2008 Chevrolet HHR Complaint Log

IGNITION LOCK ASSEMBLY FAILED AND CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF - KEY WAS STUCK IN THE "ON" POSITION. *TR

SO FAR IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE MY WIFE LEAVING WORK THE CAR STALLED. FIRST TIME HER SPEED WAS APROX. 40 MPH, 10 MINUTES INTO HER DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK THE 2008 CHEVY HHR TO THE DEALER IN CHINO CALIFORNIA ON FEB,26,2009 .THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS,AND COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. SECOND TIME HER SPEED WAS APROX, 35 MPH, 5 MINUTES INTO HER DRIVE. DATE JUNE 30,2009. BOTH TIMES SEE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AND BOTH TIMES THE CAR STARTED RIGHT AWAY WITH NO INDICATION OF TROUBLE. *TR

CAR WAS APPROX 4 MONTHS OLD AND BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING-TOOK INTO DEALER-THEY TURNED THE ROTORS-FIXED FOR ABOUT 2 WKS - ITS BACK AGAIN AND NOW WHEN I APPLY BRAKES THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I'VE TRIED TO ENTER SEVERAL TIMES - IT WILL NOT TAKE IT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS INSIDE THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE OPENED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON HAD TO BE PRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ORDER TO OPEN THE DOORS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,663. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BODY AND TRIM WERE DEFECTIVE, DUE TO THE DOOR LOCKS GETTING STUCK HALF WAY AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE, AS THE RADIO AND CD PLAYER WERE INOPERATIVE, AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. UPDATED 09/17/14

AFTER A SIDE COLLISION MY CAR ROLLED AND LANDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MY 2008 HHR LS HAS NO SIDE AIRBAGS, HOWEVER IT HAS DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS AND THESE DID NO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH MY CAR ALSO HAS SUBSTANTIAL FRONTAL DAMAGE FROM THE ROLL. *TR

VERY ROUGH FRONT END VIBRATION AND DIFFICULTY STEERING WHILE BRAKING DOWNHILL. THIS FIRST NOTICED AND NOTIFIED MY DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP CUT MY ROTORS "DUE TO WARPING". *TR

TWICE IN THE FIRST 30000 MILES A PULSATING FEELING IN THE BRAKE PEDDLE HAD DEVELOPED. THE DEALER SAID THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE FIX WAS TO TURN THE ROTORS. THE NEXT TIME THEY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS NEED FOR BRAKE SERVICE EVERY 15,000 MILES IS NOT RIGHT. THE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY AND WILL CAUSE ME TO INCUR A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. *TR

DOOR LOCKS STICK. HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN VEHICLE. REPORTED TO GM THEY DO NOT FEEL DOOR LOCKS STICKING DANGEROUS. BEEN IN DEALER WERE PURCHASED 7 TIMES FOR DOOR LOCKS TO BE FIXED. DOOR LOCKS STILL STICKING. WAS FORCED TO SIGN A COMPLAINT LETTER WITH GM WITH LEMON LAW ATTORNEY. WE FEEL THAT VEHICLE CAN NEVER BE FIXED. STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH DOOR LOCKS. VIDEO OF BEING LOCKED IN .WAS PURCHASED NEW. WE FEEL WE HAVE DONE OUR PART TAKING BACK TO DEALER TO BE FIXED. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX DEFECTS. *TR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, REGARDING DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 01/09/17.*JB

CPSC#I12C0371A. 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER STATED AFTER ONLY HAVING THE CAR FOR A YEAR SHE HAD TROUBLE WITH DOOR LOCKS STICKING. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVEN TIMES FOR THE DOOR LOCK PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO SETTLE WITH GM THROUGH AN ATTORNEY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE THE DOORS WOULD LOCK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THE ACTUATOR AND LOCKS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,663. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

2008 CHEVROLET HHR. DOOR LOCKS STICK. VEHICLE HAS LOCKED ME IN. DOOR LOCKS STILL STICK. HAS BEEN IN DEALER EIGHT TIMES WHERE PURCHASED TO BE FIXED. PURCHASED NEW .HAVE ALL WORK ORDERS .ALSO HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH RADIO AND TIRE PRESSURE . WE HAVE VIDEO OF ME BEING LOCKED IN VEHICLE AND DOOR LOCKS STICKING. WE PURCHASED THE 2008 HHR IN GOOD FAITH THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE GIVEN US TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE OF PURCHASE. GM HAD PEOPLE COME FROM MAIN OFFICE TO DEALER THEY HAVE SEEN THE WORK ORDERS AND VIDEO OF DOOR LOCKS STICKING. REP. FROM GM TOLD ME I COULD ALWAYS CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW.

THE DOOR LOCKS STICK AND STILL DO. I HAVE EVEN BEEN LOCKED IN MY VEHICLE. HHR HAS BEEN IN DEALER 9 TIMES FOR DOOR LOCKS STICKING (HAVE WORK ORDERS). DON'T TRUST DEALER OR GM TO FIX PROBLEM. YOU PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK STICKS. THE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH AUTOMATIC DOOR UN LOCK. WE WORKED HARD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE TO HAVE IT NOT LIVE UP TO THE QUALITY WE WERE LEAD IT TO BE. VEHICLES NO COUNT WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK. WE HAD A WASHING MACHINE IT WAS WORKED ON 4 TIMES THE FIFTH TIME IT ACTED UP THEY REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE LOCKED IN YOUR VEHICLE . I HAVE VIDEO OF IT ON CELL PHONE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. *TR UPDATED 02/06/14. *JB UPDATED 02/19/15. *JB

WAS LOCKED IN VEHICLE AND UNABLE TO GET DOOR TO OPEN FROM INSIDE. HAVE HAD DEFECT WITH DOOR LOCKS STICKING FROM PURCHASE. DOOR HAS FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH SISTER IN VEHICLE, FAILED TO UNLOCK WITH HUSBAND IN VEHICLE AND MY DAUGHTER. BEEN IN DEALER NINE TIMES FOR LOCKS STICKING. IS BEING LOCKED IN VEHICLE DANGEROUS? UPDATED 01/28/15*BF..UPDATED 10/08/15 *BF

TAKATA RECALL, DON'T KNOW IS THE AIRBAGS ARE IN MY VEHICLES. GOT A AIRBAG RECALL LETTER. HAVE CALLED DEALER TWO TIMES WROTE DOWN DATES. DEALER SAID PARTS WEREN'T IN THEY WOULD CALL US WHEN PARTS ARE IN THEY ALSO TOLD US VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE . IF ITS A SAFETY RECALL AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT AND KILLED HOW IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE? I HAVE A NUMBER OF RECALL LETTER ON MY HHR. HOW MANY ARE TO MANY ? IF YOU READ ALL RECALLS THE VEHICLE IS A ROLLING DEATH TRAP. YOU NEED TO KNOW I WROTE CHEVROLET A LETTER 05-31-2015 TO ASK THEM IF MY VEHICLES WERE IN THE AIRBAG RECALL CHEVROLET DID NOT WRITE BACK THEY CALLED I RECORDED THE CONVERSATION. THE CHEVROLET PERSON I SPOKE WITH TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLES .I DIDN'T BUILD THE VEHICLE SO WHY AM I GETTING PUNISHED FOR THERE MISTAKES.SOME OF THE RECALL LETTER FROM GM RECALLS THEY WANT FIX UNLESS YOUR HAVING TROUBLE. IF THEY SEND YOU A RECALL LETTER WHY WANT THEY FIX IT RIGHT THEN. ON ONE RECALL I HAD FIXED IT TOOK THEN 2 YEARS TO FIGURER OUT THEY HAD NOT FINISHED THE REPAIR. DO YOU CALL THAT SAFE? CHEVROLET HAS MADE A VEHICLE THAT'S LOADED WITH PROBLEMS. I FEEL THAT I AM DUE A FULL REFUND. CHEVROLET (GM) MISLEAD PEOPLE ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE A NUMBER OF RECALL LETTERS I'M SENDING YOU. I ALSO HAVE A RECORDED AIRBAG RECALL PHONE CALL. THE AIRBAG RECALL IS ON MY 2009 CHEVROLET TRUCK. *TR

GAUGE SHOWS YOU ARE GOING 120MPH, HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, LAST FOR A FEW HOURS TO A FEW DAYS. NOT SAFE NOT KNOWING WHAT SPEED YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. ALSO IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT , WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A U-TURN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 8 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT HAD APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. MOMENTS LATER THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BOTH INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NEITHER FAILURE COULD BE REPRODUCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 56000.

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

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

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

VERY ROUGH FRONT END VIBRATION AND DIFFICULTY STEERING WHILE BRAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. DEALER TURN ROTORS BUT CAME BACK AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, ALL FIVE DOORS AND LATCHES WOULD NOT REMAIN CLOSED. AT TIMES WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 55 MPH, THE DOOR WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SWING OPEN. ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE TRAVELING WITH A CHILD PASSENGER IN A CHILD RESTRAINT, THE DOOR CLOSEST TO THE CHILD INDEPENDENTLY SWUNG OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WOULD HAVE TO USE A ROPE TO HOLD THE DOORS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT UNIT MELTED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TAIL LIGHT IS NEXT TO THE GAS TANK AND SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT HER VEHICLE EXPLODING. THE DEALER ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

2008 HHR SS 5 SPEED, CLUTCH IS STICKING TO THE FLOOR BOARDS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEARS ALL THE TIME. SERIOUS DRIVELINE NOISES AND VEHICLE SOUNDS LIKE A CAN ROLLING DOWN A HILL IN THE WIND WHEN RUNNING. *TR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUMPER PAINT WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT IN ORDER TO PREVENT CORROSION, RUNNING BOARDS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE STARTS THE VEHICLE AND DRIVES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS, THERE IS NO BRAKING POWER. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE. SHE MUST PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MUCH FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. ON ONE OCCASION, THE FAILURE CAUSED HER TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST FOUR TIMES, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER PROVIDED HER WITH A BROCHURE TO KEEP IN HER VEHICLE IN CASE OF A CRASH, WHICH STATED THAT SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE AND WAS NOT AT FAULT FOR THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,350.

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

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

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.

MY MOTHER EXPERIENCED SHAKING AND PULLING TO THE SIDE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. I TOLD HER TO TAKE IT TO CHEVY FOR REPAIRS. THEY PUT NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON THE CAR AT MY EXPENSE. I AM A MECHANIC AND IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR THE FRICTION PAD TO BE MISSING ON THE BRAKES, THAT IS A PART FAILURE NOT WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE THE PARTS TAKEN OFF MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE REPAIR OCCURRED, THAT PROVES MY STATEMENT. TWO MONTHS LATER THIS SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FEEL THE NEW ROTORS ARE WARPED. ALSO I HAVE COMPLAINED TO CHEVY SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED THE BRAKES ARE HARD. IF A SMALL CHILD WALKS OUT THERE COULD BE A FATALITY DUE TO THIS FAILURE. I AM IN THE MILITARY AND LIVE ON POST WITH MANY YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE SIDEWALK GOES BY MY HOUSE. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE BRAKES BEING HARD UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE MADE BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE CHEVY HHR'S. *TR

EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS CAR THAT I BOUGHT NEW, THERE HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS JUST GO OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS BLINK BACK ON , THE LIGHTING BRIGHTNESS SWITCH DOES NOT WORK, THE ROLLER TO MAKE IT BRIGHTER DOES NOT DIM THE DASH LIGHTS, UNTIL THEY ALL JUST GO OFF AGAIN.? THE TIRE SENSORS ALL GO OFF AND THERE IS NO READINGS FOR TIRE PRESSURE. YOU CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE MANUALLY AND THEY ARE ALL OK. THE DOOR LOCKS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. IF YOU USE THE KEY FOB, THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND THEN YOU CAN'T GET THEM OPEN AGAIN WITH THE KEY FOB AND YOU ARE STUCK. THE KEY IN THE DOOR WON'T EVEN OPEN THE DOOR, IT IS LOCKED UP TIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY 3 TIMES AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. I JUST DON'T LOCK MY CAR ANYMORE. *TR

2008 HHR SS TURBO - DEALER REPLACED PREVIOUS 2008 HHR SS TURBO THAT HAD BRAKING ISSUES AT 200 MILE. THIS NEW CAR HAS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. AT STARTUP AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS THE BRAKES DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH VACUUM INORDER TO WORK PROPERLY. YOU HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 120 SECONDS BEFORE THERE ENOUGH VACUUM TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. UNTIL ENOUGH VACUUM IS PRESENT THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON ANY KIND OF MINIMAL SLOPE. DEALER HAS UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE PER THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATION BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER RECOMMEND THAT THE USER SIT FOR 60 SECONDS BEFORE REMOVING THE VEHICLE FROM PARK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE TRIED TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES THAT ARE IDENTICAL AND THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE IS A FIX FOR THE SATURN SKY AND PONTIAC SOLSTICE I AM TOLD BUT NONE FOR THE CHEVY. *TR

2008 HHR SS, ON STARTUP, POWER ASSIST BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR 30-90 SECONDS, AFTER WHICH THEY WORK PROPERLY. THIS WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND BEGAN EXITING MY DRIVEWAY THE OTHER DAY. A DOG RAN IN FRONT OF MY CAR, AND I HAD TO APPLY AN EXCEPTIONAL AMOUNT OF FORCE TO THE BRAKES TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE ANIMAL. AFTER SOME WEB RESEARCH (SEE ESPECIALLY HTTP://WWW.CHEVYHHR.NET/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=17740), IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE VEHICLE, AND SO I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO GET GENERAL MOTORS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE QUICKLY. *TR

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

2008 HHR SS WITH 200 MILES, BRAKES FAIL TO WORK AT ALL WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED IN THE MORNINGS. DEALER FINDS NO PROBLEM. ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE BUT DO NOT WORK. DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM STILL EXISTING. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT. DEALER INSTRUCTED US TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO GET FIXED. WE HAD IT TOWED. *TR

BRAKES ARE HARD ON COLD START ON MY 2008 CHEVROLET HHR SS TURBO. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. IT'S IN FOR THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE THEIR PROGRAMMING DIDN'T WORK. I HEARD THAT THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE AND SATURN SKY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THANK YOU, PAT *TR

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

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

2008 CHEVY HHR WITH A BURNING HAIR ODOR INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED RUNNING. SHE STATES THAT WHEN IT SHUT OFF HE HAD NO BRAKES OR STEERING. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEAKERS. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JUNE OF 2008. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 17 TIMES WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THE BRAKES HAVE QUITE WORKING CAME TO A STOP SIGN AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WHEN IT RAINS REALLY HARD THE CAR WILL NOT START IT DRAINS MY BRAND NEW BATTERY I GOT THE CAR FROM BOB STEEL CHEVROLET IN COCCA FL THEY KEPT TELLING ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO I CALLED A LAWYER AND GM MOTORS DECIDED TO GIVE ME 10% OF THE CAR AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE CAR THIS IT THE 4TH BATTERY BECAUSE IT IS DRAINING THEM SO MUCH THERE NO GOOD GM MOTORS TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO LABEL THE CAR AS A LEMON BUT BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT USED THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BUY IT BACK THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE 2007 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT BECAUSE THIS WAS A 2008 AND NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL TO JUST DEAL WITH IT I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEST TO DO PLEASE HELP. *TR

WHEN THE VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT OR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THERE WILL BE NO BRAKES OR A VERY HARD PEDDLE WHEN STARTED FOR AT LEAST 30 SEC TO 1 MIN. I ALMOST RAN INTO GARAGE DOOR BUT MANAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3 WEEKS AGO CURRENT MILEAGE IS 653. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPT. 2 TIMES FOR THE TSB BUT NOW THE DEALER AND GM SAYS THEY HAVE NO FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

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

I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY HHR. FOUR MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING EXCESSIVELY. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT INTO VAL-MARK CHEVROLET, NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD REALLY FIND ANYTHING WRONG OTHER THAN THE FRONT PADS WERE WEARING UNEVENLY. THEY WERE REPLACED. IN DECEMBER OF 08, I TOOK MY CAR TO CHAMPION CHEVROLET, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY ADVISED THE BACK ROTORS WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. THAT WAS DONE. I HAVE JUST TAKEN MY CAR BACK IN TO VAL-MARK. NOW THE FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED AND NEED TO BE RESURFACED. MR. JIM ROBINSON OF VAL-MARK SAYS THAT I WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE RESURFACING. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE COVERED. ADDITIONALLY, I FEEL RESURFACING IN ONLY PUTTING A BANDAID ON THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOW CHANGED POSITIONS AND STATES THAT THE FRONT PAD WERE NOT REPLACED FOR UNEVEN WARE, BUT ONLY AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. *TR