. I have looked online and have found that there are many complaints concerning the same problem with this vehicle. I am told by the dealership that I have to pay $710 to have this problem fixed. Can you please look into this because this seems to be a big problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cypress, CA, USA