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.
GM says drivers will instantly know if the electric power steering system fails because a chime and dashboard message will appear. The car can be steered without power assist, but it can require a lot more muscle to turn the wheel, especially at low speeds. Because of the difficulty, the car could be more susceptible to a crash. Our vehicle was in motion on a city street when suddenly, we lost all power steering. Other makes and models with the same equipment has been recalled already. When shutting off the vehicle and restarting, the power steering is restored briefly and will fail again while driving.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The failure occurred constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
The steering wants to lock up and don't return to the straight position when turning on to a street as if it is sticking clicking and popping noise also in the steering column. Also both fuel lines over the left rear wheel rusted out and leaked gas all over the garage floor. Costing two hundred and fifty dollars.
Power steering failure light appears while driving and there is no power steering. Must shut engine off until power steering comes back. Has happened several times the latest being 10/31/15
- Port Charlotte, FL, USA
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The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 40 mph, the power steering message displayed and an audible alarm was activated before the power steering malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally before the failure recurred. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 112,000.
7/29/14 steering wheel locks up -11-28-14 steering wheel locks up. December 22 2014 steering wheel locks up again while my son was making a left turn, crashed, and hit an electrical pole, bust his lip and hit his head. State farm ins co total the car. January 2015 got a letter from GM stated that this 2006 HHR may be equipped with powering steering loss. July 2014 GM said this loss was not due the loss of my son accident, clearly it was and refuse to pay for any damages. I have yet to hear about this problem with those cars. I want my son compensated for this loss. What should I do?
Our 2006 Chevrolet HHR had total power steering loss and wasn't regained until turning off the vehicle and restarting. The car was diagnosed at a local Chevrolet dealership and the error code of C0050 was given, this identifies the problem as a faulty power steering control module(pscm). The entire steering column, consisting of the pscm, was replaced. This is a known steering system issue with GM as it has already been addressed in 2009-10 Hhrs and various other GM models that have the same platform components.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 30 mph, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required to maneuver the vehicle. The power steering assist warning light illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. MA 10/26/2015
Power steering failed during high speed on the freeway (dic message come on "power steering"), you can still steer with a large amount of effort. This (steering) may be a big problem for some drivers; thus rendering it unsafe and a possible "car crash or cullision with others."
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required without warning. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing who stated that an unknown part located inside the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while making a left turn at 10 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact had to apply force to the steering wheel in order to turn the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 60 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn without warning. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. After the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) and 14V171000 (electrical system), the steering wheel seized and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Car speeded up and down, car started to spin in circle, lost power steering, lost control of car, flipped and rolled over 3 times down a 30 yd. Cliff. No head air bags worked at all, only the steering wheel air bag worked. Took over 2 hrs. To be found by police. Had to use cell phone signal to be found.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the instrument panel shorted intermittently and caused electrical failures within the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the steering wheel was extremely tight and intermittently locked without warning. Upon using the cigarette lighter, smoke emitted inside the vehicle indicating that there was an electrical fire with the wires. The fire extinguished without having to contact the fire department. The vehicle was not inspected and diagnosed. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V171000 (electrical system) and 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) but was unable to determine when the recall repair would be performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Received letter from Chevrolet dated 1-2015 stating that "some 2006 HHR's" may have a defect which causes power steering (ps) to fail at any time. Called local dealer to have it repaired but my car (VIN) is not on the recall list. The exact sequence of ps failure described in letter has occurred with my car multiple times but they, Chevrolet dealer, does not guarantee that this will be fixed without my paying the bill as it (VIN) is not on their list. My car should be entered into the recall list as this is a manufacturers mechanical defect and needs to be recalled and repaired at GM's cost. This is the 3rd letter (recall) on this car; ignition cylinder, transmission lock and now power steering!
On the date above I had my power steering warning light come on and stayed on for about 2 hours. The next day when I started the car the light was out. Well this week I received a letter from GM stating that if the light comes on or if you have had an issue with the light coming on to take it to your dealer.these are the exact words in the letter: If this condition occurs on your 2006 Chevrolet HHR, the condition will be repaired for you at no charge. Today took my car in for a routine service and ask the dealer about the letter and he said he would check on it. A few minutes later he told me they had a power steering motor in stock and it would take about 45 minutes to install if I had the time and I said I could wait. He came to the waiting room and said I was ready to go and the steering motor was not the problem causing the light, but the steering control module which is part of the steering column assembly and not covered by the letter. Well guess what, the steering column assembly is only sold with a new steering motor, so if I replaced the column GM gets $578.59 for the part plus labor cost to install and they pay for nothing to cure the issue. I was a mechanic on road trucks and heavy equipment for several years and know if you have an electric motor it has to get it's commands on how to react from some type of control source ( steering control module) would be my guess wouldn't you think. No where in my letter does it state steering motor only is covered to solve the issue and no where on the reimbursement request form does it say they will only reimburse for the motor. I had an online chat with a GM customer service and was told only the motor according to her written information. When I requested a copy of what is covered, I was told to ask the dealer for a copy.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph and making a right turn, the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel seized. The contact had to restart the vehicle in order for to resume normal function. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuse box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,966....updated 03-11-15 the consumer stated the part was replaced and there have been no more steering issue. However, the check engine light illuminated intermittently. Updated 03/26/15
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Fort Wayne, IN, USA