2006 Chevrolet HHR Complaint Log

IN APRIL 2007 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS A BAD SENSOR AND CHANGED IT. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS EVERY TIME THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED. PROBLEM PERSISTED AGAIN IN JAN 08 CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER AGAIN 5TH TIME FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THIS TIME I WAS ADVISED WHEN DOING THE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK THEY GOT A CODE FOR A MISS. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS CODE TO COME UP. THE DEALER CONTACTED CHEVY'S TECHNICAL HELP DEPT AND DID A THOROUGH DIAGNOSTIC CHECK TO FIND OUT THAT THE MISS WAS CAUSED BY ONE OF THE HEADS GOING BAD...... THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 15,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR HAD TO BE PULLED AND REPAIRED. MY CAR RAN GREAT FOR A WHILE AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. NOW 3 MONTHS LATER AND 19,300 MILES ON THE CAR IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN! I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF THE 4 OTHER CHEVY'S I HAVE HAD. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND A DANGER TO DRIVE. *TR

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.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HHR AND IT HAS BEEN A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR UNTIL NOW. I HAVE PURCHASED MANY NEW CARS AND IN TWO YEARS AND LESS THAN 50,000 MILES I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY EXHAUST PROBLEMS. WHY HAVE THE METAL SPIRAL TUBING EXHAUST PIPE THAT COME FROM THE MANIFOLD TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAVE CRACKED. THE METAL SPIRAL TUBING APPEARS TO BE IN MINT CONDITION, BUT FOR SOME IRONIC REASON IT HAS A BREAK IN ONE OF THE SPIRALS CAUSING IT TO HAVE AN EXHAUST LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A MUFFLER SHOP AND THE GENTLEMEN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT HE HAS BEEN DOING EXHAUST SYSTEMS FOR YEARS AND HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT HAS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. I WOULD ATTACH PICTURES , BUT YOU DON'T HAVE AN ATTACHMENT OPTION AVAILABLE. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE GEAR MECHANISM FAILED. HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THIS FAILURE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR ON ITS ON WITH OR WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 39000.****

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILED. THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN AND THE DOOR HAD TO BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE HANDLE, THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW INTERIOR DOOR FRAME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO PRIOR FAILURES WITH THE DOOR OR HANDLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,485. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF UPDATED 01/17/08 *TR

BRAKES DEFECTIVE HAVE 65,000 MILES ON 06 UNIT AND BRAKES AND / OR ROTORS WORKED ON 5 SEPARATE TIMES BRAKES WORKED ON JAN 07, MAY 07, JULY 07, OCT 07 AND JAN 08. *TR

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OUR HHR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED JUST AFTER PURCHASING IT, WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IT OUT ON A HIGHWAY FOR A FIRST TIME OUTING WITH IT, WHEN I NOTICED THE FRONT WHEELS SEEMED TO BE FLOATING BACK AND FORTH. I SLOWED DOWN AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT HOME. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL DEALER, AND HAD THE CAR BROUGHT IN TO BE CHECKED OUT. WE WERE TOLD THE FRONT BUSHINGS WERE BAD & NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUSHINGS. (UNDER WARRANTY) IN SEPTEMBER OF 2007, WE HAD TO REPLACE OUR CARS REMOTE CONTROL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY 1 YEARS OLD. OUR DEALER REPLACED IT BUT WE HAD TO PAY $81.82 OUT OF OUR POCKET. OCTOBER 2007, I BROUGHT OUR CAR INTO OUR DEALER BECAUSE IT HAD A ROUGH RIDE AND GROANING SOUNDS. THE DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THEY REPLACED OUR STEERING COLUMN UNDER WARRANTY. DECEMBER OF 2007 MY WIFE, MOTHER & I WENT TO A CHRISTMAS LIGHT PARADE IN OUR TOWN; WHEN WE GOT HOME I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION & WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY, IT WOULD NOT COME OUT. THAT MONDAY I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER & THEY HAD US BRING IN THE CAR ON 12/3/07. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE INTER LOCK2 AND A FUSE HAD BROWN. THEY FOUND THAT A WIRE HARNESS WAS PINCHED UNDER THE COLUMN COVER & REPAIRED THE HARNESS (UNDER WARRANTY) JANUARY 29,2008 I BROUGHT OUR 2006 HHR INTO OUR DEALER AGAIN COMPLAINING ABOUT SQUEAKING AND POPPING NOISE WITH CLUNKING IN LEFT FRONT. THEY SAID THEY HEARD NOISE FROM STABILIZER LINKS PIVOT JOINT AT LINK TIRES MISS-MATCHED. THEY REPLACED BOTH STABILIZERS LINKS UNDER WARRANTY. CONTINUED ON NEXT REPORT *JS

A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE HAS BEEN NOTICEABLE UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS PREVIOUS. IN ROUTE TO BILLINGS, MT. WE HEARD A THUD AND CAR BECAME HARD TO STEER, HIT THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. WHEN STOPPED THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. WE DISCOVERED THE REAR BLOT ON THE BRAKE CALIPER ON THE WHEEL HAD FALLEN OUT. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OF THE ROAD AS THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, HOWEVER ONCE THE CAR WAS STOPPED I COULD NOT GO FORWARD DUE TO THE BRAKE CALIPER BEING LOCKED INTO THE RIGHT WHEEL. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE GMC DEALERSHIP IN POWELL, WY WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BOLT AND REPAIRED THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2006 CHEVY HHR I HAVE HAD THE SINCE NEW AND HAVE HAD THE RADIO REPLACED THREE TIMES (INCLUDING THE ONE THAT CAME WITH THE CAR) THE LAST TIME GM TRIED TO CHARGE ME FOR A NEW RADIO. I FEEL THEY KNOW THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IT AND WE (THE CONSUMER) SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER ONE FROM GM ON DEC 3, 2007 I WAS DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY I69 IN MICHIGAN WITH THE RADIO OFF. AS I WAS DRIVING THE RADIO SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD POP (OR WHAT I CALL AN EXPLOSION NOISE) THE NOISE IS SO LOUD IT CAN HURT YOUR EARS. THE NOISE STARTLED ME SO MUCH I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. SINCE GM KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, TELLS ME THERE ARE PLENTY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I DOUBT GM WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT MAKES THEM . THANK YOU *TR

THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY AND AGAIN IN THE PAST WEEK FOR THE 4TH TIME MY 2006 CHEVROLET HHR HAS BEEN TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM-- WHICH I BELIEVE IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND WHICH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN NOT IDENTIFY. MY 2006 HHR HAS THE PROPENSITY TO "TURN ITSELF OFF" WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON ROADS OR HIGHWAYS. THIS TENDS TO OCCUR WHEN CROSSING OVER SMALL POTHOLES, BUMPS OR JOINTS IN THE ROAD. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THAT THE AUTO WAS TAKEN IN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID NO PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED. THE THIRD TIME, IN DECEMBER 2006, THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH A "GROUND" WIRE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER IN THE PAST MONTHS INTERMITTENTLY THE CAR HAS AGAIN HAD EPISODES OF "TURNING ITSELF OFF" AND THESE EPISODES HAVE BEEN INCREASING IN FREQUENCY AND HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY SCARY. ON 11/22/07 WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON DIVIDED SUPERHIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS 55-65 MPH, APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES AFTER CROSSING OVER JOINTS IN THE ROADWAY OR SMALL POTHOLES OR BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE CAR TOTALLY TURNED ITSELF OFF. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO FAIL WITH HEADLIGHTS AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS GOING OFF, RADIO GOING OFF, AND ENGINE TURNING OFF COMPLETELY). LUCKILY NO ONE CRASHED INTO THE CAR WHILE IT HAD TURNED ITSELF OFF ON THE BUSY SUPERHIGHWAY-- EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS STILL GLIDING FORWARD ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT POWER. THE CAR WAS TAKEN 11/23/07 AGAIN (FOR THE 4 THE TIME IN THE PAST 2 YEARS) TO FITZGERALD AUTO MALL IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND TO TRY TO HAVE THEM FIX THE PROBLEM. TODAY THE SERVICE MANAGER REPORTED NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR COULD BE IDENTIFIED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE IT UNPREDICTABLY TURNS ITSELF OFF. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME AS YET UNIDENTIFIED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THIS VEHICLE, AND IT IS JUST A MIRACLE THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET. *TR

I'VE HAD CHRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES, ROTORS, ALIGNMENT AND TIRES ON THE FRONT END OF MY 06 CHEVY HHR. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 2000 MILES AND 12000 MILES AND EACH TIME THEY HAD TO TURN THE ROTORS AND IT SEEMED TO TEMPORARILY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOW I'M AT 29000 MILES, THE PROBLEM HAS STARTED AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I'VE OWNED MANY NEW VEHICLES IN MY LIFE SINCE MY FATHER IS RETIRED FROM GENERAL MOTORS, AND I'VE NEVER EVER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES OR HAVE THE ROTORS TURNED FOR THAT MATTER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TELLING ME THAT THE PROBLEM IS A RESULT OF MY DRIVING HABITS AND FAILURE TO SERVICE THE CALIPERS. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY FOR THIS AND OTHER CHRONIC PROBLEMS AND THEY'VE NEVER MENTION THAT THE CALIPERS NEED ANY SERVICING. ADDITIONALLY, I'M 40 YEARS OLD AND THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND NOT MUCH MORE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, SINCE MY LAST TIRE ROTATION THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAS BECOME ALMOST COMPLETELY BALD. THIS IS BIZARRE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN VIGILANT ABOUT ROTATING MY TIRES EVERY 6000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AT THEIR COST, BUT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE COVERED AND REPAIRED 100% AT GMS EXPENSE. IT'S A RESULT OF POOR DESIGN. THEY NEED TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND PAY FOR THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. *JB

BOLT FELL OUT OF THE LOWER RIGHT STEERING ARM, CAUSING THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO MOVE BACKWARD UPON BRAKING AND FORWARD ON ACCELERATION. *TR

I AM LEASING A 2006 CHEVY HHR. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN WE HIT A POT HOLE AND MY CAR DIED AT 70MPH! MY HUSBAND STEVE PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION AND WE CARRIED ON. VERY SCARY AS YOU LOSE YOUR POWER IN STEERING, ETC... I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THAT DAY AND TOOK IT FOR A LOOK OVER. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE CAR SEEMED FINE SO THERE WAS NO MORE THEY COULD DO? ON A RECENT TRIP TO KY WE AGAIN HIT A POT HOLE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND AGAIN MY CAR DIED. WE WERE ABLE TO RESTART IT AND CARRIED ON. I BELONG TO A WEBSITE THAT IS FOR HHR OWNERS AND I SOON DISCOVERED I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT HITTING A POT HOLE OR BUMP OF ANY KIND!! A MAN WHO HAD THIS HAPPEN SAID WHEN HE HIT THE POT HOLE AND HIS CAR DIED HE NOTICED WHEN HE WENT TO RESTART THE CAR THAT HIS KEY HAS SLIPPED TO THE "ACC" POSITION. HE SUGGESTED WE TEST OUR KEYS BY PUTTING THEM IN THE IGNITION AND PLAYING AROUND WITH THEM. I WAS INTERESTED IN TRYING THIS AS THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE! I STARTED MY CAR AND TO MY HORROR DISCOVERED THAT WITH NO PRESSURE I CAN TURN MY CAR OFF. I ONLY HAVE 4 KEYS AND MY REMOTE ON MY KEY RING SO IT IS NOT DUE TO WEIGHT OF MY KEYRING. I CAN GRAB MY HANGING REMOTE, AND OTHER KEYS (I ONLY HELD ONE KEY) AND WITH NO PRESSURE I CAN TURN MY CAR OFF. I AM CALLING MY DEALERSHIP FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING B/C I WANT A KEY CYLINDER IN PLACE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MY KEY TO TURN WITH BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SINCE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE I AM WONDERING WHY NO LETTERS ARE BEING SENT. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY A FAILURE ON DESIGN AND OR FAULTY PARTS WHICH IS A LIABILITY IF AND WHEN IT CAUSES DEATH AND OR SERIOUS INJURY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SO THAT THIS MATTER FOR ALL OWNERS WITH THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED. SINCERELY, STEPHANIE ROGERS *TR

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LEFT & RIGHT WHEN STOPPING SPEED 40 MILES PER HOUR AND UP. THE 1ST TIME THE HHR WAS IN FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS 3 MONTHS AGO 15,550 MILES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY THING THAT IT COULD BE THE ROAD AS I WAS DRIVING ON. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AT 17,500 THIS TIME IT WAS THE ROTORS WHERE WARPED. DEALER MACHINED THE ROTORS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTX, SIZE 215/50R17 TIRES. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TUBELESS TIRE HAS TREAD SEPARATION AND LOOKS AS IF IT WERE SLICED DOWN THE CENTER. THE SEPARATION BEGAN IN ONE PLACE ON THE TIRE, BUT IS CURRENTLY IN FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER OR THE PLACE WHERE HE PURCHASED THE TIRES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD OCCASIONALLY STICK OR SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE NEW PART HAS BEEN ORDERED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP @ APPROX 27,000MI AND TOLD ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. MANAGER SAID THEY WERE WARPED DUE TO "DRIVING HABITS", BRAKES GETTING WET-THEN USED, AND/OR HARD STOPS. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN THE CASE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'VE DRIVEN FOR A COMPARABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR

WHILE SITTING AT A PIZZA HUT DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR

THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE GAUGE CONSISTENTLY "STICKY" OR READS INACCURATE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. ONLY AFTER DRIVING AN AVERAGE OF 45MPH FOR AT LEAST 3 OR 4 MINUTES WILL THE GAUGE UPDATE. TYPICAL CITY DRIVING NEVER ALLOWS FOR THE 45MPH AVERAGE AND THUS GAUGE CONTINUALLY STICKS AT THE MORNING COLDER TEMPERATURE. ONLY AFTER 2 HOURS WILL THE GAUGE UPDATE PROPERLY SO IF RUNNING ERRANDS LESS THAN 2 HOURS AND NOT DRIVING FREEWAY THE GAUGE NEVER UPDATES AND STICKS AT THE LOW MORNING TEMPERATURE. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES SOME THAT WERE FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY SOME THAT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND NOW THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM WONT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE ISSUES CAUSE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY MOST OF MY PROBLEMS I'VE NOTICED AND PAID FOR TO BE FIXED OUT OF MY POCKET HAVE SERVICE BULLETINS ON BUT YET THE DEALER JUST KEEPS TELLING ME IM OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO I UNDERSTAND BEING OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IF THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES THE SAME MAKE AN MODEL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WHY CANT MINE BE FIXED BY GM SEEING AS WHICH IM NOT THE ONLY ONE. MY COMPANY JUST BOUGHT AN HHR THAT HAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 6,000 MILES ON IT AND ITS HAVING ALOT OF THE SAME PROBLEMS MINE IS. I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS FOR SOME TIME NOW AND AM JUST GETTING AGGRAVATED PUTTING SO MUCH MONEY INTO REPAIRS ON A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD AND ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THEN SEEING THAT THERE ARE SERVICE BULLETINS ON MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEMS. IM LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE SITTING IN A PIZZA HUT DRIVER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING. SHE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING SHORT CIRCUITED IN THE STEERING HARNESS AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

DRIVING HOME FROM OUT OF STATE, APPLIED BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY, WITH REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. TOOK TO DEALER, DIAGNOSED WARPED ROTORS. THE SAME PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED THREE MONTHS EARLIER, AT 20,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS 24,000 MILES. ROTORS WERE RESURFACED BOTH TIMES. *JB

WE HAVE A CHEVY HHR '06. HAD IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES. MY WIFE THEN BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED...INSTEAD OF PUTTING NEW ROTORS ON THEY RESURFACED THE EXISTING ONES...PROBABLY CHEAPER TO WARRANTY. WE'LL, 2-3 MONTHS LATER THE CAR IS SHAKING AGAIN AND NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE&MODEL. GM NEEDS TO HAVE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL FOR THE 2006 CHEVY HHR SO THEY CAN FIX THE ROTOR PROBLEM. ME AND MY FAMILY WOULD FEEL SAFER ON THE ROAD. *TR

THE KEY FOB BATTERY HOLDER BECAME DETACHED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE LOCK/UNLOCK/REMOTE START/PANIC BUTTONS TO WORK. THIS HAPPENED TO BOTH KEY FOBS ISSUED TO ME BY GM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. ADDITIONALLY, THE KEY COULD NOT TURNOVER IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE IGNITION HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10000.

CAR HAS DIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 5 DIFFERENT TIMES, AND SERVICE TECH'S CAN'T DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM, NOR CAN THEY DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO I'M STUCK TO DRIVE A CAR THAT IS NOT SAFE, DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, EVEN ON INTERSTATE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH, THE ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALLOWED THE CONTACT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST TOTAL POWER. HE NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS AND AAA TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT THIS MAY OCCUR IF ONE WERE TO DRIVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER. IT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY STALL AND CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO COLLECT WATER AND MOISTURE. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO DRIVE AROUND IN ORDER TO DRY OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 02-06-08. *KB

I BOUGHT THE 2006 HHR IN MARCH 2007, IN JULY I HAD THE STABILIZER LINKS REPLACED, THEN IN DECEMBER I HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED, IN OCTOBER 2008 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED & NOW A WEEK LATER I HAVE TO HAVE THE STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED. NOT ONLY THAT, I HAD A LEAK FROM THE HEATER CASE THAT LEAKED INTO MY PASSENGER SIDE, I HAD THE RADIO REPLACED & ALSO MY FRONT & BACK BUMPER IS LOOSE WHICH THE DEALER TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT IS PROBABLY CLIPS THAT HAVE BROKEN OFF. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I LIVE IN MICHIGAN, THAT THE STRUTS WENT BAD SOONER THAN ANTICIPATED. ALSO, ALTHOUGH I HAD A CAR FAX REPORT ON THIS CAR, THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT NO ONE KNEW ABOUT. I AM NOT VERY PLEASED WITH THIS CAR & ITS A SHAME TO MAKE A CAR PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT I DON'T EVEN LIKE ANYMORE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD GIVE ME $9000.0 AS TRADE IN, BUT I HAD 13000 ON IT, SO HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF A CAR THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE RECALLED? I HAVE BEEN CHECKING INTO THE LEMON LAW & I UNDERSTAND AS LONG AS YOU PURCHASE THE USED CAR WITH THE FACTORY WARRANTY STILL ACTIVE, IT'S COVERED UNDER THE LEMON LAW. BUT SINCE THE DEALER WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I DOUBT GM WILL. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE ELECTION, FOR THE ECONOMY TO GET BETTER, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY WILL REASONABLY GET ME OUT FROM UNDER THIS JUNK OF A CAR! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. AT LESS THAN 25,000 MILES, THE BRAKES WOULD OCCASIONALLY ROLL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ROTORS DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THAT TIME, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP AN EYE OUT. CURRENTLY, THE FAILURE HAS WORSENED AND THE CONTACT HAS SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE DEALER. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS, WHICH INDICATE HOW MANY MILES THE VEHICLE HAS OR HOW MUCH OIL IS REMAINING, ILLUMINATE ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER COULD NOT BE ENGAGED INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT END WAS REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

PURCHASED 2006 HHR NEW IN 07/06. IN 06/07 STARTED THE CAR AND THE ELECTRONIC ODOMETER, THE SPEEDOMETER, THE TACHOMETER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, OIL PRESSURE ALL WERE NOT REGISTERING. NOTHING. PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE CAR. STARTED AND NOTHING. TURNED OFF THE CAR AN ADDITIONAL TIME AND ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES STARTED WORKING. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP/SERVICE. COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE HAD IN THE SHOP ON 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME REASON. IT ADDITIONALLY WILL CAUSE THE DIGITAL CLOCK ON THE RADIO TO GO OUT/FLASH, THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO FLASH. THEY HAVE REPLACED TWO ELECTRONIC PARTS, ONE OF THEM BEING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. AROUND THANKSGIVING OF 2008 I HAD STARTED MY CAR AND ALL THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES AGAIN WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE GENERAL MANAGER WAS ABLE TO VERIFY THAT THIS WAS OCCURRING. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 10 DAYS AND REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC PART. THE CAR STILL DOES THE SAME THING. NO RHYME NO REASON. AT NIGHT YOU CAN OPEN A DOOR, CLOSE IT AND SEE LIGHTS IN THE RADIO RANDOMLY FLASHING. I AM CONCERNED AND AWAITING THE DAY THAT THE CAR JUST DIES WHILE DRIVING IT. THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE THE ISSUE AND TOLD ME THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS TYPE. *TR

WHEN THE CAR GET TO 60-65MPH THE STEERING WHEEL START TO VIBRATE VERY BADLY. *TR

AIRBAG PASSENGER SIDE INDICATOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONING CONSTANTLY ( OFF-ON) WHILE OCCUPIED. *TR

MY SHIFTING LEVER WENT OUT IN MY CAR, THE REASON WHY I THINK ITS A DEFECT.IS BECAUSE ONE OF MY NEIHBORS BOUGHT THE SAME EXACT CAR I HAVE AND HERS WENT OUT 2 WEEKS AGO. THEN I WENT ONLINE AND THERE ARE BULITENS PEOPLE HAVE WROTE ABOUT THERES GOING OUT. 2006 CHEVY HHR

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

2006 , CHEVROLET, HHR STEERING STARTED TO FAIL, DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL WAS DISCONNECTED FROM HOUSING, RESULTING IN HITTING INTO CURB. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (495 BELTWAY NEAR WASHINGTON, DC) DURING RUSH HOUR MY DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATING A COOLANT PROBLEM CAME ON. I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL OF THE COOLANT HAD RUN OUT OF MY CAR AND IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE WITHOUT RISKING DAMAGE. I DID DRIVE IT WITH THE TEMPERATURE READING OVER 300 DEGREES UNTIL THE GAUGE FAILED SO THAT I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUAL STATED THAT THERE WAS A RISK OF FIRE IF YOU DRIVE THE CAR WITH THE RED INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT ON, BUT I HAD NO CHOICE TO GET MY CAR AWAY FROM HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TO THE DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE CAR'S RADIATOR AND CONDENSER ARE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND MUST BE REPLACED. I DID NOT DRIVE OVER ANYTHING OR FEEL ANYTHING COLLIDE WITH MY CAR. I WAS SIMPLY DRIVING WHEN THE WARNING SIGNAL SOUNDED AND THE RED INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER SAY THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT IN THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO INDICATE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR. THERE IS NO PROTECTIVE PLATE UNDER THE RADIATOR TO PREVENT ROCKS OR ROAD DEBRIS FROM COMING UP AS A PROJECTILE AND DAMAGING IT. I HAVE ASKED THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THE CAR AND INSTALL SOME KIND OF PROTECTIVE PLATE, BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR THAT IS AT SUCH RISK FOR RADIATOR DAMAGE DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 20. MY SIX MONTH OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR. THE DASH READ, ENGINE POWER REDUCED.*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT AT 5MPH. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 24,000. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH OVER A HOLE OR DIP IN THE ROAD, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE STALLING OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED ONCE IT SHUT OFF. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OR THE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE CAM SENSOR, WHEELS, A BROKEN HUB BEARING, BENT ROTORS AND AN ISSUE WITH REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, DUE TO THE SHIFT CABLE NOT STAYING SECURED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE INSIDE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE BACK WOULD NOT STAY SECURED. UPDATED 06/25/08

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS EXCITING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE INTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE DETACHED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT INSIDE DOOR ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH BOTH SIDE FRONT ROTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V046000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

LAST NIGHT, IT WAS A BIT WINDY HERE IN NEW YORK CITY. THE WEATHER REPORT SAID THAT THE WIND WAS ABOUT 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH. WELL, I HAD MADE A FEW STOPS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, BUT WHEN I GOT HOME, I OPENED THE DOOR, AND AS IS STARTED TO OPEN, THE WIND PULLED THE DOOR OUT OF MY HAND, AND THINGS HAPPENED SO FAST ... I HEARD A BANG, AND THE DOOR FLEW OPEN ... I'D SAY ... ALMOST 180 DEGREES, WHICH SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE. THE DOOR THEN CAME BACK AND STAYED OPEN ABOUT 16 TO 18 INCHES. I COULD NOT CLOSE THE DOOR. I PULLED AND PULLED, AND IT CLOSED. NOW, IT ONLY OPENS 16 TO 18 INCHES, AND I HAVE TO SQUEEZE OUT. THE CAR HAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND THE DOOR. AND, I DON'T KNOW HOW BADLY THE INTERNAL PARTS OF THE DOOR ARE. THE QUARTER PANEL IS STICKING OUT ABOUT 4 INCHES, AND THE DOOR IS RUBBING AGAINST IT VERY HARD, WHICH IS WHY I CAN ONLY OPEN THE DOOR A LITTLE BIT. I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON ASSESSING DAMAGE, BUT I DID CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY THIS EVENING TO FILE A CLAIM. (MY GUESS IS THAT I'M LOOKING AT ALMOST $2,000 IN DAMAGE ... BUT I'LL POST AN UPDATE WHEN I GET THE 'ESTIMATE'). I TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE DOOR HINGES MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE, OR LOOSE, OR SOMETHING. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAR, ITS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO SEE IT, TO BELIEVE IT. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING, AND NOTHING HIT ME. WHEN YOU SEE IT, ALL YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SAY IS "HOW COULD THAT HAVE HAPPENED"? HAS ANYBODY HAD ANYTHING REMOTELY SIMILAR TO THIS? I WANT TO KNOW IF THE VEHICLE IS POORLY CONSTRUCTED, OR IF THE DOOR HINGES ARE INFERIOR, WEAK, BAD, LOOSE, OR WHATEVER! *JB

IN FEBRUARY 2007 I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTHBOUND NEAR WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. SOMEONE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM AND ON RAMP PULLED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES ON THE HHR, THE CAR PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE MORE I BRAKED, THE MORE THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I ENDED UP DRIVING ACROSS TWO LANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE TRAFFIC AND I HIT A VAN HEAD ON. NO ONE WAS INJURED BUT MY HHR WAS TOTALED. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKES ON THE HHR WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE WAY THEY PULLED TO ONE SIDE INSTEAD OF STOPPING STRAIGHT CAUSED ME TO CRASH. I REPORTED THIS TO CHEVROLET AFTER THE CRASH BUT NOTHING WAS DONE AS FAR A A RECALL OR ANYTHING. IN FACT, I READ ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN THE 2006 HHR WAS RECEIVED ON EDMONDS.COM. THE AUTHOR OF THE REVIEW EXPRESSED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE HHR'S BRAKING WAS DANGEROUS. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY HHR, I LOVE IT BUT, IT HAS ISSUES 1ST I BOUGHT IT USED 15,000 MILES. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD 1. THE REAR LOGO REPLACED 4 TIMES, THEN, 2.THE KEY GET STUCK WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR SO I USED THE PLUNGER AND 3. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVES WHEN THE CAR IS OFF OR ON. NOW, 4. THE KEY WON'T TURN TO START THE CAR I HAVE TO JIGGLE IT TILL IT WORKS. 5. MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT RANDOMLY, WHILE DRIVING IT SO I CAN'T TURN THE 6.-,7.-, AND 8.3 RECALLS, THEN, 9. THE WHEELS SHAKES AT 60 MPH, I HAVE 10. AND 11. REPLACED BOTH FRONT DOOR HANDLES WITH IN 2 WEEKS 12. I HEAR A LOUD CRACKLING OR STATIC SOUND FROM MY SPEAKERS AND THE RADIO IS OFF. OH AND 13. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WON'T GO OFF PLUS 14. EVERY TIME I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BATTERY I HAVE TO GET MY REMOTE REPROGRAMMED FOR THE AUTO START... IT CAME WITH THE CAR. WHAT IS GOING ON? THERE ARE 14 ISSUES SOME SAFETY AND SOME COSMETIC BUT, CLEARLY AN ISSUE I AM ONLY MAKING MY VOICE HEARD BECAUSE I JUST STARTED RESEARCHING MY CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THE MAJOR IGNITION OR GEAR SHIFT, TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL CAR SHAKING THESE HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN A LOT OF HHRS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A MISTY DAY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BEGAN PUMPING THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN MOTION. THE CONTACT VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED AUTOMATICALLY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER FILED THE ROTORS DOWN AND TURNED THEM. THE CONTACT HAS POSSESSION OF ALL REPAIR ORDERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.*AK THE ROTORS WERE SURFACED. UPDATED 05/04/07. *JB

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

THE CAR HAS HAD THE A/C FAN MOTOR REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES, EACH TIME IT WAS DAMAGED BY A WATER LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED MOTOR ONCE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND/FIX THE LEAK. THIS WAS A LIE BECAUSE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BUTYL PATCH, EASILY FOUND IN THE MOST BASIC INTERNET SEARCH. THE DOOR HANDLES ARE MADE OF THE CHEAPEST PLASTIC, DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. THERE IS WATER LEAKING INTO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD WITH NO CAUSE YET FOUND. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NOT COMPLETELY FIXING THE LEAK PROBLEM DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THEN CHARGING ME TO FIX IT AGAIN AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. NOW I CAN'T EVEN GET THEM TO RETURN MY PHONE CALLS REGARDING THE RECALL REPAIRS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO. *TR