Chevrolet HHR Complaints

3,575 consumer complaints on file.

• #10521587June 24, 2013
  STEERING

  ON 6-23-2013 DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAY A RIGHT HAND TURN MY POWER STEERING ON MY 09 CHEVY HHR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED AND WAITING TO MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY, I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO CHECK BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ON IN THE DASH LIGHTS, FINDING NOTHING WRONG UNDER HOOD I RESTARTED THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR WARNING LIGHTS ON AND DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY WHILE RETURNING FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT RETURNED ON THE DASH WITH A LOSS OF STEERING ONLY BY FORCING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT TO MAKE A TURN OR LANE CHANGE, AFTER I ARRIVED HOME I GOT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE WHERE MY FILL TANK WAS FOR MY POWER STEERING AND LEARNED THAT MY HHR HAS ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING BUT I ALSO LEARNED THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN REPORTED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING UNITS ON THE HHR, SOME WITH NEAR DEATH ACCIDENTS, "WOW". I KNOW MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER COULD NOT HANDLE THIS CAR WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING SO THIS VEHICLE IS BEING PARKED UNTIL I CAN GET A FULL TEST ON THE UNIT. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10521248June 23, 2013
  STEERING

  THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CUT OUT AND I INJURED MY SHOULDER TRYING TO KEEP CAR ON THE ROAD. GM HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM REPORTED WITH THIS MODEL BUT HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT DID NOT SEND A WARNING , RECALL, OR EXTEND THE WARRANTY LIKE THEY HAVE DONE ON OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I CHANGED THE FUSE AND STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. HAD TO STOP EVERY 30 MILES SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTART TO GET HOME THAT DAY. IT WAS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL DRIVING AND NOT KNOWING IF IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN . OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE WARNED BY GM , I AM LUCKY IT WAS NOT MUCH WORSE , ONLY MY SHOULDER . MY FAMILY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED . WAITING FOR FATAL INJURIES OR DEBILITATING INJURIES BEFORE FIXING A SERIOUS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE COMPANY NEEDS TO BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  1

  Deaths:

  0

• #10521277June 23, 2013
  ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, STEERING

  CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER, TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FRIDAY AND TO CALL FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING. AS I CONTINUED ON FREEWAY I REALIZED THAT THE RIDE WAS ROUGHER, SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. TO STEER WAS HARDER, TRIP ODOMETER BOTH WERE NOT WORKING, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE,SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING,TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING EASILY,PULLED INTO CHEVY DEALER, FOUND THE SERVICE MANAGER. ASKED HIM TO CHECK THE CAR, HOURS ON SIGN STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD AVAILABLE UNTIL 5:30. IT WAS CURRENTLY 4:50 PM. HE ASSURED ME THAT IS WAS SAFE TO DRIVE CARE: PULLED OUT OF DEALERSHIP, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TURNED AROUND, WENT BACK. HE WAS JUST LEAVING TO GO HOME IT WAS 5:10 AT THIS TIME. WHEN HE SAW ME HE GOT OUT OF HIS CAR, CAME OVER, I TOLD HIM THE INCREASED CHANGES AND WHY I TURNED AROUND:I HAD MY 80 YEAR OLD AUNT WITH ME I LIVE 14 MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN IT WAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE BY DRIVING THIS CAR SAY AN ACCIDENT OR DOING MORE DAMAGE TO THE REPAIRS NEEDED. HE PUT IT ON THE ANALYSIS SCOPE HE SAID HE HAD MIXED MESSAGES. ONE WAS IT SAID POWER STEERING BUT WITH THE WRONG CODE. AFTER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHOWED UP. HE AGAIN ASSURED ME THAT WE WOULD BE FINE! I PULLED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, DROVE 2 MILES, THEN WAS COASTING! HAD NO TRANSMISSION. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED CONTINUED DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FLASHERS ON. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT HIGHER THAN SECOND GEAR.WE LIMPED TO A FRIENDS HOUSE PARKED THE CAR, THEY GAVE US A RIDE HOME. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD CONTINUED DOWN THAT ROAD. PLEASE HELP. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10521195June 22, 2013
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE IGNITION IS LOCKED IN THE ON POSITION. IT WILL NOT SHUT OFF, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN IT OFF S TO REMOVED THE FUEL PUMP FUSE AND THEN DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED UNDER THE SPARE TIRE IN THE TRUNK AREA. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10520983June 20, 2013
  STEERING

  I WAS DRIVING WITH ATLEAST 42 MPH COMING DOWN FROM A BRIDGE WITH A CURVE ROAD WHEN MY POWER STEERING SHUT DOWN. NO SIGN, WHEN I TRIED TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL FOR THE CURVE, IT WOULDN'T MOVE. I PANICKED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S DRIVING THE SAME SPEED AS ME. I HAD TO TURN ON MY HAZARD SIGN TO NOTIFY OTHERS I+M HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN..AS SOON AS I REACHED HOME, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND AFTER 10 MINS TURNED IT ON AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING FINE. IM TOO SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR. MY WORK IS 12 MILES FROM ME AND THIS STEERING PROBLEM HAPPENED WITHOUT A WARNING. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10520643June 19, 2013
  STEERING

  THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED AND CONTINUES TO FAIL AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FOR ABOUT 100 METERS. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10520266June 17, 2013
  AIR BAGS

  I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT JUST CAME ON. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE (3 TIMES) AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND CAME BACK ON. NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE LIGHT IS ON STEADY. I TRIED DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY BUT THAT DID NOT CLEAR THE LIGHT. SINCE I HAVE THE HISTORY ESTABLISHED WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10520038June 16, 2013
  STEERING

  THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH OUR 1 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR. THE CAR BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR MY HUSBAND TO TURN. WE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE PANEL CAME ON AGAIN. TODAY, 6/16/13, NO LIGHT CAME ON WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT TO OUR DESTINATION WITHOUT INCIDENT. ON THE WAY HOME, IT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10519962June 15, 2013
  STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

  IN OCCURENCE TO THE FIRST INCIDENT THE PASSENGER INSIDE HANDLE BROKE FIRST, THINKING THAT IT MAY HAVE A WEAR, BUT ON 06/15/2013 THE DRIVER INSIDE HANDLE WAS OPENED AT A NORMAL AND IT BROKE. NOW THE FRONT DOORS OF MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE HANDLES. THE DROP BOX ARE NOT ALLOWING ME TO BE MORE ACCURATE ON THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY VEHICLE AND ALSO CANNOT PUT THE APPROPRIATE DEFECTIVE PARTS. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10519682June 13, 2013
  STEERING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS FORCED TO INCREASE THE EFFORT IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10519736June 13, 2013
  STEERING

  POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. POWER STEERING FAILURE IS INDICATED ON DASH WHEN IT HAPPENS. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING, THE STEERING IS FINE. THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10515676June 7, 2013
  STEERING

  BOUGHT USED 2010 CHEVY HHR IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2013 FROM A DEALER. SHORTLY AFTER THE 30 DAY WARRANTY IS OVER, MESSAGE LIGHTS UP ON THE DASH WHILE DRIVING "POWER STEERING" THEN THE POWER STEERING TURNS OFF. I ALMOST CRASHED AS I WAS TURNING THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS! THE POWER STEERING IS RESTORED WHEN YOU RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY ALL THE TIME, AT ANY SPEED AND SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES IN JUST A 10 MINUTE DRIVE. THE CAR IS HARD TO STEER WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OFF AND IS SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS! *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10515767June 7, 2013
  STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING I HEARD A 3 BEEP WARNING LOOKED DOWN AT THE DASH AND ON THE DISPLAY "POWER STEERING" WAS DISPLAYED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS 304 MILES OVER MY WARRANTY AND THAT THIS WAS NOT RECALLED. I WENT HOME AND STARTED TO DO RESEARCH AND TO MY SURPRISE I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS VERY SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD. I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE A REASON FOR ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. CHEVY ISN'T HELPING ME IN ANYWAY, I NEED HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10519277June 6, 2013
  SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

  LETTER FWD FM FMCSA CONCERN THE SAFETY OF HIS 2009 CHEVROLET HHR SS, BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING VEHICLE AT TIMES, INQUIRING WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL (ENCLOSURES NOT IMAGED FWD TO NVS-200) THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RECENTLY PULLED AWAY FROM A CURB BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT STOPPED AT A CROSSWALK, HE CAME WITHIN AN INCH OF REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE BRAKE WAS EXTREMELY HARD, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AGAIN, BUT IT INVOLVED A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS CROSSING THE STREET IN THE CROSSWALK. THE CONSUMER STATED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY CHEVROLET, BUT NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE COST TO INSTALL AN AUXILIARY VACUUM BOOSTER PUMP WAS $1200.00.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10515221June 5, 2013
  STEERING

  I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. I GOT NEW TIRES AND TOOK IT IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE THE RACK AND PINION MIGHT BE BAD. THE PROBLEM WAS THEY COULD NOT GET THE TIRES TO STAY STRAIGHT. WHILE THE CAR WAS ON THE LIFT, THEY STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL (AND WHEELS) SPUN REALLY FAST ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT. THE SHOP WANTED $1000 TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINION BUT I BELIEVE IT IS STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. GOT A SECOND OPINION AND THEY AGREED WITH ME. I AM NOT EXPERIENCING AN NOISES OR SHAKING. WILL TRY CHANGING OUT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR THIS WEEKEND. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10514986June 4, 2013
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION FAILED AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD TO MOVE GEAR SHIFTER LEVER SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,402. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10515030June 4, 2013
  STEERING

  THE CAR SUDDEN LOSS OF 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. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, A CHIME WILL BE HEARD AND THE MESSAGE CENTRE WILL DISPLAY A POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE. TYPICALLY THE NEXT TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WILL RETURN AND THE MESSAGE WOULD NO LONGER BE DISPLAYED. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10514718June 2, 2013
  STEERING

  I WAS DRIVING MY HHR ON A STATE ROAD AT 50MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A CURVE, I WOULD HAVE WRECKED. I FOUND THE NEAREST SAFE SPOT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND IT CAME BACK ON. SINCE THIS EPISODE I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE EPISODES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 500 MILES PER MONTH AND THAT IS TOO MAY TIMES FOR THE STEERING TO GO OUT. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10514426May 31, 2013
  STRUCTURE:BODY

  BOTH REAR DOOR LATCHES HAVE BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS. LH DOOR LATCH STICKS AND NOW RH REAR DOOR LATCH WILL NOT LATCH. HAVE A BUNGY CORD BETWEEN DOORS TO KEEP SHUT. SAFETY ISSUE!!! NO RECALLS. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10514443May 31, 2013
  STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING THE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I DID RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER HHR OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND SEVERAL OTHER CHEVY MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE CHEVY DEALER VERIFIED THAT THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING (FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING MOTOR) WAS THE SAME ISSUE SEEN IN MANY OTHER CHEVY MODELS. CHEVY WOULD NOT FIX IT AND WASHED THEIR HANDS OF IT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. RESTARTING THE CAR TEMPORARILY FIXES IT. *TR

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0