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 power steering in my 2009 HHR goes out w/O warning, at various speeds. When it started I contacted my local dealer and Chevy and was led to believe that this was an unusual occurrence. Since then, I have seen hundreds of complaints, similar to mine, dating back to 2006. The power steering motors in these cars are faulty and dangerous and Chevy knows it. They have already recalled the same ones in ions, cobalts, and Malibu and have only failed to recall all of them because they have not yet been made to do so. Hopefully, they will take responsibility for wrecklessly endangering so many trusting consumers and address this issue before someone gets killed, if it hasn't already happened.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering would intermittently fail without warning and the steering wheel would become difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist system needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 100,000.
My wife drives a 2009 Chevrolet HHR and the power steering will go out sporadically while she is driving. This may occur 1 time or it has happened up to 4 times in 10 mile distance. It has happened at hi speed of 60 mph or when she is in a parking lot doing 5 mph. Each time if she turns the ignition off and restarts the car the power steering is fine.the problem is a faulty electric power steering motor. This puts my wife's and my kids safety at risk. I have found that the Chevrolet HHR's in Canada have been recalled to this faulty motor. Chevrolet cobalt's with the same motor have also been recalled. Why haven't the Chevrolet HHR's been recalled. It is a huge safety risk. I have had to park this car due to it's safety risks.I called dealership and they want $775 to replace this motor. Sounds outrageous to fix a faulty motor that GM is well aware of its problems.
Was going around a curve when my power steering light came on. My wheel was very hard to turn. Wasn't so bad when I was driving at higher speeds, but it was almost impossible to turn into my driveway. As soon as I turned off my car and turned it back on it worked fine. I took it in and the dealer said their was an internal problem with the power steering and had to replace the motor.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that he had several problems with the vehicle. The failures included the brakes, power steering assist and a foul odor being emitted through the ventilation system. In addition, the driver's side door handle cable fractured and the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that he took the vehicle to the dealer for the failure of the power steering assist where they advised that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The steering rack was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer because the check engine light was illuminated and they advised that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the vehicle began to drive roughly afterward. The vehicle was also taken to the dealer for the brake failure, door handle and the exhaust and the technicians stated that they could not duplicate the brake problem or the foul odor that was coming through the exhaust. In addition, the cable in the door handle needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 32,000.
- New Paltz, NY, USA
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The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while traveling 55 mph she attempted to make a turn when the steering wheel seized making the vehicle very difficult to control. The contact also stated that the service traction control and airbag lights illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was unavailable. The VIN was not available.
I received a power steering failure message on the dash at the same time that I lost power steering while going home from dropping off my child at daycare. I drove home without the power steering, when I shut off the car and restarted it I had power steering again. This power steering failure has happened multiple times on the highway, residential neighborhoods and in parking lots; in total about 10-15 incidents in the last month.
We own a Chevrolet HHR which loses power steering almost immediately after turning the car on. We have had many many problems with this car since the beginning. Mainly steering column problems and power steering issues. We almost got into an accident while taking a right at low speed because of how hard the ''power'' (not) steering was. This has to be fixed now!!! it's been a well known problem since the beginning of the HHR line up. How come this issue has been partially recognized and taken care of on some vehicles with the exact part numbers"? cobalt, G5?, anyone". please research this problem.
While leaving work my electric power steering cut out. I restarted the vehicle and the power steering would reset itself but would go out within a minute or two of driving down the road. I spent about 3hrs attempting to narrow down when this would occur, however it was always at random speeds, turn radius', in cruise control or not, while accelerating or when braking. Continued shutting vehicle down to reset the system so as to continue to troubleshoot. Always failed shortly after restarting and hitting the road. As this can be very dangerous, there certainly needs to be a recall for the power steering to be repaired.
The power steering warning displayed in the dash panel shortly after vehicle was started while I was pulling out of a parking spot. Steering was very difficult. I turned the ignition switch off, restarted the vehicle, and the power steering warning cleared and steering worked normally for a few miles before it failed again. The problem makes it very difficult to steer the vehicle at slow speeds and in sharp curves or turns.
On the approximate date indicated above at the approximate speed indicated above, the power steering failed. It came on again when the car was restarted but failed shortly thereafter. It continues to fail after a few miles, seemingly shorter times for each incident.
While driving the power steering failed. If I turn the car off and restart it, the power steering will work fine. While driving the power steering continues to fail each trip I take each day and it can happen at any time. I will often turn my car off at a red light so I can restart it and have functional power steering for at least a little while. The car is very difficult to turn without power steering, and sometimes catches me off guard.
While driving at approx 15 Aug 2012 13:30 hrs edt @ 20 mph ON15 Aug 2012 the 'power steering' light came on and the steering became very hard. I was lucky as I was only a block from home. I could see this would cause a major problem if I were driving at highway speeds. I did see that a recall was issued for the Chevy cobalt and others that use the same power steering unit but not the HHR...time to get the recall going before someone gets killed...also a recall was issued in Canada for the HHR.
The power steering system went out on my car while driving. The power steering system works after it has had time to cool down for 5 to 15 miles. The system goes out everyday and every-time it is driven.
Power steering assist has dropped out numerous times. The dash chimes and a power steering message appears on the digital display. Shutting the engine off and restarting it resets the power steering assist only to have it drop out again within a mile or so. The warranty expired a few months ago. This situation could be very dangerous should the power steering assist drop out while negotiating a sharp turn etc.
Like others, there were some warning beeps and the message appeared on the dash "power steering". then the power steering went out. Once I cut the car off and back on, I had power steering back. This seems very similar to the reason for the recall on the cobalt and S5. Happened again on 7/26 and 7/27.
Loss of steering assist occurs at any time while driving and once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the driver information center (dic) and a chime sounds. This is the same problem & part involved in the below recall of cobalts & in a Canadian recall of Hhrs. It is almost impossible to park when it is not working. Resetting by turning ignition off, then starting engine again will last about 30 seconds. I have almost crashed as it fails while turning entering/exiting parking spaces or garage. NHTSA action number: NHTSA recall campaign number: PE10005 10V073000 make: Chevrolet model: Cobalt manufacturer : General Motors llc model year : 2009 component(s) : steering:electric power assist system date investigation opened : January 27, 2010 date investigation closed : July 19, 2010.
The powersteering goes out while driving. Speed doesn't seem to matter. Once the car is stopped and turned off the powersteering comes back on, however it may go out again at 500ft to a few miles.
While driving power steering light will come on and loss of power steering occurs, also shaking, have replaced rotors and brakes twice within one year, why is Chevrolet not fixing the problems on the HHR when other models with same components have been recalled. I will never buy another Chevrolet if they fail to resolve these issues.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Silver City, NM, USA