Chevrolet HHR Complaints (2006)

1,006 consumer complaints on file.

#10622077August 13, 2014
STEERING
I WAS GOING TO LEAVE FOR WORK AT 3:25 PM, MARCH 4, 2014. I GOT IN , STARTED THE CAR, PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND BEGAN TO BACK OUT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL BECAME REALLY HARD TO STEER, I COULDN'T STEER AT ALL. MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE. I WAS PANICKED, AND HAD TO CALL OUT FROM WORK, I KNEW I WAS LUCKY THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I LEFT WORK THE NIGHT BEFORE. IT REALLY STRUCK ME THAT THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, OR DRIVING UP THE MOUNTAIN TO RUNNING SPRINGS, TO SPEND THE WEEKEND WITH MY FIANCEE. LUCKY THAT IT HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I INVESTIGATED THE RECENT RECALLS FOR POWER STEERING RECALLS, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT APART OF THAT PARTICULAR RECALL...WHY NOT! I THOUGHT, WHAT WOULD IT HAVE TAKEN, MY DEATH? SO, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, WHO ALSO THOUGHT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECALL AS WELL...I HAD TO PAY FOR THE POWER STEERING COLUMN MYSELF, AT $400, AND REMOVE AND REPLACE THE COLUMN AT $150, PLUS TAX OF $48.00, FOR THE GRAND TOTAL OF $598. THIS UNEXPECTED EXPENSE CAUSED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD GM INCLUDED MY CAR IN THE POWER STEERING RECALL. I'M LUCKY THAT UNLIKE THE OTHERS WHO HAD TO DIE TO INITIATE THIS RECALL, I'M STILL HERE. GM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE, WHAT I AM ASKING FOR IS LESS THAN THE LAWSUITS OF THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO DIED, ARE ASKING FOR. BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, HAD I BEEN ONE OF THOSE UNFORTUNATE VICTIMS, MY FAMILY WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE SEEKING DAMAGES AGAINST GM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621578August 11, 2014
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
ON MY WAY TO WORK I SLOWED DOWN TO CHANGE LANES TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN TO A PARKING LOT. ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A MAJOR JOLT AND MY FOOT WAS KNOCKED OFF THE GAS PEDAL. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER WAS LOOKING DOWN AT MY RIGHT FOOT AND SEEING IT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THINKING I NEED TO MOVE MY FOOT. I REMEMBER THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR A MOMENT WHEN I ASKED THEM NOT TO CUT MY CLOTHES. MY NEXT MEMORY IS FOR A MOMENT IN ICU AND THEN I WOKE UP IN A HOSPITAL ROOM A WEEK LATER. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE CAR CROSSED THE TWO WESTBOUND LANES AND HIT A SIGN AND FENCE, JUMPED THE CURB, AND THEN HIT SHRUBBERY AND SEVERAL HEADSTONES AT A MEMORIAL SALES BUSINESS. POLICE ESTIMATED MY SPEED AT 50 MPH? I THINK THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. POSSIBLY THE IGNITION SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE JOLT AND DEPLOYMENT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I WAS DISABLED IN THIS ACCIDENT. I AM UNABLE TO RETURN TO WORK. ACCORDING TO GM I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SETTLEMENT BECAUSE MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE IF THE IGNITION CAUSED THE ACCIDENT? *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10621200August 10, 2014
STEERING
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT THE SPEED LIMIT WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND SINCE THEN ITS BEEN GOING IN AND OUT ALL THE TIME EVEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS AFTER A EXHAUSTING SEARCH I SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR AND I ALSO SEEN THEY DID DO A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2009 CHEVY HHR THEY NEED TO DO A RECALL WITH THE 2006 CHEVY HHR AS IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AS THE 2009 MY PHONE NUMBER IS [XXX] [XXX] DID GET A DIAGNOSTIC DONE THRU A CHEVY DEALER AND IT CAME BACK AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE HHR AND CHEVY ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE FIXED IM A WORKING PERSON AND THE MONEY FOR THE MOTOR ISN'T EASY TO COME BY LIVING IN NY PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND ANYONE CAN GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL CAR THIS IS THE RECALL INFORMATION FOR THE 2009 CHEVY HHR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V153000 THIS IS REGARDING THE STEERING IN THE CHEVY HHR 2009 THE SAME PROBLEM IS IN THE 2006 CHEVY HHR PLEASE CALL REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620893August 8, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE WERE ON VACATION AND I WAS TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 30 MPH. I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND AND IMMEDIATELY MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A CHIME, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE BEND I WAS GOING AROUND AND I HIT A LIGHT POLE DAMAGING MY FRONT BUMPER. AT THAT SAME TIME, MY MHP AND RMP NEEDLES BEGAN BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH AND THE CAR WAS "JERKING". I TURNED THE CAR OFF. IT WAS STILL DRIVABLE, BUT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THE NEEDLES BOUNCED AND CAR JERKED. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL GM POWER STEERING RECALLS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF HHR, COBALT AND SATURNS. THEY ALL HAVE VERY SIMILAR POWER STEERING MECHANISMS. HOWEVER, MY YEAR, 2006, WAS NOT ON THAT RECALL. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 2006 HHR'S COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUES BUT NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620887August 8, 2014
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY WIFES CAR TO THE GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIRED, AS I ENTERED THE CLOVERLEAF EXITING THE INTERSTATE THE POWER STEERING FAILED, I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND SHOWED THE SERVIVE MANAGER WHAT IT DID, HE FELT OF THE STEERING AND AGREED THE POWER STEERING WAS BAD, HE CHECKED AND SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE COBALT HAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME THING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619539August 7, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10620780August 7, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10619072August 5, 2014
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618805August 4, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACTED STATED WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR HANDLE FAILED. AS A RESULT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617874July 31, 2014
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617624July 30, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. AFTER THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE SHORTLY AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED, SHE FOUND IT HAD ROLLED AWAY THREE HOUSES DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE HAD DRIVEN OVER A CURB, SIDESWIPED A TREE, AND CRASHED INTO CINDER BLOCKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE COVER INTERLOCK WAS REMOVED. THE SHIFTER DID NOT LOCK INTO GEAR. THE LOCK WAS MISSING. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT GIVEN ANY PAPERWORK TO EXPLAIN THE ISSUES. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE WITH THESE DEFECTS. UPDATED 11/25/2014 *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617801July 30, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOST ALL ELECTRONIC POWER AND STEERING AND SHUT OFF WOUND UP IN THE DITCH WHICH STOPPED THE CAR KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSIPOSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617803July 30, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
ALL ELECTRONIC SHUT OFF NO BRAKES NO STEERING WOUND UP IN THE DITCH KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSIPOSITION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616828July 28, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615879July 24, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AS I BEGAN TO PULL OUT FROM THE PARKING LOT AFTER WORK ONE EVENING, I BEGAN TO HEAR A CHIME LIKE TONE, AT THE SAME TIME A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ "POWER STEERING..." I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR A POSSIBLE BROKEN POWER STEERING BELT, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE POWER STEERING PUMP .RE STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I LATER DISCOVERED THE POWER SYSTEM ASSIST CONSIST OF AN ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR AND NOT A HYDRAULIC. AS TIME PASSED, THE PROBLEM BECAME MORE FREQUENT. NOW, ONCE THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE, IT TAKES ONLY A COUPLE OF MINUTES, IF NOT SECONDS, BEFORE I HEAR THE CHIME, THE MESSAGE SHOWS UP, AND HERE I GO AGAIN, STRUGGLING TO STEER WITH ONE HAND AND SHIFTING WITH THE OTHER, AT TIMES THROUGH VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC. MY CAR IS A STANDARD SHIFT. IT HAS BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO CROSS LANES WILE STEERING WITH ONE HAND AT THE SAME TIME YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS DURING HEAVY AND SLOW TRAFFIC. I AM BEGINNING TO SUFFER SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN WHICH COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. I CALLED GM ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE GM REP. SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THE POWER STEERING RECALL, ONLY RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT IF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND POWER STEERING ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER MODELS, MY 2006 HHR SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED FOR IGNITION SWITCH AND THE POWER STEERING ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615907July 24, 2014
STEERING
THIS STARTED 3 DAYS AGO. THE POWER STEERING SHOWED ON THE DASH AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING. READING THE MANUAL FOR THIS ISSUE A YEAR AGO IT SAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART THE CAR AND THE STEERING WOULD RESET ITSELF. HOWEVER THE ISSUE PROGRESSED AND TODAY WAS GOING OUT EVERY FEW MILES. AND I WAS JUST AT THE CHEVROLET SERVICE FOR ANOTHER RECALL AND ASKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS AND THAT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE LIST. THIS IS A BAD SITUATION AND VERY UNSAFE. I BELIEVE THE POWER STEERING WILL BE GONE COMPLETELY IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE RIGHT AWAY AS THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I USE IT TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615592July 23, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615285July 22, 2014
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR AND ON SUNDAY THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND A GM MEDIA RELEASE RELATING TO THE POWER STEERING. (HTTP://MEDIA.GM.COM/MEDIA/US/EN/GM/NEWS.DETAIL.HTML/CONTENT/PAGES/NEWS/US/EN/2014/MAR/0331-POWER-STEERING.HTML) I CHECKED WITH A COUPLE OF LOCAL DEALERSHIPS AND WAS ADVISED THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. IN THE MEDIA RELEASE IT CLEARLY STATES THAT "IN ADDITION, 309,160 NON-TURBOCHARGED CHEVROLET HHRS FROM THE 2006-2008 MODEL YEARS (AND SEVERAL HUNDRED 2009 MODELS) AND 96,324 SATURN IONS FROM THE 2003 MODEL YEAR THAT ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THESE RECALLS WILL BE GIVEN LIFETIME WARRANTIES FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MOTOR." EVEN THOUGH MY HHR IS A NON-TURBO 2006 MODEL, AND MY POWER STEERING IS NON-OPERABLE (HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY CASH PAYMENT BY ME) AS DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA RELEASE, FOR WHATEVER REASON I'M NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE NO IDEA HOW VIN #'S ARE SELECTED FOR A RECALL, BUT I FEEL SINCE MY VEHICLE APPARENTLY FALLS UNDER THE PERIMETERS OF THE RECALL WHY IS IT NOT INCLUDED. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS I AM ON A LOW FIXED INCOME. REGARDS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615131July 21, 2014
STEERING
DRIVING DOWN THE I-80 AT 75 MILES PER HOUR. WENT TO PULL OUT TO PASS A SEMI TRUCK, ALARM WENT OFF, POWER STEERING SHOWED ON DRIVERS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AS I TRIED TO MOVE BACK INTO SLOWER LANE I NOTICED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AT FIRST EXIT I PULLED OFF . TURN CAR OFF. AFTER A SHIRT BREAK RESTARTED CAR TO TRY TO MAKE IT 20 MILES TO HOME THINKING POWER STEERING WAS COMPLETELY GONE. TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS WORKING AGAIN. DROVE ABOUT 5 MILES OUT AGAIN SO I JUST KEEP GOING TO HOME. CALLED GM CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY STATED I AM NOT PART OF THE RECALL ISSUED ON HHR'S BUT I KNOW THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614448July 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LETTER FROM SENATOR RUBIO ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT REGARDING ISSUES WITH HIS 2006 CHEVROLET HHR; HE IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LOST BILLING TIME AND REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL OF THE HHR CHEVROLET; ATTN: JASON TEAMAN. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE ENCOUNTERED MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, EVER SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WERE RELATED TO THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH, WHERE THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, OR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THERE WERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO, WHERE IT WOULD TURN ON BY ITSELF. ALSO, THE LIGHTS AND WINDOWS DID NOT WORK. *JB UPDATED 04/13/15.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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