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 down road coming to stop light. Chime went off & power steering was indicated on my information system. My car lost all power steering- was very difficult to steer. Glad I was not in the middle of a curve or turn when that happened.
While driving my power steering will stop working. It doesn't happen every time we drive our HHR but at least once or twice a week. It has almost caused 4 accidents that could have been avoided if the power steering would work properly. The power steering alert will show up on our vehicle and we have to shut off the vehicle and restart in order for it to work again. I'm scared to drive this vehicle now after what has happened tonight.
While going around a bend in the road at approx 35/40mph, the power steering in my 2010 Chevy HHR went out. There was a ding and then it was very difficult to turn the wheel. I almost hit a Jeep that was turning into a subdivision opposite of us because I could not turn the wheel to get in the passing area. This resulted in me going off of the road. I pulled onto the next side road I saw. Checked for any issues and restarted. I regained power steering and was able to be on my way. In approx. Another mile or so it went out again. It did so intermittently all the way to the dealer. The dealer was of no help basically saying it was an operator error. There was a steering recall that I had taken care of earlier in the year and my mechanic said that it looks like it was replaced with equally defective parts. My mechanic also said that it's not a "wear part" and nothing that I did could have caused it to do that. It is a short on the motor/computer for the power steering.
After making a turn the car beeped, "power steering" showed on the display, and I lost power steering. Restarting the car causes power steering to resume functioning but it will cut out again within a minute.
Power steering stops working at all speeds and conditions. Dash lights up saying power steering and from that point on until vehicle is restarted there is no power steering. It has happen many times over the last week dealer states that the power steering motor is bad and needs to be replaced at a cost of $265. There are 1000S of complaints of this happening why is nothing being done. Canadian HHR has a recall on this but not us HHR. Its not the money its the safety of the motoring public that is question here.if not for the fact I have driven a car not equipped with power steering before it could have been really bad when it turned off in a turn.
- Chesterfield Twp, MI, USA
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2010 HHR 2lt (manual trans / flex fuel) bought new. Problem began summer 2012 @ 10,200 mi. Clicking & thud metal noises heard & felt (jerky & resonance of metal striking) coming from low down in both front sections. Initially occurred erratically during driving, then consistently. Occurred: Reversing; and accelerating from 1st gear into 2nd, 3rd, 4th; downshifting from 4th to lower; and during slow stops shifting from 3rd, 2nd, or 1st into neutral. On 9/14/12 at 11,242 mi., dealer found "too much clearance between hub & cv shaft" and an existing service bulletin #09-04--95-001. Replaced both wheel drive shaft washers. (note: Noise & feeling has erratically returned. However, dealer did not hear it during 3/4/13 test drive at 13,313 miles. But I heard it on the way home a couple of times. And last year, it was erratic before becoming consistent....).
At low speeds in a sharp turn and/or on bumpy roads and sometimes during breaking at high speed, I notice a rattle in the steering column. I told the dealer that I thought my front rotors may be worn but they checked out ok. I think its the electric steering column box with a worn nylon bushing the same as the G6 steering problems. Because my mileage went over 36000 and this problem was not initially diagnosed as a steering problem and not being a power train problem, Chevy indicated that its not covered under warranty and there is no recall for this issue. My parents have an 07 HHR that is having overheating issues in their power-steering, along with the back lashing in the column caused by, I think, the nylon bushing going bad.
Having alot of noise from front passenger side of car, sounds if something is loose, sound is at low speeds, have heard Chevy is having alot of problems with loose steering columns and has posted a tsb 04-03-08-006E, to dealers. I believe so many owners are having the problem with this that Chevy should have to recall and fix all cars with problem.
I was pulling out of a parking lot at about 5 mph then I thought my engine stalled because I couldn't turn the wheel. It turns out the engine was on, and power steering appeared on the display. I pulled over to see what was wrong. After turning the car off, then on, the problem went away (I think for only a temporary period).
Vehicle shut down due to power steering. Light came on, manual says to turn off engine and restart and it will clear light. However, when reaching speed of 40mph the power steering was again hard to turn. Again light came on. Vehicle is very hard to turn and get over to side of road especially if you are in the left hand lane and the power steering quits working. Upon the second time this happened, almost causing a wreck, it was extremely difficult to steer vehicle and get it off the roadway. Took vehicle to dealership and was told the vehicle needs power steering repair. Costing $365. What a costly repair on a new vehicle. I have had older vehicles that never had the power steering needing repair. Also ask that transmission be checked again. Vehicle has already had rebuilt transmission installed by GM/ Chevrolet. Transmission is still slipping when trying to get on freeway. When slowing down from high speed, the transmission will sound like it is slipping into another gear.
While driving the vehicle at various speeds, suddenly the warning chime dings and the message "power steering" flashes on the drivers information console. At that same moment there is a complete loss of the electric power steering making the vehicle difficult to control while driving and impossible to control when parking. It can be reset by stopping the vehicle and restarting the engine. The power steering returns and randomly fails again. It may occur again in a few minutes, miles or wait til your next trip. Now intermittently occurring on a daily basis. Vehicle is now scheduled to have a Chevrolet dealer service this issue.
The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the power steering failed. The vehicle was moved to the shoulder and restarted and it began to function normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the power steering motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified but they provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 46,000.
Slow speed made U turn power steering light came on hard to steer, took to a repair shop near by they came back and told me electric motor needs replaced, vehicle only has 45500 miles on it..
Electronic power steering assist went out twice over the past weekend. The first time in a parking structure while trying to turn into a tight spot. Later will driving at approximately 35 miles per hour. Power steering returned to normal function each time after turning off the ignition. Nobody was hurt in either event, but with snow coming to the midwest I fear what might have happened on a snow-covered road. I understand this is a common issue and that GM refuses to recognize this issue in the United States for this make and model despite a recall in Canada.
I've been having the same problem as the 29 other noted complaints on this site, have had. Power steering works fine one minute then warning chime sounds, power steering msg. Appears at the same time steering goes out. I have to reset it by turning off and on the ignition switch. Some times it happens at various times in a day, to nothing for a few months. I was kinda hoping the problem fixed itself, but hah, wishful thinking on my part, cause it's doing it again. How many more complaints has to happen before this problem is recalled?? I really like the car otherwise.
While driving on the interstate at app. 70-75 miles per hour in moderate to heavy traffic the power steering turned off. I was able to pull off onto the shoulder and park. I shut down the engine to check under the hood and under the car but could find nothing obvious. When I restarted the car to drive to the next off-ramp the power steering was back. The problem repeated 3 more times that trip. Shutting off the car and restarting always corrects the problem. Since than we have had the same problem occur intermittently. No pattern as to when problem occurs.
Yesterday morning coming home from church our 2010 HHR power steering went out. We were in the middle of a turn and thank god no one was coming in the other lane. In the midst of the turn the warning bell sounded and the display showed "poor steering", no other warnings beforehand. And all power steering was gone. It will comeback for a few seconds if you turn the car off, but goes right back out everytime. I looked on the internet to find I am not alone, 1000"S of people have complained and had this same exact experience. Why has this not been recalled, does someone have to die first" my whole family could have been injured (me, my husband, our 17 year old son, and 2 grandbabies!) we took the car in today (10-29-12) to be looked at (that cost $85) and they said the power steering motor has to be replaced and that will be another $250!
I was driving down the road, the power steering warning came on, and the power steering went out. This has happened multiple times a day for the last four days.
While driving at approx 40 mph the power steering went out on the car making it very hard to turn. The warning alarm sounded and the word "power steering" lit up on the dash panel. I pulled the car over to the shoulder and shut it off. The steering worked properly upon restart. This has happened 4 times now.
Same issues as others. Key will not turn to off position, will not release from ignition. Issue is noted all over the internet. They have acknowledged and issued a service bulletin for 2009 model year, but not for any other model years. Why not for other years when obviously it is the same issue with the same part, over several of their models?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bedford, OH, USA