Chevrolet HHR Complaints (2006)

1,006 consumer complaints on file.

#10320551March 17, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY GETS STUCK / CAN NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY. IF YOU CAN NOT REMOVE THE KEY WITHIN AN HOUR, YOUR BATTERY WILL BE DEPLETED. THERE IS AN ACTUATING ROD IN THE SHIFTER THAT PUSHES A MICRO SWITCH THAT COMPLETES A CIRCUIT TO PULL A SOLENOID IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO ALLOW THE IGNITION SWITCH TO BE TUNED TO THE OFF POSITION (AND REMOVE THE KEY) WHEN IN PARK. THE PLASTIC PART IN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY BREAKS AND ALLOWS THE ACTUATING ROD TO FALL OUT. THE FIX FOR THIS IS TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. $185 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. THE QUICK FIX FOR THIS IS THERE IS A PLASTIC PLUG ON THE UNDER SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. INSIDE YOU HAVE TO FEEL FOR THE END OF THAT SOLENOID AND DEPRESS IT TO RELEASE THE KEY. GM TSB #06-07-30-004F ACKNOWLEDGES THE COMMON OCCURRENCE OF THIS FAILURE FROM 2006 TO 2010 HHR, COBALT, AND PONTIAC G5 . ALTHOUGH, IF YOU ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, YOUR DEALER MAY BE RELUCTANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT COST. TIRES, BALL JOINTS, BRAKES, WHAT HAVE YOU, FAIL AND ARE, NO DOUBT, A COMMON OCCURRENCE. IF FACT THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED. BUT THE SHIFTER IN AN AUTOMATIC? I WOULD THINK THAT THE SHIFTER IN AN AUTOMATIC SHOULD LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. IMO, THEY INSTALLED A POORLY MADE PART. TO ME, THIS IS OBVIOUS SINCE THEY ARE STATING IN THAT TSB, 2006 - 2010 SHIFTER ARE EXPECTED TO FALL APART AS MINE DID. I HAVE A 1965 PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE, THE OLDEST CAR IN MY POSSESSION, THAT THE SHIFTER NEVER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. IN FACT I'VE NEVER HAD AN AUTOMATIC SHIFTER PROBLEM WITH ANY CAR. IT WAS STATED IN A FORUM THAT GM SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED A METAL COLLAR OR RING AROUND THE PLASTIC BIT THAT HOLDS THAT PIN TO REINFORCE IT AND THIS PROBLEM WOULD HAVE NEVER BECOME A NUISANCE. ALSO, WHEN THAT PIN FALLS OUT, THE SHIFT LEVER IS FREE TO MOVE WITHOUT PRESSING THE SHIFT BUTTON ON THE FRONT OF THE SHIFT LEVER, SO IT COULD ACCIDENTALLY BE MOVED TO ANOTHER GEAR WHILE DRIVING, EVEN REVERSE!! I GUESS THAT IS NOT ENOUGH OF A SAFETY ISSUE FOR GM TO WORRY ABOUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319915March 15, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE POWER STEERING WILL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT HAS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO RESUME FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT TIME OF COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,500. UPDATED 06/17/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL AT ANY SPEED, ANYTIME AND ANY PLACE. UPDATED 06/30/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317148March 5, 2010
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HEARD A CHIME AND NOTICED THE POWER STEERING CAME ON OUR CAR. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. WE CAN STILL TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT WAS JUST DIFFICULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10317221March 5, 2010
STEERING
CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING. 3 DEALERS TRIED TO REPAIR ON 18/MAY06, 26JAN09, 3MAR10, NOISE STILL THERE. WAITING ON PARTS THIS DATE FOR ANOTHER "FIX". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316036March 3, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE. 2006 CHEVROLET HHR POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE BEING DRIVEN. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING WILL REMEDY THE PROBLEM FOR THE TIME BEING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES. HHR SHARES SEVERAL COMPONENTS WITH THE CHEVROLET COBALT WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. WILL HHR BECOME PART OF THE RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316029March 3, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE DRIVER STATED THAT AS SHE DROVE THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STRUGGLED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315360March 2, 2010
STEERING
2006 CHEVY HHR.. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED SUDDENLY. MY CAR HAD ONLY 17,000 MILES ACCRUED. DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315362March 2, 2010
STEERING
WHY ISN'T THE HHR BEING RECALLED AS WELL AS THE COBALT, AS THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME STEERING COMPONENTS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315489March 2, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED OVER 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING ALARM WOULD CHIME THREE TIMES AND THE POWER STEERING WOULD FAIL IMMEDIATELY. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME EXTREMELY HARD AND THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE BOTH HANDS AND EXTREME BODILY FORCE TO CONTROL IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS SINCE THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,270.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315625March 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SHIFTER REFUSES TO GO FULLY INTO PARK RESULTING IN INABILITY TO REMOVE KEY FROM STEERING COLUMN. SHIFTER DOES NOT LOCK INTO GEAR AND CAN MOVE FREELY BETWEEN GEARS WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315834March 2, 2010
STEERING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR. EVERYTIME I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, I LESS THAN A MINUTE THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT. THE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AND CONSIDERING IT IS MY WIFE'S PRIMARY VEHICLE I WORRY ABOUT HER BECAUSE MY SON IN WITH HER OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315119March 1, 2010
STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF SO THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD RESET. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST COULD BE PERFORMED AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST $500 ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A 75,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE CHEVROLET MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314955February 28, 2010
STRUCTURE
EVERY TIME IT RAINS WATER POOLS ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314745February 27, 2010
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED ON A CHEVY HHR . NEARLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT WENT OUT AT 60MPH . TOOK TO DEALER AND PAID AROUND 1000. TO HAVE IT REPLACED. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 30 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314876February 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AND SOMETIMES WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS TO PULL OVER BEFORE IT SHUTS DOWN. SOMETIMES THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE WHOLE CAR STARTS SHAKING AS IF YOU POPPED THE CLUTCH TOO FAST, EXCEPT THIS CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC. I HAVE FOUND THROUGH TRAIL AND ERROR IF I START MESSING WITH THE COMPUTER BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CHANGES THE INFORMATION THAT IS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH BOARD IT WILL SOMETIMES RESET ITSELF AND ACT OKAY. OTHER TIMES I HAVE TO LET IT SIT FOR OVER 20 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL START UP AGAIN. THERE IS NO SET TIME THIS OCCURS, SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A DAY AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL GO A MONTH WITHOUT HAPPENING. IT SHUTS DOWN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. SOMETIMES I'M GOING 65 MILES AND HOUR AND OTHER TIMES I'M GOING 20 MPH. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T FIX IT UNTIL THEY REENACT THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR THEY COULD NOT REENACT THE PROBLEM, YET THEY SAID THEY CAN SEE THERE IS A PROBLEM WHEN THEY READ THE COMPUTER. I PAID $20,000 FOR THIS CAR AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I CAN'T DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY FOR FEAR IT WILL SHUT DOWN AGAIN. I HAVE TO TAKE THE BACK ROADS TO GET AROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314481February 26, 2010
STEERING
POWERING STEERING WENT OUT DURING RIGHT HAND TURN AT SLOW SPEED. MY WIFE DID NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE CAR INTO THE TURN. SHE STOPPED THE CAR AND I CHECKED MY MANUAL FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING,FINDING NONE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND POWER STEERING WORKED. TEST DRIVING FOR TWO MINUTES THE POWER STEERING WENT AGAIN. PROBLEM SEEMED TOO BE AFTER CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR AWHILE AND SYSTEM WAS USED LONGER. CAR WAS REPAIRED BY HAVING THE POWER STEERING MOTOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BY CHEVY DEALER SHIP. I STILL HAVE OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314484February 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2006 CHEVY HHR LS PERMANENT FAILURE. GEAR SHIFT STOPPED LOCKING. GEAR SHIFT MOVES FREELY INTO ANY POSITION WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. CAR MAY ROLL. WILL NOT RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312598February 22, 2010
STEERING
POWER STEERING FAILURE DURING OPERATION. VEHICLE CHIMES THEN "POWER STEERING" APPEARS ON DASHBOARD LCD. ALL POWER STEERING FAILS AT THIS POINT THOUGH IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON IT RE-ENGAGES FOR A SHORT TIME - THOUGH NO WARNING BEFORE IT CUTS OUT AGAIN. DEALER SAYS THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE EPS MOTOR (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) $450. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312011February 19, 2010
AIR BAGS, SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DECREASING SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED HIS VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD AFTER THE IMPACT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. HIS VEHICLE ALSO RICOCHETED INTO A HEAVY TRUCK AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 11,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311485February 17, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR THAT KEEPS STALLING OUT AND JERKS FORWARD. IT HAS JERKED SO HARD THAT I ONCE HIT SOMEONE IN THE REAR. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN NEVER SEEM TO FIND THE CAUSE. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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