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 April 28, 2014, while taken a curve power steering (ps) stopped working, lost control and damage only wheel cover, fortunately the area a came to a full stop was clear of car and people. The ps worked fine soon after that. Again, on May 10, 2014 the ps went out again, but this time I was taking a small turn and was able to control steered it in the right direction. Presently we are researching the malfunction to cure the problem, but unable to locate the problem.
Loss of power steering when attempting to turn into side street. Warning message on dash. Car was brought to dealership, expecting problem to be repaired free of charge under GM recall/bulletin 14115 or 14119, but was told by dealership that this VIN had no steering recalls or bulletins as of yet. Paid almost $1000 to replace column and power steering motor. I would expect to be reimbursed. This is a company owned vehicle.
Power steering quit working. Restarted vehicle and power steering resumed working. Over next two weeks intermittent loss of power steering became more frequent. A recall issued for this exact problem on this make and model does not include my VIN number. Therefore Chevrolet will not acknowledge the problem with this vehicle for repair at their expense. The symptoms are the same as in NHTSA complaint number 14V153000.
The ESC light cae on and it became difficult to steer, turn, and jerking when I apply the brakes. I've taken my HHR to the dealership on 3 and 4 of April 2014 for software update. Back to dealership on 7,8,9, for computer, however there was no additional charge. 17 April same issues as the 3 rd. 21 St to tweak the ESC problems. I have spoke with [xxx] the service manager at rinke Chevrolet 586 754 7000. I have left several messages for ed rinke the dealership owner. I need my vehicle to be safe! can you please assist me [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the power steering assist failed without warning and the steering wheel became hard to turn. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number 14V153000 (steering) however, the contact's VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.
- Boch Ragton , FL, USA
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The power steering malfunctioned on my Chevy HHR on 3/19/2014 for the first time. It has happened several times since then, today--4/3/2014 being the most recent. Every time the warning lights start flashing because my power steering has gone out. The first time I was doing 50 mph while passing a state trooper. Because of the malfunction I was unable to fully move over a lane and was ticketed. When I explained the fact that I was confused because I did not know what was going on with the car and was not able to move over properly the state trooper did not believe me and issued me a $435 ticket! it was 2 weeks after that incident that the car was recalled for a faulty power steering motor. No kidding. That ticket is not fair to me and the entire situation is dangerous. When the power steering goes out I have little control over the car. When I shut the car off and restart it the power steering is again okay--at least until the next time it goes out and tries to kill my family. I have repeatedly contacted my local Chevy dealer--as I read online I could get a loaner car until mine was fixed for the recall, and my calls are not being returned. Meanwhile me and my children's lives are in danger. This is not okay. I have no other car to drive. I spent a lot of money on this vehicle. Chevy should give me a loaner car while I wait for repair--our lives are in danger. Also, I have a ticket that I have to go to court for. Chevy should be ashamed.
Taken the car to dealer multiple times, for power steering failure as well as the car stalling.. was told there was nothing that could be done about the car... was side swiped on road on 03/14/2014... car barely tapped us and we lost control of the car due to power steering issue... ran into the guardrail.. car was totaled while the other car (a 2005 Toyota prius) drove home... driver had head injuries while passenger had contusions to his right hand from airbags. This car is a death trap waiting to happen..
While driving along and trying to merge onto a parkway entrance I heard a warning tone and my driver information center power steering. I then realized I had no power steering. Fortunately for myself it was as if I were driving a car with manual steering & was not a real issue for myself. What if it were a small women with children in the car. Maybe she would not have the strength or reaction to a situation like that. This problem started with the Chevy cobalt. The HHR is built on the same platform. Earlier models of the cobalt were recalled but the HHR was not!!! I wrote to you people last year about this problem. There are plenty of websites addressing this issue. All you have to do is google Chevrolet HHR power steering problems. As an automotive technician I replaced the electric power steering myself. G.M. told me it was no longer under warranty.my ignition tumbler also locked up on my vehicle. Fortunately it would not allow me to turn the vehicle off. I was able to shut down the vehicle and had it towed back to the dealer and they covered that under warranty. I applaud you for going after the ignition switches but that is only part of the story. How are they allowed to play with peoples lives letting them drive with defective power steering. The attorney general needs to pursue this issue.
While driving in a parking lot I heard a ding, looked down at the dash and saw that a power steering warning light was on. I tried pulling into a parking space and noticed that I had no power steering assist and had to muscle the car over. I turned off the engine, restarted it and everything seemed ok. This issue started happening every few days after that, sometimes at highway speed. This is a very dangerous situation, had this been a less strong person like my wife or an elderly person she would not have had the strength to steer the car! after doing extensive research I was shocked at what I found. The HHR is built on a Chevy cobalt chassis, and the cobalt has a recall for this same exact issue but Chevy had not had a recall on the HHR, not is the us anyway. Canada has forced GM to do a recall on the HHR for this same exact issue but to date it has not been done in the us. The defective steering motor part number recalled on the cobalt was the same exact part number as the HHR, so why has this not been addressed on the HHR" if you'll read some of the HHR forums you'll learn that mine was not as isolated occurrence, it is very common and seems to start happening when the cars get around 50,000 miles. Had this happened to an elder person at highway speeds chances are they would not have been able to control the vehicle, this disables the steering! I had this repaired at an astronomical cost of over $800. My car was still under warranty, but surprise surprise GM said this is not covered under the chassis warranty? what, the steering is not a component of the chassis" this issue needs to be addressed, im surprised someone's life has not already been lost over this issue. Please force GM to recall this issue and refund ones like me that have had to pay out of our pockets to have this repaired.
I was driving down the road and dash started flashing and beeping saying power steering. The power steering quit working while turning on snowy roads this am. I pulled over checked fuses. Called dealer who states bring it in. When I restarted car power steering working again. This was a scary experience later today as im driving on freeway at 65 or so power steering went out again. My question is this is a safety issue. With more research I am seeing this is common for these cars and recalls on other Chevrolet have been made for same reason. This is scary especially in northeast Ohio snow weather and icy roads. I've been told cant pinpoint this until I take it in to the shop when the power steering goes out. So I guess I wait til it happens again really"?" if I work far from dealership guess im supposed to drive it to dealership when it goes out at 9 pm what a joke. Hope they figure out this glitch....have to share I have had this happen a while ago when had less miles and thought it was a fluke now it returns. Yes high miles but car has been serviced as per recommendations since owning it.
3 tones sound - the display on the dashboard says power steering - steering is extremely difficult to control, if you are in the middle of a turn you are in trouble.
Power steering overheats causing power steering to quit working when wheel is turned to left or right while car is stopped. The movement is necessary to parallel park the car. Once overheated you no longer have power steering making the car difficult to drive. This is very dangerous for a new teenage driver. Chevy knows of the issue, was told by GM that a replacement motor has the same issue.
The electric power steering motor failed 3 times within 20 minutes. I reset it by turning the ignition key off and restarting the car. I replaced the motor and it works fine now.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph, the power steering system malfunctioned making the vehicle difficult to steer. The contact had to shut the vehicle off and then restart in order for the power steering to regain normal functionality. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnostic test. The dealer stated that the power steering motor was defective and the entire power steering system needed to be replaced. The contact did not have the power steering system replaced. The failure mileage was 67,000.
While making a left turn the power steering light came on and I could not turn the steering wheel. Four days later it did the same thing while driving straight on the road at about 30 mph. Each time I have to turn the car off and then restart it to make the problem go away. This could lead to crashes causing injury or death.
GM is going to have a law suite on there hands. We all HHR owners need to band together. My wife was in car crash. There is a lot of problems with the power steering quitting while taken off for a drive. GM company needs to have a recall on this to fix it and make it right for the owners. And make it right for the customer. What they are doing by not make a recall on this is " wrong "
While driving the 2009 Chevy HHR back from work, without warning, the electric power steering stopped and a warning message came up on the dic. Once ignition was shut off the problem cleared temporarily. Over the past 24 hours the power steering has continued to exhibit the same erratic behavior.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Shalimar, FL, USA