Chevrolet HHR Complaints (2008)

616 consumer complaints on file.

#10265174April 13, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
POPPING, CRACKING, GRINDING SOUND AND CAR VIBRATING UPON APPLYING BRAKES. VERY HARD TO GET CAR TO STOP TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID SOMETHING WAS LOOSE UNDER THE CAR AND THEY HAD TO CUT AND PIECE IT BACK TOGETHER. SOUND STOPPED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND IS BACK WORSE THAN BEFORE HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 10 MONTHS 8,400 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HURT MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE I AM ACTUALLY LOOKING AT BUYING AND OLDER CAR TO DRIVE AROUND IN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260518March 2, 2009
STEERING
NO CRASHES, 22000 MILES ON THE CAR. HEARD THIS NOISE FOR ABOUT 2000 MILES BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. 1. FRONT END SUSPENSION POPPING NOISE 2. THEY TOLD ME THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED REPLACED. THREE WEEKS LATER, I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK AGAIN THIS WEEK. THE PROBLEM HAS COME BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259687February 23, 2009
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING A 2008 CHEVY HHR AND WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL BY GM OF CERTAIN 2008 GM HHR MODELS FOR ISSUES WITH ROOF RAIL AIRBAGS. I AM WONDERING WHY NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10254142January 7, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND STALLED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. HE HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000. UPDATED 03/23/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED RIGHT BEFORE THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 03/24/09.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252841December 26, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 3 OR 4 TIMES. SHE STRUCK THE SIDE OF HER HEAD ON THE SIDE WINDOW AND STATED THAT HER HEAD BECAME NUMB. SHE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE SAME DAY AND THE DOCTOR INFORMED HER THAT THE INJURIES WERE MINOR; HOWEVER, SHE NEEDED TO VISIT HER PHYSICIAN. THE OTHER PASSENGER ALSO SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE WINDOWS AND THE FRONT END. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9,200.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10251451December 11, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES LOSE VACUUM WHEN CAR SITS FOR A WHILE. ON A COLD START THERE IS LITTLE BRAKING POWER UNTIL THE VACUUM BUILDS UP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT GM DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR IT. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 6 MONTHS WITH NO FIX. IT'S UNSAFE AND I HAVE A MAJOR CONCERN DUE TO HAVING TEENAGE DRIVERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250567December 3, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST BOUGHT AN 2008 HHR 18000 MILES ON IT DROVE IT HOME THEN WENT TO GO OUT AND NOW THE IGNITION KEY WON'T TURN. KEY JUST GOES IN AND OUT. THE 800 SERVICE PEOPLE NO HELP JUST SAID JIGGLE KEYS AND KEEP TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE KEY TO TURN... ANY ANSWERS OUT THERE??? THINK THEY NEED A RECALL AFTER READING SO MANY PROBLEMS THE HHR IGNITION SWITCH HAS... SOME EVEN SAY THEY CAN'T GET IT TO SHUTOFF AND THEY KEYS ARE STUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249736November 24, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER PURCHASE OF A NEW 2008 HHR ON 22 SEPTEMBER 2008, I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND UPON GETTING INTO IT THE NEXT MORNING I BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE AND NOTICE A VERY SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. I THEN STARTED DOWN THE DRIVE WAY AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT THE STREET THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH MY BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED INTO THE STREET. THIS BECAME A ROUTINE SITUATION UPON "COLD STARTUP'S" AND WHEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER,(JOHN DONOGHUE CHEVROLET, WHITEVILLE, NC) AFTER SEVERAL POOR STOPS, MY SALESMAN ADVISED "YEAH WE KNOW ABOUT IT AS WE'VE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON 2008 SOLSTICES". WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A POSSIBLE FIX HE ADVISED THAT " A PART ON THE TURBO FIXES THE PROBLEM." I MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED UPON MY RETURN FROM VACATION ON OR ABOUT 26 OCT 08. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF WITH THE SERVICE WRITER/MANAGER AND NO MENTION WAS MADE AS TO POTEN TIAL PROBLEMS FIXING THE CAR. UPON MY RETURN SEVERAL HOURS LATER I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE PROBLEM IS SYSTEMIC TO 2008 TURBO ENGINES AND GENERAL MOTORS DOESN'T WANT TO RECALL THE CARS. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER PROVIDED ME WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT GM PUT OUT AS A POTENTIAL "FIX" BUT HE REFUSED TO SERVICE THE CAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY READJUSTED THE COMPUTER, PER THE BULLETIN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STILL DOES NOT STOP PROPERLY ON COLD STARTUP. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THE BULLETIN ADVISED THAT "THEY ARE WORKING ON THE ISSUE." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249562November 22, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2008 CHEVY HHR THAT I PURCHASED IN AUGUST. MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE BACK PASSENGER DOORS. IN SEVERAL OCCASSIONS MY KIDS HAVE NOT CLOSED THE DOORS HARD ENOUGH, AND THE DOORS HAVE STAYED OPEN. THE CAR HAS FAILED TO INFORM ME. WE ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE WE CAN HEAR THE WIND AS I AM DRIVING FASTER. ALSO IN TESTING THE CAR, THE DOOR WASN'T EVEN ON THE HATCH AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT WARN OF THE DOOR BEING OPEN AND THE CAR WAS IN MOVEMENT. WHILE NO ACCIDENT OR DEATH HAS OCCURRED YET, THIS A IS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN SOMEONE'S DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248416November 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHEVY HHR 2008 - COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER TRAFFIC FROM HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT. COULDN'T UNLOCK DOORS OR WINDOW TO ESCAPE VEHICLE. CALLED 911 FAIRFIELD CT, FIRE DEPT RESPONDED TO OPEN VEHICLE. TRAPPED INSIDE FOR 15 MINUTES. PROBLEM WITH CAR'S FUSE BOX, CUTTING OFF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER JUST 10 MINUTES EARLIER TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I-95. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10247873November 6, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CHEVY 2008 HHR SS INADEQUATE BRAKE POWER ASSIST. EXTREMELY HARD PEDAL DURING FIRST 3-5 MINUTES FAILS TO STOP CAR DURING THIS PERIOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247331October 31, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
MY 2008 CHEVY HHR SS BRAKES DO NOT HAVE POWER ASSIST ON A COLD START. AFTER THIRTY SECONDS OR MORE THE BRAKES WORK FINE. UNLESS I WAIT FOR THE BRAKES TO WARM UP THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BRAKE POWER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A NORMAL MANNER. IT SEEMS TO TAKE TWICE AS LONG TO STOP. WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND VIBRATES. GM SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IS DOES NOT POSE A SAFETY ISSUE. I DISAGREE, IF A DRIVE NEGLECTS TO LET THE BRAKES "WARM UP" HE OR SHE COULD POTENTIALLY RUN A CHILD OVER OR JUST NOT STOP IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS ONLY AN ISSUE ON THE SS MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247387October 31, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AFTER CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR ANY EXTENDED TIME (OVERNIGHT, ETC..) BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE, AND THERE HAVE BEEN 3 BARELY AVOIDED ACCIDENTS. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE GM DISALLOWED ANY FURTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN DUE TO THEIR TECHNICAL BULLETIN SAYING THAT THE DEFECT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245654October 16, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE A 2008 HHR SS WITH THE 2.0L TURBO ENGINE THAT IN MY OPINION HAS A SEVERE BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR STARTS UP AFTER BEING LEFT OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKES DO NOT APPLY PRESSURE PROPERLY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. MOST TIMES THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY AS THE CAR WARMS UP AND IS BEING DRIVEN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY PROGRAMMED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER AND TOLD ME THAT WAS THE FIX. THEY DESCRIBED THE FIX AS ADJUSTING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF PRESSURE. THIS ONLY HELPED SLIGHTLY AND NOW WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD IF I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES I CAN FEEL THE ABS PULSATING AND EVEN WITH FULL PRESSURE APPLIED THE CAR JERKS WHEN STOPPED AND EVEN INCHES FORWARD WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS UNTIL THE CAR HAS WARMED UP FOR AT LEAST A FEW MINUTES. I DO NOT THINK THE "FIX" OF PROGRAMMING THE VEHICLES COMPUTER IS ADEQUATE AND WHEN I CALLED BACK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP APPLIED THEIR FIX THEY TOLD ME THAT IS ALL THEY CAN DO. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY REPORTED ISSUES OF DRIVERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS SO IT APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD ENOUGH TO CONSTITUTE A PERMANENT FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243872September 29, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT MAXIMUM PRESSURE NEEDED TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE SPEED AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,198.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243481September 25, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CAR HAS HARDLY ANY BRAKES IN THE MORNINGS OR AFTER IT HAS SIT FOR A WHILE. THEY WORK FINE AFTER DRIVING FOR A BIT. THIS IS UNSAFE. WE'VE ALMOST SLID OUT INTO THE STREET BACKING DOWN OUR STEEP DRIVEWAY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED BRAKE CONTROL MODULE, SECOND TIME THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION, I ABOUT BLEW A GASKET, IS IT NORMAL FOR YOUR BRAKES NOT TO WORK PROPERLY? I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242931September 19, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY HHR SS TURBO WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IT HAS ONLY ABOUT 1400 MILES ON IT, AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES. AFTER SITTING FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, LIKE OVERNIGHT OR WHILE AT WORK FOR 12 HOURS WHEN I FIRST GET INTO THE CAR THE BRAKES DON'T WORK. THEY ARE VERY HARD AND HAVE TO BE PUMPED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WORK. I DONE MY RESEARCH AND CHEVY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DON'T HAVE THE FIX AVAILABLE YET. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I'LL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. HOPEFULLY I WON'T GET IN A WRECK BECAUSE OF IT. THE DEALERSHIP IS MAKING ME BRING THE RENT A CAR BACK AND MAKING ME DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240195August 29, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY NEW 2008 CHEVROLET HHR/SS. WHEN FIRST APPLYING BRAKES AFTER INITIAL START-UP AND AFTER SITTING LONG ENOUGH FOR VACUUM TO LEAK DOWN. THERE IS AN INCREASED EFFORT TO APPLY AND TRAVEL OF PEDAL IS ALSO INCREASED. PEDAL IS SPONGY AND BOOSTER IS INOPERATIVE UNTIL VACUUM IS RESTORED BY REVVING ENGINE OR DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TURBO AND VACUUM/BOOST GAUGE. THE INITIAL VACUUM IS DROPPED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS PROBLEM TWICE, LEFT OVERNIGHT BOTH TIMES, AND DUPLICATED BOTH TIMES. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER PER SERVICE LETTER. THE SECOND TIME THEY SUPPOSEDLY ORDERED A MASTERCYLINDER BUT STILL NO PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED, PROBABLY NOT EVEN EXAMINED! NOW THEY TELL ME THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION AND I TELL THEM IT'S NOT! THE DEALER SERVICE MGR. HAS TOLD ME THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS BUT HAVE NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. HE BLAMES IT ON THE TURBO! IT IS SURELY A VACUUM LEAK OR BOOSTER PROBLEM YET THEY SEEM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND! I HAVE BEEN A MECHANIC FOR 30+ YEARS AND I KNOW THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! THE DEALER DOESN'T EVEN WANT ME TO BRING IT BACK IN AS THEY SAY "IT CANNOT BE FIXED, IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM!" *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239738August 26, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN YOU START OUR NEW CHEVROLET HHR SS COLD AND DRIVE OFF TO QUICKLY THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK HARD AND WON'T STOP THE CAR VERY WELL. ISSUE GOES AWAY ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARMED UP. DEALER SAYS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR AND I SAY NO WAY.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239766August 26, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE A 2008 HHR SS, THAT HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM WHEN FIRST STARTED OR HAS SET FOR APPROX. 8 HOURS. I HAVE ALMOST RAN OUT OF OUR PARKING LOT INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECM. PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE SECOND TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FACTORY SAYS THIS IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 2.0 ENGINE AND TURBO. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A COPY OF SERVICE BULLETIN AND AT THE END ,IT STATES (DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS FOR WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION OF THE OHB). BULLETIN NUMBER IS 07-05-22-002. THE SECOND BULLETIN NUMBER GIVE TO ME BY THE DEALERSHIP IS 08-05-22-001. THE FOLLOWING OPTIMIZED HYDRAULIC BRAKE (OHB) #1-RATCHET SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM DURING OHB ACTIVATION. #2-BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT OR PULSATION WHEN OHB IS ACTIVE. #3-INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT UNDER LOW BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM. #4-CHANGE IN BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT WHEN OHB IS ACTIVE. #5-FREQUENT BRAKE STOPS MAY RESULT IN OHB ACTIVATION. #6-HIGH ALTITUDE DRIVING MAY RESULT IN OHB ACTIVATION. THE WAY I READ ALL THIS IS WHEN OHB ACTIVATES, YOU MAY HAVE BRAKING PROBLEMS. I HAVE TALKED TO TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALL I COULD GET OUT OF THEM WAS (THIS IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HHR WITH TURBO). THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED GM AND THEY SAY THE SAME THING AND THERE IS NOT A CURE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS NORMAL FOR THE TURBO MODELS. I GUESS WHEN A FEW PEOPLE GETS KILLED THEY MAY TRY TO FIND A FIX. MY VEHICLE NOW HAS LESS THAN 3000 MILES AND I NOTICED THE PROBLEM AROUND 100 OR SO MILES. I HAVE OWNED 25 GM VEHICLES IN MY DAYS AND THIS IS THE FIRST HAVING NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR NOT STOPPING. IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY KILL SOMEONE, HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS TO THE POLICE, WHEN THE POLICE GETS IN THE CAR AND THE OHB IS NOT ACTIVATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS NORMAL, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE AND MAY NEVER PROVE AT THAT TIME THE BRAKES HONESTLY DID FAIL. IF GM CAN,T FIX THE PROBLEM THEY SHOULD BUY THE CARS BACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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