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.
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.
- Heber Springs, AR, USA
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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.
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.
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.
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"
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Dunedin, FL, USA