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.
Driving with cruise control on, weather very nice and road dry around 7-7:30pm on familiar road. Car had been pulling to the right for about a week. Had son check tires before leaving newark oh and heading home. All of a sudden the vehicle went off road totaled car and I was in hospital for 2 1/2days. Had been knocked out, seat belt rubbed neck to almost bleeding, air bag burned hole in sleeve of coat. No broken bones but very shaken up. I want to know if this was caused by the steering problem that has been been on recall. Have pictures of the car and the road to show how the tire marks abruptly turn to the right.
The first time this happen I was on the interstate with my wife and kid in the car. The road curved to the right and as I was going around it, I lost power steering. Luckily I was able to use force and maintain control around the corner. If my wife was driving she might not have been able to because it took everything I had to turn the wheel and get around the corner. Since then it has happened almost everyday, sometimes a few times a day. When this happens I get a dashboard message that says "power steering". my wife will not drive the car unless its just a quick trip to the store, and we refuse to put our son in that car. This is a very dangerous problem and I don't know how this has not been recalled yet.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the power steering system warning light illuminated as the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required. The power steering would only work properly after the vehicle was shut off and restarted. Also, the contact stated that the battery was continuously drained and as a result, it needed to be replaced. The contact mentioned that the failure had not occurred until the battery had to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer made the contact aware that the vehicle was not included in recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
I was driving down the highway with my children in the vehicle and the power steering went out on me. I could not turn or do anything thankfully we did not end up in an accident. So far it has not done it again but I know im not the only one with this type of vehicle that is doing this. This should be recalled. It is a safety issue.
Driving in my neighborhood, the power steering went out with a warning in the dashboard. I stopped, turned off the car and restarted it and it worked again. The second time this occured, I was on the interstate having traveled for about 30 minutes when it went out. It has increased in frequency daily to the point now that every time I get into the car it goes out within about 2 minutes.
- Omaha, NE, USA
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The power steering turned off on the freeway. Looked online and this appears to be a common problem with Chevrolet HHR's. also noticed that GM has recalled this issue in Canada but not the us. Would like to know why they haven't recalled it. The estimated cost to repair appears to be $300 to $500.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the power steering failed as the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact mentioned that a chime sounded. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 88,000.
My power steering has started to go out while driving. This is extremely dangerous as it can happen at any moment without warning. My vehicle is not part of the recall as it is only for 2009-2010 and it should be. If I am taking a turn and the power steering goes out the vehicle wants to go straight and it could cause me to crash. I don't feel that at only 76,000 miles on the car that I should have to pay to replace their faulty product. Any help would be appreciated.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the chime activated alerting that the power steering would fail. The contact had to applied extreme force to control the steering wheel. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
I was just backing the car out as normal and then there was a clicking and the dinging bell of an alarm the power steering blinked on dash. It became hard to maneuver. I could not do anything. I turned the car off and it was fine and I backed out but when switch to drive the same thing happened. Lucky I was just starting my day and at home. I see there is a recall on my ignition but I got confuse is the power steering is only on the newer HHR?
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and was not able to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who reprogrammed the computer, provided the contact with a new set of keys, and repaired the vehicle according to NHTSA campaign number: 14E021000 (electrical system). The failure recurred and the key remained stuck in the ignition. The vehicle also failed to shift out of park, the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver, and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering motor, the gear box, and shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving at an unknown speed, the power steering failed and excessive force was required to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,703.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the power steering light illuminated and the steering failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn as the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.
On Sept. 11 I was driving at a rate of 45 mph when my car dinged and power steering came across the digital screen. I was able to manually steer. Once the car was turned off and turned back on the power steering was okay for about an hour and then it went out again. The car had to be turned off and turned back on. Over the weekend while awaiting service, the power steering was going out every 2 to 3 miles. This morning 9/14/14 the power steering was completely out and would not come back on. I made it to the dealer ship and was made aware of a power steering recall in which my car did not fall under. I searched GM's website about this recall and found this notation on the website: "in addition, 309,160 non-turbocharged Chevrolet Hhrs from the 2006-2008 model years (and several hundred 2009 models) and 96,324 Saturn ions from the 2003 model year that are not subject to these recalls will be given lifetime warranties for replacement of the electronic power steering motor." media.GM.com/media/us/en/GM/vehicles.detail.html/content/pages/news/us/en/2014/Mar/0331-power-steering.html I made my dealer aware and they advised me to contact GM directly. When I did this I was told by 4 separate represantives at GM that they had never heard of this and would not be honoring it, regardless of the information being on their website. They would not allow me to provide any kind of proof or to speak with anyone else. I find this disturbing first of all that the 2006 Chevy HHR was not included in the recall because it obviously is an issue and secondly that GM would publish this information and then refuse to honor it.
Power steering has randomly failed, and although turning the vehicle off and restarting it will fix the problem temporarily, it continues to fail with increasing frequency.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. After making a right turn at 10 mph, the power steering indicator illuminated, a warning sound chimed, and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The failure occurred several times. The dealer stated that the electric power steering assist was faulty and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 mph, the power steering seized causing the steering wheel to become difficult to maneuver and the power steering warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 213,000. Updated 3/31/15 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. He did the repairs himself. The vehicle was out of warranty. Updated 7/8/2015
Just after I had a ignition switch installed from a recall, I was driving to work at 55 miles an hour when the steering stop working and was forced to the side of the road. I turned off the motor and restated it and the steering started working again. This has happened at least once a day for the last two months and I could turn off the switch and back on and it would start working again. It does not matter how fast or slow or if I'm at a stop light it has stopped working. I have took the car to the dealer and told them of the problem all they said that they would call the district manager to see what they can do. This was this morning and I will call them back tomorrow to find out what they will do or not do. This is very scary and I will not let my wife drive the car for that reason. If I had not been on my toes watching what I was doing while driving I might have had a accident. When it does go out it is very hard to steer and if I was in traffic and have to make a sudden turn I would not be writing this message to you to complain about this problem with the car.
Power steering goes out intermittently while driving. Have to pull over turn off car and restart. Power steering motor replaced 3/13/13 by Chevrolet dealer. As of September 2014 the power steering motor has not been included in the safety recall for 2006 HHR.
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- Bucyrus, OH, USA