Chevrolet HHR Complaints

3,575 consumer complaints on file.

#10283139September 8, 2009
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2006 CHEVROLET HHR - DOOR HANDLE BROKE NOT ALLOWING ME TO EXIT VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282542September 1, 2009
STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION:FRONT
I OWN A 2006 CHEVY HHR LT2, IT HAS APPROX. 52K MILES, AND A RATTLE, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN OCCURRING AT SPEEDS BELOW 45MPH. ALSO, THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR IS CONTINUING TO FLOOD WITH WATER, AND THE HEATER/AC BLOWER HAS FAILED OR SHORTED OUT. LASTLY, I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE ROTORS WORKED ON 4 TIMES BY CHEVY, AND THEY ARE NOW ONCE AGAIN IN NEED OF REPAIR. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE RATTLE IN THE STEERING AND THE WATER LEAK. I FOUND NUMEROUS TSB ARTICLES FOR THE ISSUES, BUT THE DEALER AND GM ARE CLAIMING THE TSBS DO NOT EXIST. THE REPAIRS WILL TOTAL MORE THAN $1100. I WAS TOLD THE BUSHINGS, AND TENSION RODS ARE THE PROBLEM WITH MY STEERING, AND THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT 52K MILES I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THESE ITEMS WOULD FAIL.. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS MY SAFETY RELATED TO THE STEERING AS WELL AS ANY POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL ISSUE STEMMING FROM THE WATER LEAK.. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE STEERING ISSUE AS WELL AS FOR THE BRAKE ROTORS. IF YOU GO TO ANY VEHICLE COMPLAINT WEB SITE FOR THE HHR YOU WILL SEE 100'S OF POSTINGS RELATED TO BAD BRAKES. THERE ARE ALSO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THE STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR OR COMPROMISE WITH REGARDS TO PERFORMING THE REPAIRS FOR FREE OR FOR A REDUCED FEE. I CONTACTED GM CORPORATE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. I WAS TOLD THE GM DISTRICT MANAGER WOULD CONTACT ME. I AM STILL WAITING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281923August 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF - KEY WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281510August 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE EXHAUST CONE INSIDE THE FRONT FLANGE OF THE CONVERTER ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF CAUSING THE STAINLESS STEEL BELLOWS/VIBRATION DAMPER TO CRACK AND LEAK. THE LEAK AND CRACK CONTINUED TO GROW UNTIL I HAD CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WOULD FAIL AND FALL DOWN TO THE ROAD BELOW AND CAUSE CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE OR LOSS OF CONTROL. I REPLACED THE UNIT MYSELF AT 82K MILES AFTER FIRST NOTICING THE PROBLEM AT THE 78K MILE MARK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281533August 24, 2009
STEERING
PURCHASED THE CAR JULY 13 OF THIS YEAR. A CLUNKING SOUND COMES FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN HITTING HOLES OR ON SLIGHTLY ROUGH ROAD. TENDS TO OCCUR MORE WHEN THE CAR OR THE WEATHER IS COLD. TOOK IT TO CHEVROLET AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A SWAY BAR LINK ISSUE. I REPLACED THE ROTORS, SWAY BAR LINKS (PAIR), DRIVERS SIDE STRUT MOUNT AND BALANCED & ROTATED TIRES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. APPEARS THAT THE STEERING COLUMN (INTERMEDIARY?) HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER HHR OWNERS ACCORDING TO ONLINE FORUMS AND RESEARCH ALSO POINTS TO THE SAME ISSUE IN OLDER OLDSMOBILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281421August 22, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NEW 2009 CHEVY HHR - TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE NEW CAR - DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS - 850 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, BRAKES STARTED FEELING SOFT WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. LATER APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 20 MPH, BRAKES TRAVELED ABOUT 2/3 OF WAY BEFORE DOING ANYTHING. APPLIED MORE PRESSURE AND CAR PULLED TO RIGHT. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND CAR KEPT MOVING. PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STOPPED WITH NOSE OF CAR IN THE INTERSECTION. THERE WERE NO PANEL LIGHTS INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE. CHECK OF THE BRAKE FLUID SHOWED IT IS FULL. TOOK CAR TO MEDVED CHEVY IN CASTLE ROCK, CO TODAY FOR REPAIR. THEY CONFIRMED THE BRAKE FAILURE (EASY TO DO SINCE THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR). THEY WILL DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR NEXT WEEK. I ASKED THEM TO ESCALATE A REPORT OF THIS ISSUE IN CASE OTHER OWNERS ARE NOT AS LUCKY AS ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281147August 20, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281244August 20, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2006 HHR VIBRATES VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM CHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES FROM APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES ON. I AM CURRENTLY AT 55000. AFTER INSPECTIONS I WAS ADVISED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. I WAS TOLD THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE BRAKES HEATS SO RAPIDLY THAT IT COULD CAUSE IT. I QUESTIONED ABOUT THE MATERIALS USED AND IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS TO KEEP THE WEIGHT LOW ON THE VEHICLE FOR GAS MILEAGE. YESTERDAY I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK WHICH I HAVE TO TRAVEL A LONG GRADE. I SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR TO REDUCE SPEED GOING DOWN THE GRADE, I PRESSED ON THE BREAKS AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK SO VIOLENTLY I ENDED UP TRYING TO USE THE EMERGENCY HAND BREAK IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. MY SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 52 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE AN EXTENSIVE WARRANTY REPAIR RECORD ON IT INCLUDING A FIRE. I FIND THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WITH THE BRAKING PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280796August 18, 2009
VISIBILITY
A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR IMPACTED A TELEPHONE POLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE FRONT LEFT FENDER AND HEADLAMP. NO PART OF THE POLE WAS VISIBLE, DUE TO THE WIDTH OF THE A-PILLAR AND DOOR FRAME AND THE ANGLE OF THE A PILLAR (NEARLY VERTICAL). ONLY THE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS DURING THE IMPACT ALERTED THE DRIVER TO WHAT WAS OCCURRING, EVEN THOUGH THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING DIRECTLY TOWARD THE POLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280610August 17, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY VEHICLE WAS HIT BROADSIDE SQUARELY ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. VEHICLES TRAVELING ABOUT 25-30 MPH. DURING COLLISION DRIVERS HEAD STRUCK DOOR FRAME. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280719August 17, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY HHR (WHICH I LOVE) HAS HAD VIBRATING BRAKES FOR QUITE SOME TIME. FROM INFO FOUND ON FORUMS DEDICATED TO THE HHR AND HERE, I DETERMINED THAT GM OR THE CHEVY DEALER WASN'T GOING TO SATISFY THE NEED FOR BETTER QUALITY ROTORS. THE OEM ROTORS ARE JUNK AND SHOULD BE BANNED FROM BEING INSTALLED ONTO A MOTOR VEHICLE. INSTEAD OF GETTING THE REGRIND AS SPECIFIED BY GM, I CHOSE TO GET MY OWN BRAKES UPGRADED TO A CANADIAN MADE ROTOR SET AND NEW PADS. PARTS AND LABOR WERE $282.19 TOTAL. I WILL BE SENDING THE BILL TO CHEVROLET, BUT I DOUBT THAT THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME...LOL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279086August 2, 2009
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED INTO MY VEHICLE. THE WINDOW WAS COMPLETELY UP, THERE WHERE NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF ME. I HEARD A LOUD POP THEN THE WINDOW BLEW OUT. CAUSING ME TO ALMOST RUN MY CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY. MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAS HAD TO BE ADJUSTED 3 TIMES ALREADY. I DON'T KNOW IF ONE THING HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS STATING THEY HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW. THIS DEFECT IF IT IS ONE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ANYONE. ANY HELP IN THIS SITUATION WOULD BE GREATFULLY APPRECIATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278950July 31, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2006 CHEVROLET HHR INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE COULD NOT PURCHASE JUST THE DOOR HANDLE, BUT HE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HANDLE WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279010July 31, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, SEATS, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2008 HHR SS FAULTY BRAKES FROM COLD START. EXCESSIVE FRONTAL BRAKE DUST. SERVICED AT 2000 MILES. SERVICED AGAIN AT 17,000 MILES NEEDING NEW BRAKES.DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL CONDITION. MY SS MODEL HAS 2 DIFFERENT FRONT SEATS WHICH DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL .SPEED CONTROL FLOATS,SLOW TO RESPOND..ORIGINALLY FROZE AT 70MPH. I DID RECEIVE A CITATION FOR SPEEDING CUZ OF MALFUNCTIONED. L/F /F AND R/F TIRE PRESSURE READINGS ARE REVERSED ACCORDING TO THE IP. VERY IRATE 30 YEAR GM EMPLOYEE WHO PAID CASH FOR THIS MESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10278351July 26, 2009
POWER TRAIN, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING
DRIVER WAS LEAVING PARKING LOT WHEN PASSENGER SIDE (RIGHT FRONT) CV SHAFT BROKE COMPLETELY IN HALF AT 35,440 MILES WITHOUT WARNING. CV SHAFT COULD BE HEARD SLAPPING AROUND UNDER CAR WHILE MOTOR RUNNING IN GEAR, PROBABLY TEARING UP OTHER COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD AND SUSPENSION. THE CV SHAFT BREAKAGE LEFT THE VEHICLE UNDER NO POWER BECAUSE PASSENGER WHEEL IS THE DRIVE WHEEL....VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO, THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL ALSO HAD NO ABILITY TO BE TURNED TO THE LEFT DUE TO THE BROKEN CV SHAFT BLOCKING IT BY SHAFT HITTING THE WHEEL/HEAT SHIELD/ROTOR ASSY. OWNER HAD TO PUSH CAR BACKWARDS OUT OF TRAFFIC AND INTO PARKING LOT. VEHICLE WOULD STILL ROLLED WHILE IN PARK, HAD TO USE PARKING BRAKE TO MAKE VEHICLE STATIONARY. I WAITED 2.5HRS FOR GM ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET TOW TRUCK TO MY VEHICLE. 1ST TOW TRUCK DIDN'T COME DUE TO GM NOT CHECKING TO SEE HOW FAR THEY WERE FROM VEHICLE LOCATION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JBA CHEVROLET (GLEN BURNIE, MD) ON JUNE 25TH, 09 (NEXT DAY). I WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK ON CAR AND GET LOANER. JBA OFFERED NO LOANER STATING THAT SERVICE DEPT NOT OPEN AND THEY MUST DIAGNOSE FIRST AND WAIT UNTIL MONDAY AND THEN MAYBE I GET A LOANER. ALSO GM CUST ASST 1-800 NUMBER STATED I COULD RENT AND GET REIMBURSE BUT I DON'T TRUST GM AND MONEY AT ALL AFTER SEEING HOW OTHERS TREATED ABOUT AND HOW POORLY THEY MANAGE THEIR OWN MONEY. THIS CV SHAFT INCIDENT HAPPENED 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE OVERHEATING/WARPING AND HEAT SHIELD GRINDING PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC THEN STATED HE KNEW BRAKES WERE CHEAPLY MADE AND PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL AND IF OVER 36,000 MILES...THEY WON'T BE FREE ANYMORE.... CV SHAFT LOOKED TO BE MADE OF CHEAP ALUMINUM CAST AND I BELIEVE SAME HEAT PROBLEM THAT MADE CAUSED ROTOR TO WARP, CAUSED CV SHAFT TO BECOME BRITTLE. EITHER THIS OR COMPONENTS WERE REINSTALLED INCORRECTLY BY JBA CHEVROLET WHEN THEY REPAIRED BRAKE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277914July 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL AND GEAR SHIFT WOULD LOCK. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HER MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO RECALLS. GENERAL MOTORS ADVISED THE CONTACT TO DRIVE INTO A PARKING SPOT IN A STRAIGHT POSITION AND ENSURE THAT THE WHEELS WERE ALSO STRAIGHT. AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO WIGGLE THE KEY. AFTER TEN MINUTES, SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONCE SHE INSERTED THE KEY AGAIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,377 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000. UPDATED 8/18/09 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER. UPDATED 08/21/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277247July 17, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, TIRES
MY 2007 HHR HAS MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING SINCE I PURCHASE THE CAR. EVERY 6-12 MONTHS IT SEEMS THAT THIS CAR NEEDS NEW BRAKES I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE 2008 AND HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES TWICE DUE TO BAD TRACTION. RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACE THE STABILIZER BAR WHICH WAS THE REASON THE CAR MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING, I KNOW THAT CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT TO CONTINUE TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT IT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THREE WEEK AGO WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES KICK IN AND CAUSE THE CAR TO TAIL SPIN AND INTURN I END UP IN THE GUARD RAIL. I REALLY THIS THAT THIS VEHICLE AND ALOT OF ISSUES THAT WHEN NOT TESTED BEFORE CONSUMERS REALLY STARTED BUYING THIS MODEL. I HAVE SPENT ALOT OF MONEY OUT OF POCKETS FOR THIS CAR, TIRES FOR THIS CAR FROM SEARS RUN $150 A TIRE AND THE STABILIZER BAR COST ME $325. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276966July 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR OR FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO REMAIN IN SECOND GEAR NO MATTER HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HUB ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,196 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276829July 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE TOP SECTION OF THE KNOB ON THE GEAR SHIFTER SUDDENLY DETACHED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BY GRABBING THE MIDDLE PART OF THE SHIFTER. HE NOTICED THAT THE KNOB WAS INJECTION MOLDER PLASTIC, WHICH WAS SHIELDED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,900. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR WHILE ACCELERATING. UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276809July 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, STEERING, STRUCTURE:BODY
WE HAVE SEVERAL DEFECTS. AFTER NORMAL BRAKING A COUPLE OF TIMES THE CAR AND STEERING WHEEL BEGINS TO SHAKE AND SHIMMY. THE MORE YOU USE THE BRAKES AFTER THIS STARTS THE MORE VIOLENT THE SHIMMY BECOMES UNTIL WE HAVE TO STOP AND LET THE BRAKES COOL DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ROTORS ONCE BUT COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION. WE CONTINUE TO BE PLAGUED BY THIS PROBLEM BUT NOW MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER BRAKES AND NO ONE KNOWS OR OWNS UP TO WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE OTHER ISSUE WE HAVE IS THE EXHAUST, SPECIFICALLY THE HEADER PIPE ATTACHED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH CRACKED AT THE FLEX JOINT. THIS STARTED BACK WHEN WE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS, WE COMPLAINED TO THE SERVICE WRITER THAT THERE WAS A FUNNY SMELL AFTER DRIVING IT FOR A WHILE, HE LOOKED AT IT WHEN IT WAS UP ON THE RACK AND SAID THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG, AS IT TURNED OUT THE SMELL CONTINUED GETTING WORSE WITH TIME UNTIL THE EXHAUST NOISE BECAME LOUD ENOUGH TO IDENTIFY AND THE FUMES WERE MAKING US NAUSEOUS AND GIVING US HEADACHES. THE MOON ROOF STARTED TO FALL APART SO NOW WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THAT, THE RADIO MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE , LOUD ENOUGH TO HURT YOUR EARS, THIS WAS ALSO WAVED OFF BY THE DEALERSHIP AS NOTHING. TO DATE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THESE ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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