Chevrolet HHR Complaints (2006)

1,006 consumer complaints on file.

#10183106February 21, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 HHR LT. HISTORY OF ABS/BRAKE/FRONT END COMPONENT FAILURES AND ELECTRONIC MALFUNCTIONS SINCE PURCHASE IN WINTER OF 2005. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES STEERING WHEEL SHOOK HARD FROM L TO R AND BRAKES GRABBED/RELEASED. DEALER FOUND ROTORS WARPED AT LESS THAN 10K MILES. WARRANTY REPAIR/RESURFACE. PROBLEMS CONTINUED: ABS ENGAGED ON DRY PAVEMENT UNDER 10 MPH BUT WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ROAD SPEEDS WITH BRAKES HEAVILY APPLIED. AT SAME TIME, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. ASE CERTIFIED GM MECHANICS TOLD ME THIS WAS IMPOSSIBLE - UNTIL SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE AND CONCLUDED PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR; CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CLAIM OPENED/RESOLVED WITH GM. DEALER FOUND DEFECTIVE WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY (LEFT) THAT CAUSED ABS FAILURE BELOW 8K MILES. (NO ACCIDENT) NEXT FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE RIGHT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY AND AN ACCIDENT RESULTED. GM AND THE DEALER CLAIM NO DEFECT BUT ONLY ERROR CODE IS RIGHT FRONT ABS FAILURE WITH PRIOR 7 PAGES HISTORY OF ABS/BRAKE/ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS (SUBMITTED TO INS COMPANY AND GM AND IN POSSESSION OF THE DEALER). THIS FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS/RIMS/UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. GM AND THE DEALER CONCLUDED - WITHOUT BENCH TESTING THE RIGHT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY - THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT; HOWEVER, THE ONLY ERROR CODE RECORDED IS AN ABS FAILURE (CLAIM OPENED WITH GM). GM AND DEALER HAVE CALLED TO SEE HOW THE VEHICLE IS DOING - I DECLINED TO COMMIT SAYING THAT I WOULD BE MAKING A DETERMINATION AS TO THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE SHORTLY. GOOD THING - THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES PULSE AS IF THE WHEELS ARE NO LONGER ROUND (GRAB AND RELEASE). THESE ARE THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT OCCURRED WHEN THE ROTORS WHEN OUT OF SPEC. IT IS MY SUSPICION THAT THE ROTORS HAVE AGAIN GONE OUT OF SPEC AND THAT THE ABS/BRAKING COMPONENT FAILURES ARE CONTINUING WITH THIS VEHICLE. I AM ABOUT TO TAKE THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR EVALUATION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182343February 12, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2006 CHEVROLET HHR LT WAS HAVING BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THIS STARTED IN JANUARY 2007 WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND LOW BRAKE FLUID LIGHT TURNING ON. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE, THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER, AND THEY REPAIRED THE WIRE HARNESS THAT SHORTED OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED HIM THAT THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED BECAUSE OF A MISTAKE MADE BY THE SERVICE MECHANIC, AND THAT WAS WHY IT HAD TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK AND DROVE IT FOR A WEEK, THEN THE RED BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON AND A YELLOW LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE ABS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 02/07/07,AND THEY STILL HAD THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY THOUGHT ITWAS DUE TO THE WEATHER, BUT WERE NOT SURE WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4100 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3700.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179551January 24, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2006 HHR 2LT WITH 5000+ MILES HAD NEAR MISS WHEN BRAKES FAILED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH, I ATTEMPTED TO GENTLY BRAKE FOR A TRUCK TURNING 6-7 CARS AHEAD OF ME. I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT REMINDED ME OF PLASTIC GEAR TEETH TURNING THE WRONG DIRECTION. MY PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT EVEN SLOW. REFLEXIVELY, I PUMPED THE BRAKE TO SEE IF THE ABS HAD JUST LOCKED UP. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE IT WAS LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION. LUCKILY I HAD BEEN ABOUT 6-7 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND AND BY THE TIME I GOT UP IN HIS REAR, MY BRAKE PEDAL RELEASED A LITTLE (STILL WITH RESISTANCE) AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW ENOUGH NOT TO HIT HIM AS HE TURNED. I HAD TO AVOID HIM BY VEERING TO THE LEFT TO DRIVE AROUND HIM. THE BRAKE SEEMED TO RELEASE SEVERAL SECONDS LATER AFTER COMPLETELY REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND COASTING. MY AUTO DEALER SAID THEY TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE AND IT WAS BRAKING FINE. I??M CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISMISSED THIS NEAR COLLISION. ADDITIONAL INFO: OUTDOOR TEMP WAS BELOW 30 IN KY. IS POSSIBLE THERE WAS ICE ON THE ROAD, BUT HAVING LIVED IN BOTH OH AND MI I AM VERY FAMILIAR WITH ICE AND A CAR'S RESPONSE. ABS DID SOUND LIKE IT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE BEFORE THE GRINDING NOISE, BUT BRAKE PEDAL RESPONSE WAS NOT NORMAL. BRAKES DID NOT LOCK UP AS WITH ICY CONDITIONS. CAR DID NOT SLIDE. SPEED WAS MAINTAINED, DESPITE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL. PEDAL DIDN'T MOVE (LOWER) AS IT DOES WITH NORMAL BRAKING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178165January 9, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ON OUR CHEVY HHR LOCKED UP WHEN ATTEMPTING A NORMAL STOP, AND STAYED IN THE LOCKED POSITION EVEN AFTER FINALLY COMING TO A STOP. IF NOT FOR A TURNING LANE BEING OPEN A COLLISION WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG, BUT I NEED TO POST THIS AND SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176870December 23, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
WHILE RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A 2006 CHEVROLET HER FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 2 HOURS I RECEIVED 2ND DEGREE BURNS TO POSTERIOR. CHECK OF THE SEAT BY CHEVY DEALER THE NEXT WEEK REPORTED NO PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT HEATER. IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AND I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM THE BURNS AND HAVE HAD MEDICAL TREATMENT TWICE WEEKLY . I HAVE RIDDING OVER 25,000 MILES (MOSTLY IN THE DRIVERS SEAT) AND THE SEAT HEATERS HAVE BEEN ON THE BIGGEST PART OF THE TIME OVER THE PAST YEAR. BUT THIS TWO HOUR STINT CAUSED ME SEVERE BURNS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10176788December 22, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY LOCKS IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE, IT TOOK REPEATED ATTEMPS AT FIRST OF CYCLING THE KEY OFF AND ON TO GET IT TO RELEASE AFTER A WEEK OR TWO THE PROPLEM BECAME WORSE TO THE POINT OF THE THE SHIFTER HAD TO BE CYCLED FROM PARK TO LOW AND BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE KEY WOULD LOCK AND RELEASE FROM THE STEERING COLLUM, AFTER A FEW DAYS THIS DIDN'T WORK,THE PROBLEM THEN WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS "COMMON" WITH THIS MODEY OF HHR. HAD I NOT BEEN A MECHANIC THE VEHICLE WOULD BE STUCK WERE EVER THE PROBLEM OCCURED, I TEMPERALLY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY GOING UNDER THE STEERING COLLUM AND PULLING A COVER OFF ABOUT A INCH DOWN FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND PUSHING THE ROD TO THE LEFT ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH TO GET THE KEY TO LOCK AND RELEASE THE KEY WHERE THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN AND LOCKED TO PREVENT THEFT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172150October 30, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS LYING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE STEERING KNUCKLE FRACTURED INTO, AND CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO ROLL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTACHED TO THE REMAINING HALF OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170661October 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AT 5,00 MILES THE SEAL ON THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN A NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. DEALER TRIED REPLACING CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF ON GOING PROBLEM, THEY SENT A REP WHO SAID THE NOISE WAS A USUAL NOISE. SERVICE MANAGER REQUESTED A SECOND OPINION FROM MANUFACTURE. CAR NOW HAS 14,500 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES. AS OF THIS DATE WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR ANOTHER REP TO LOOK AT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168354September 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONE DAY THE RADIO WOULD NOT CHANGE STATIONS, I USED THE CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND RADIO TURNED UP ALL THE WAY AND WOULD NOT TURN DOWN UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER THEY TESTED AND ORDERED A NEW RADIO. NOT INSTALLED YET. A FEW DAYS LATER THE INTERIOR LIGHTS GOT REAL DIM AND WOULD NOT GET BRIGHTER UNLESS I TURNED THE AUTO LIGHTS OFF. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ABOUT A WEEK LATER,WENT OUT TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT START AND THE KEY GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION, CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE THEY JUMPED IT AND TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GROUND. THE RADIO QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. TWO DAYS LATER IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN SO I JUMPED IT AND IT STARTED. THE RADIO STARTED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. FOUR DAYS LATER CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN. THEY CAME AND JUMPED IT AND TOWED IT TO DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT IS NOW. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168373September 15, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SPUN 360 DEGREES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUFFERED CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER FOLLOWING THE CRASH. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10167045August 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2006 CHEVY HHR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166128August 21, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT A FREEWAY AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND VEERED OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT WAS STOPPED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS LYING ON ITS SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165570August 15, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION AT 30 MPH. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT AN INTERSECTION. ALL OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED OR NOT.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163552July 26, 2006
TIRES:SIDEWALL
FIRESTONE SIDEWALL TIRE FAILURE. ON 7/22/06 ON I 95, FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. WE EXPERIENCED A SIDEWALL TIRE FAILURE ON A 2006 CHEVY, HHR WITH 1942 MILES. THE TIRE PRESSURE AS TESTED ON 7/19/06 WAS 34 PSI +/- 1 PSI. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ROAD HAZARD, THE TIRE HAS BEEN SECURED BY ME. THE DEALER, TOM GIBBS CHEVY OF FLAGLER COUNTY EXPRESSED NO INTEREST IN PURSUING THE SAFETY FACTOR OF THE FAILURE, SO I AM. THE TIRE IS A FIRESTONE, GTA 03, FIREHAWK SIZE P215/50R17 90T M&S. SEVERAL MECHANICS VISUALLY INSPECTED SAME AND ALL CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. AS YET, THIS TIRE HAS NOT BEEN LISTED ON A RECALL NOTICE. ANOTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS TIRE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. THE TIRE HAS BEEN SECURED AS POTENTIAL EVIDENCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163209July 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
AFTER 7500 MILES, HHR IS DEMONSTRATING STARTER/IGNITION PROBLEMS. AS OPPOSED TO NEW VEHICLE, IT NOW TAKES BETWEEN 3-7 SECONDS OR MORE, TO GET VEHICLE TO START. INITIALLY, VEHICLE STARTED IMMEDIATELY WITH KEY AND REMOTE STARTER. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT CHRONIC. A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS MUCH CRANKING TO START. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162052July 10, 2006
VISIBILITY
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS TOO MANY BLIND SPOTS ON ALL SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO FOR SEEING OUT THE FRONT WINDOW IS DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD BEING LOWER AND THE SEAT HIGHER THAN ON OTHER VEHICLES. DUE TO THIS VISIBILITY ISSUE THE CONTACT FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158610May 30, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
(1) NONE, IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. (2) OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE INDICATOR DOES NOT WORK, TEMPERATURE STAYS THE SAME FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT MIGHT CHANGE TO THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE OR JUST CHANGE A FEW DEGREES WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT. (3) DEALER REPLACED OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR. IT WORKED OK FOR 4 DAYS. STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156639May 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD EACH TIME. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL; ON THE FORTH OCCASION THE VEHICLE SAT FOR 45 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED WHILE IN PARK. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER EACH FAILURE. THE DEALER INSTALLED AN EVENT DATA RECORDER IN THE VEHICLE TO BE MANUALLY STARTED IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE. THE EDR DID RECORD THE FOURTH FAILURE HOWEVER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151405February 28, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR ALARM WILL NOT SOUND UNTIL THE BACK DOOR IS AJAR SIX INCHES. THE DEALER DETERMINED THIS WAS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148021January 18, 2006
STEERING:COLUMN
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MESSAGE BOARD FLASHED POWER STEERING, WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *NM UPDATED 02/28/06
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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