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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
18 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
78,616 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2006 Chevrolet HHR steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Chevrolet HHR Owner Comments (Page 6 of 23)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #345

Mar 102014

HHR

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Knightstown, IN, USA

problem #344

Sep 042014

HHR 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 213,000 miles
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

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #343

Jun 302014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 68,430 miles
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.

- Heber Springs, AR, USA

problem #342

Mar 132013

HHR 4-cyl

  • 57,096 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Winter Springs, FL, USA

problem #341

Sep 022014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 57,590 miles
While driving the power steering went out.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #340

Jul 012014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 64,000 miles
As I was driving down the highway, the power steering light came on. The power steering was out and I did drive home that way. I subsequently learned that if I turned off the ignition and started up again, it would start working again. The power steering has gone out 5 more times since then when I was driving or exiting the freeway.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #339

Apr 162014

HHR

  • 158,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning and required excessive force to maneuver. The contact managed to drive home, but the failure recurred multiple times. In addition, the accelerator pedal malfunctioned intermittently. As a result, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the pedal became lodged. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the failures after it was repaired according to NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V171000 (electrical system) and 14E021000 (electrical system:ignition:switch). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but they could not diagnose the vehicle for free. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 158,000.

- Walterboro, SC, USA

problem #338

Jul 192014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
I was driving my Chevrolet HHR 2006 with my 1 and 2 year old when the power steering shut off completely and made it very difficult to maneuver my vehicle. Now it doesn't work at all. This is a very dangerous situation and every time I attempt to contact Chevrolet about this situation, they state the steering recall is not on my car. I have read 100's of complaints on this exact same issue, why isn't it resolved yet" does someone have to die first before they issue a recall"

- Lockport, NY, USA

problem #337

Aug 222014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 73,000 miles
Power steering stopped working multiple times while my 16 yr old was driving.

- Madison, AL, USA

problem #336

Apr 012014

HHR

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 mph, the steering wheel seized and excessive force was required intermittently without warning. The problem recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not taken to a mechanic for diagnosis and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and the approximate failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

- Portland, TN, USA

problem #335

Feb 282014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Since February 2014, the vehicle loses power steering during every active operation. I have contacted Chevrolet regarding this problem and was informed that based on my VIN, the recall did not apply. I specifically in formed them that this wasn't just about the recall announcement, but that I was actively experiencing power steering failure during every operation, but I was emphatically informed by the recall representative that the recall did not apply to my car and that is was merely coincidental that my 2006 HHR is having power steering failure and was not related in any way to the recall!

- South Gate, CA, USA

problem #334

Jun 012014

HHR 4-cyl

  • 148,500 miles
A sudden loss in power steering occurs every time I operate my 2006 Chevy HHR for more than a few minutes. After ignition, the power steering will initially work correctly. At a random time soon after driving, the power steering will inexplicably fail, resulting in a failover to manual steering. Simultaneously with the failure, an error message appears in the information display - "power steering". to see a video of what happens, see www.youtube.com/watch"V=wfnp159D3pg that video was taken by another person, but exactly describes my failure. I went to Mr. Tire a couple weeks ago to have them evaluate the problem. They said that the dealer has to fix that problem. They did show me that GM Canada issued a recall for this exact problem. It is titled "recall - loss of power steering assist" bulletin # 10413. In Canada they will replace part # 19257876 or 19257875 motor kit, P/S asst for no charge. Why won't they repair this in the usa" it is quite difficult to drive with manual steering. I have injured my hip now and can't turn the wheel anymore. Anyway, here is the official condition: A sudden loss of power steering assist can occur at any time while driving the vehicle. If the power steering assist is lost, the vehicle can still be steered, however, with greater effort (manual steering). The slower the vehicle is moving, the higher the steering effort. Unless a driver compensates for this additional steering effort, loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash. When the power steering assist is lost, a chime will be heard and the message center will display a "power steering" warning message. Typically the next time the vehicle is started, the power steering assist will return (briefly) and the message will no longer be displayed.

- Joppa, MD, USA

problem #333

Aug 172014

HHR

  • 82,000 miles
2006 Chevrolet HHR ls driving down the highway and the power steering light came on in the dic. Had difficulty steering back home on the highway. Replaced fuse and starting working again, but a few minutes of driving made it turn back on. Turned car off and then back on it worked fine, a few minutes later the power steering light came back on and the power steering stopped working again.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #332

Sep 242012

HHR 4-cyl

  • miles
The power steering went out on my car a little over a year ago. Chevy is aware of this. They have many other complaints of this same nature. They acknowledge that the issue was the power steering module, which is the same issue the have with the cobalt or volt. They recalled these other vehicles; and a few months ago, the Chevy HHR's were recalled for this issue but my particular year was not included, for some reason. This is not fair. The identical issue is happening with all years of the HHR, but the recall didn't reflect this. I paid almost $300 to have this issue fixed, since Chevy wasn't doing anything to correct this. I'd like to know why this year vehicle was not included in the recall. I've asked this exact question to Chevy multiple times, but they have yet to provide an answer.

- Lynwood, CA, USA

problem #331

Aug 042014

HHR

  • 96,000 miles
The power steering is going out at least 3 times a day while drive.

- Mary Esther, FL, USA

problem #330

Aug 062014

HHR

  • 187,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving 60 mph, the power steering failed. The dealer stated that the power steering motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 187,000.

- Fishersville , VA, USA

problem #329

Mar 042014

HHR

  • 77,586 miles
I was going to leave for work at 3:25 pm, March 4, 2014. I got in, started the car, placed the car in reverse, and began to back out, when I noticed that the wheel became really hard to steer, I couldn't steer at all. My power steering was gone. I was panicked, and had to call out from work, I knew I was lucky that it didn't happen when I left work the night before. It really struck me that thank god it didn't happen when I was on the freeway, or driving up the mountain to running springs, to spend the weekend with my fiancee. Lucky that it happened in my driveway. When I investigated the recent recalls for power steering recalls, I noticed that my car was not apart of that particular recall...why not! I thought, what would it have taken, my death? so, I had my car towed to my mechanic, who also thought it should have been part of the recall as well...I had to pay for the power steering column myself, at $400, and remove and replace the column at $150, plus tax of $48, for the grand total of $598. This unexpected expense caused a financial hardship that should have been avoided had GM included my car in the power steering recall. I'm lucky that unlike the others who had to die to initiate this recall, I'm still here. GM, I would like to be reimbursed for the out of pocket expense, what I am asking for is less than the lawsuits of the families of those who died, are asking for. Believe me when I say, had I been one of those unfortunate victims, my family would be one of those seeking damages against GM.

- Monterey Park, CA, USA

problem #328

Jun 252011

HHR

  • miles
On my way to work I slowed down to change lanes to make a right hand turn to a parking lot. All of a sudden there was a major jolt and my foot was knocked off the gas pedal. The last thing I remember was looking down at my right foot and seeing it under the brake pedal and thinking I need to move my foot. I remember the emergency room for a moment when I asked them not to cut my clothes. My next memory is for a moment in icu and then I woke up in a hospital room a week later. According to the police report, the car crossed the two westbound lanes and hit a sign and fence, jumped the curb, and then hit shrubbery and several headstones at a memorial sales business. Police estimated my speed at 50 mph" I think the airbag deployed while I was driving. Possibly the ignition shut down causing the jolt and deployment. The car was totaled and I was disabled in this accident. I am unable to return to work. According to GM I am not eligible for a settlement because my airbag deployed. What difference does that make if the ignition caused the accident"

- Bloomingdale, OH, USA

problem #327

Jul 232014

HHR

  • 110,000 miles
Driving down the highway at the speed limit with a tractor trailer behind me and the power steering went out and since then its been going in and out all the time even at slower speeds after a exhausting search I seen a lot of complaints with the same issue with this model car and I also seen they did do a recall for the same issue with the 2009 Chevy HHR they need to do a recall with the 2006 Chevy HHR as it is doing the same thing as the 2009 my phone number is [xxx] [xxx] did get a diagnostic done thru a Chevy dealer and it came back as the electric power steering motor seems like this is a known issue with the HHR and Chevy isn't doing anything about it please get this issue fixed im a working person and the money for the motor isn't easy to come by living in NY please feel free to call me regarding this issue and anyone can google this problem and see how many people are having the same issue with this model car this is the recall information for the 2009 Chevy HHR NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 this is regarding the steering in the Chevy HHR 2009 the same problem is in the 2006 Chevy HHR please call regarding this issue and what can be done with this. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Cobleskill, NY, USA

problem #326

Jun 172011

HHR 4-cyl

  • miles
I was driving my wifes car to the GM dealership to have the recall on the ignition switch repaired, as I entered the cloverleaf exiting the interstate the power steering failed, I made it to the dealership, left the car running and showed the servive manager what it did, he felt of the steering and agreed the power steering was bad, he checked and said it was not under a recall. After some research I found that the cobalt has a recall for the same thing.

- Bentonia, MS, USA

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