2009 Chevrolet HHR Complaint Log

VEHICLE RAN FINE ENTIRE DAY(12-20-2013), I PARKED TO SHOP WITH MY WIFE AT A LOCAL MALL. WHEN WE WERE READY TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN OVER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES, MY BATTERY WAS BEGINNING TO DRAIN SO I STOPPED. MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO CONTINUE OUR SHOPPING AND COME BACK TO VEHICLE LATER. ONCE AGAIN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF. I HAD TO CALL A TOWING SERVICE (AAA) TO TOW US TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC DID TELL US THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUS ERROR CODES FROM LAST NIGHT POINTING TO IGNITION AND STARTER UNITS, BUT THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS RECALL NOTICES FROM GM DESCRIBING THIS VERY THING AND HAVE REQUESTED A FULL REFUND OF MY TOWING FEES ($95.00 INVOICE#73066) AND TRYING TO SET UP MY REPAIR SINCE THE RECALL NOTICES WENT OUT IN APRIL 2014. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING SINCE. GM CASE # [XXX] OPERATOR (JIM). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

CHEVY HHR ALL MODELS, ALL YEARS: WHEN EXITING MY VEHICLE THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC!! AFTER RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MODELS AND ALL YEARS OF THE CHEVY HHR SINCE ALL INTERIOR HANDLES ARE MADE FROM PLASTIC. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE INTERIOR DOOR PANEL. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE ONCE THE HANDLE HAS SNAPPED THE ONLY MEANS TO OPEN THE DOOR IS TO UNROLL THE WINDOW AND OPEN WITH THE OUSIDE HANDLE OR TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE - NOT IDEAL, ESPECIALLY IF ONE IS IN AN ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY. I BELIEVE CHEVY SHOULD REPLACE ALL HANDLES WITH A STURDY, NON-BREAKABLE METAL HANDLE. THIS WOULD IMPROVE SAFETY OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM POWERING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN ORDER TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE, THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED AND A FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,500.

POWER STEERING OVERHEATS CAUSING POWER STEERING TO QUIT WORKING WHEN WHEEL IS TURNED TO LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE CAR IS STOPPED. THE MOVEMENT IS NECESSARY TO PARALLEL PARK THE CAR. ONCE OVERHEATED YOU NO LONGER HAVE POWER STEERING MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A NEW TEENAGE DRIVER. CHEVY KNOWS OF THE ISSUE, WAS TOLD BY GM THAT A REPLACEMENT MOTOR HAS THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY HOME FROM COLLEGE FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR SEALY, TX FROM AUSTIN TO HOUSTON HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A GUST OF AIR. HE PULLED OVER TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND THAT'S WHEN HE REALIZED THE GLASS FROM THE SUNROOF HAD SOMEHOW DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE VEHICLE AND WENT AIRBORNE. IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE INFORM ME. HOPEFULLY THE FLYING GLASS DID NOT INJURE ANYONE ELSE.

WHEN I PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY MY KEYS GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I COULDN'T TURN MY CAR OFF.I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A DEALERS WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION. THE NEXT DAY MY SECURITY LIGHT WENT ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERS THEY WE'RE VERY BUSY SO THEY CHECKED TO SEE IF MY KEYS WERE PROGRAMMED THEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS OK. I LEFT THE DEALERS AND WITHIN 200FT MY HHR STALLED AND DOORS LOCKED WITH ME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I CALLED THEM BACK WITH MY CELLPHONE FROM INSIDE THE CAR THEN THE DOORS SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO THE DEALERS.THEY GAVE ME A CAR TO USE. I LEFT MY HHR THERE SO THEY COULD HOOK IT UP TO THE COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. ALOT OF CODES CAME UP THEY SAID BUT THEY CLEARED THEM AND SAID THEY REPROGRAMMED MY KEYS. THE ONLY CODE LEFT WAS A ICP CODE BUT THEY SAID I DIDN'T NEED A ICP PANEL SO I TOOK MY CAR BACK. WHEN I CAME OUT OF WORK AT 1AM I UNLOCKED MY CAR AND STARTED MY HHR UP. IT STALLED IMMEDITATLY.WITH THE KEYS STUCK IN THE START POSITION I TRIED IT AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 10 MIN AND IT STARTED UP AND I DROVE HOME. I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY SAID BRING IT MONDAY AGAIN BUT THEY CANT LEND ME A CAR UNTIL ITS FIXED OR PROMISE THAT THEY CAN FIX IT. I TRIED TO START IT NOW AND I CAN BUT I REALLY AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT I HAVE TOO TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALERS. VERY SCARY AND BOTHERSOME THING. I INCREASED MY INSURANCE AND WILL BE ONLY TAKING SIDEROADS UNTIL SOMEONE FIGURES THIS OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE INTO A GRADUAL LEFT TURN, A SERIES OF CHIMES SOUNDED FROM THE VEHICLE AND A MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED IN THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER STATING THE MESSAGE "POWER STEERING". THE VEHICLE HAD LOST POWER ASSISTED STEERING BUT RETAINED MANUAL STEERING. THIS WAS RESET BY TURNING THE VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY RECALL COMPETED ON MY IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I STILL HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE I TURN OFF THE CAR AND TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND EITHER I HEAR THE ENGINE STILL RUN SLIGHTLY, BUT MORE COMMONLY THE ISSUE IS THAT THE DOOR CHIMES AS IF I OPENED THE DOOR WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION (ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT). I THOUGHT THE REPLACEMENT AFTER THIS RECALL WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM AS I HAD PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT "DUPLICATE IT" OR SEE ANY IMMEDIATE ISSUES. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED THAT THIS IS STILL HAPPENING AFTER THE RECALL? *TR

IGNITION CYLINDER WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY. IGNITION RELEASE SPRING WORKS (MOVES FREELY) YET WILL NOT RELEASE THE KEY. I HAD TO REMOVE THE FUEL PUMP FUSE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND, SINCE THE KEY WAS FROZEN IN THE ON POSITION, DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE 'KEY STUCK' ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED UNDER THE CHEVY SERVICE BULLETIN (09-02-35-005B, FEB 4, 2010) YET NOT ON RECALL LIST. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? *TR

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. OCCURS WHILE SMOOTHLY TRAVELING AT 60 MPH ON I-70. CANNOT GET LIGHT TO GO OFF OR RESET. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN HIT, BUMPED OR JOLTED. WEB POSTS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON HHR PROBLEM. GM NEEDS OR TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MILD WHIPLASH AND BRUISING TO THE CHEST. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), AND 14V047000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURES FROM RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

THE "SERVICE AIR BAGS" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

DROVE HHR TODAY, AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN OFF IGNITION, I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, AND PULL A FUSE. TAKING CAR IN TOMORROW FOR REPAIR. THERE WAS A MECHANIC IN THE LOT I WAS IN, WHO STATED THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM ON HHR IGNITION PROBLEM. STATED IT IS A TUMBLER ISSUE, AND CHEVY IS AWARE OF THIS. *TR

POWER STEERING MESSAGE ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC) AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSING DIFFICULT STEERING AND AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. *TR

2009 CHEVROLET HHR. CONSUMER STATES PAID FOR POWER STEERING REPAIR. REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED. *JB

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED 3 TIMES WITHIN 20 MINUTES. I RESET IT BY TURNING THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND RESTARTING THE CAR. I REPLACED THE MOTOR AND IT WORKS FINE NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE AFFINITY TOURING TIRES SIZE P215/55 R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO OVER INFLATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGES, VIN AND DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT'S A COMMON ISSUE IN HHRS AND COBALTS, DUE TO POORLY DESIGNED PARTS. GM SAYS I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT. I'M ALSO TOLD THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, MAKING THIS CAR UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD BE LISTED ON A RECALL IMMEDIATELY, IF BOTH GM AND RANDOM MECHANICS KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTART IN ORDER FOR THE POWER STEERING TO REGAIN NORMAL FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. FOUR DAYS LATER IT DID THE SAME THING WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH. EACH TIME I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART IT TO MAKE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY. THIS COULD LEAD TO CRASHES CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

MY AIR BAG SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY. AT LEAST 5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, NO ACCIDENTS, NO PROBLEM SEEN WITH AIR BAGS BY SERVICE DEPT AT DEALER. ???? .THE SAFETY LOCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CONTROLS FOR ALL PASSENGER WINDOWS DOES NOT LOCK THE WINDOW OPERATION. BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEM IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS. IVE RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC 4 TIMES HAD MY BRAKE PADS CHANGED, ROTORS TURNED, ROTORS RESURFACED , ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.....STEERING WHEEL SHUDDERING BAD WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE ROTORS OVERHEAT AND WARP, BUT I WILL DRIVE ONLY 2 BLOCKS AND IT HAPPENS. DON'T THINK THAT IS ENOUGH TO OVERHEAT THE ROTORS. *JS

I ALSO HAVE A 2009 HHR WITH 47000 MILES AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON FREQUENTLY. I PLAN TO TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALER. THIS LOOKS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT I HEARD A DING, LOOKED DOWN AT THE DASH AND SAW THAT A POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO POWER STEERING ASSIST AND HAD TO MUSCLE THE CAR OVER. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, RESTARTED IT AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. THIS ISSUE STARTED HAPPENING EVERY FEW DAYS AFTER THAT, SOMETIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, HAD THIS BEEN A LESS STRONG PERSON LIKE MY WIFE OR AN ELDERLY PERSON SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE STRENGTH TO STEER THE CAR! AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH I WAS SHOCKED AT WHAT I FOUND. THE HHR IS BUILT ON A CHEVY COBALT CHASSIS, AND THE COBALT HAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT CHEVY HAD NOT HAD A RECALL ON THE HHR, NOT IS THE US ANYWAY. CANADA HAS FORCED GM TO DO A RECALL ON THE HHR FOR THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE BUT TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN DONE IN THE US. THE DEFECTIVE STEERING MOTOR PART NUMBER RECALLED ON THE COBALT WAS THE SAME EXACT PART NUMBER AS THE HHR, SO WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED ON THE HHR? IF YOU'LL READ SOME OF THE HHR FORUMS YOU'LL LEARN THAT MINE WAS NOT AS ISOLATED OCCURRENCE, IT IS VERY COMMON AND SEEMS TO START HAPPENING WHEN THE CARS GET AROUND 50,000 MILES. HAD THIS HAPPENED TO AN ELDER PERSON AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CHANCES ARE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, THIS DISABLES THE STEERING! I HAD THIS REPAIRED AT AN ASTRONOMICAL COST OF OVER $800. MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SURPRISE SURPRISE GM SAID THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CHASSIS WARRANTY? WHAT, THE STEERING IS NOT A COMPONENT OF THE CHASSIS? THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, IM SURPRISED SOMEONE'S LIFE HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN LOST OVER THIS ISSUE. PLEASE FORCE GM TO RECALL THIS ISSUE AND REFUND ONES LIKE ME THAT HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF OUR POCKETS TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE 2009 CHEVY HHR BACK FROM WORK, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING STOPPED AND A WARNING MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DIC. ONCE IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF THE PROBLEM CLEARED TEMPORARILY. OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS THE POWER STEERING HAS CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH POWER STEERING CUT OUT ON VEHICLE.AFTER PULLING OVER & RESTARTING ENGINE P/STEERING RETURNS FOR SHORT PERIOD AND CUTS OUT AGAIN.WHERE IS GOVT. RECALL? SAME COMPONENTS USED ON CHEVY COBALT AND THEY WERE RECALLED. NO RECALL OM HHR. OH WAIT, NOBODY DIED YET!!!! EVENTUALLY SOMEBODY WILL. DON'T WAIT TILL IT'S TOO LATE. *TR

DRIVING AND AIRBAGS JUST BLEW UP AND CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO POLE. COULD NOT STOP, AND COULD NOT SEE BECAUSE OF AIRBAGS. CAR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIRED. I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. INJURY WAS CAUSED TO LEGS, CHEST, STOMACH, BACK. *TR

STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. NO STEERING. DROVE HOME CAREFULLY AND SHUT MOTOR OFF. STARTED CAR UP AGAIN AND THE POWER STEERING WORKED. WENT TO DEALER AND SHUT CAR OFF. THEY SAID WARRANTY WAS OFF. STARTED CAR BACK UP AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND NO STEERING. I WENT BACK HOME. I CAN SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. NOW I WILL BE FORCED TO HAVE IT FIXED AT MY EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH I HAVE DISCOVERED THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HHR'S AND GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES. *TR

TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT TURN OFF BY RETURNING TO ORIGINAL POSITION. I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN IT OFF EVERY TIME. IF I DO NOT USE IT, AFTER I TURN THE CORNER, IT CLICKS LIKE IT WANTS TO TURN ITSELF OFF. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 5 YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE PARTIALLY BROKE. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE WINDOW GLASS WAS RELEASED DOWNWARDLY TO OPEN THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR ARRIVAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,700. UPDATED 9/23/13 *CN

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AND TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A PARKWAY ENTRANCE I HEARD A WARNING TONE AND MY DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER POWER STEERING. I THEN REALIZED I HAD NO POWER STEERING. FORTUNATELY FOR MYSELF IT WAS AS IF I WERE DRIVING A CAR WITH MANUAL STEERING & WAS NOT A REAL ISSUE FOR MYSELF. WHAT IF IT WERE A SMALL WOMEN WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. MAYBE SHE WOULD NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH OR REACTION TO A SITUATION LIKE THAT. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE CHEVY COBALT. THE HHR IS BUILT ON THE SAME PLATFORM. EARLIER MODELS OF THE COBALT WERE RECALLED BUT THE HHR WAS NOT!!! I WROTE TO YOU PEOPLE LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE PLENTY OF WEBSITES ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE CHEVROLET HHR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. AS AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN I REPLACED THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MYSELF. G.M. TOLD ME IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.MY IGNITION TUMBLER ALSO LOCKED UP ON MY VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY IT WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY COVERED THAT UNDER WARRANTY. I APPLAUD YOU FOR GOING AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCHES BUT THAT IS ONLY PART OF THE STORY. HOW ARE THEY ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH PEOPLES LIVES LETTING THEM DRIVE WITH DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NEEDS TO PURSUE THIS ISSUE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT MAKING THE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. I DID RESEARCH ONLY TO FIND THAT MANY OTHER HHR OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE AND SEVERAL OTHER CHEVY MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. RESTARTING THE CAR TEMPORARILY FIXES IT. HAS HAPPENED BETWEEN 0 AND 2 MILES OF STARTING THE CAR. (7 TIMES YESTERDAY) IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHILE TRYING TO MAKE TURNS. *TR

TOOK MY CAR N FOR THE ENGINE RECALL FIVE DAYS LATER I NOTICE MY HEAD LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE IS OUT. ON THE 18TH IM INFORMED BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT ON THE LEFT SIDE IS OUT. PLUS ONE OF MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHT IS OUT. BASICALLY THE LIGHTS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR ARE OUT. ALSO THE STEERING WILL SHAKE WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND SLOWING IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY BUT LUCKILY I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I THOUGHT THE CAR HAD STALLED SO I CUT IT OFF AND RESTARTED AND IT WAS FINE. I DROVE TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING AND STILL NO PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS MAKING THE RIGHT TURN AND THEN HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET IT IN MY DRIVE, SHUT IT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED- THE POWER STEERING MESSAGE WENT AWAY AND ONCE AGAIN THE CAR WAS FINE. SAME THING NEXT MORNING CAR FINE- I WORK ABOUT 5-7 MILES FROM HOME. AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME WITH NO WARNING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC- POWER STEERING GOES OUT AS I AM CHANGING LANES. I MANAGE ONCE AGAIN TO GET HOME. MY CAR HAS THE SAME PART THAT THE CHEVY COBALT HAS AND CHEVY HAD RECALLED THE COBALT TO MAKE REPAIRS BUT NOT THE HHR. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED ABOUT THIS AND FEAR THAT THEY DO NOT TAKE OUR SAFETY SERIOUSLY WHOM OWN THE HHR- I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVY AND ASK WHO TO LODGE COMPLAINT WITH SINCE THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL. THEY DID NOT GIVE ME THE INFORMATION. I HAD TO FIND ON GOOGLE. I DID TELL THEM THAT THE INTERNET IS FULL OF THIS SAME COMPLAINT REGARDING THE POWER STEERING ON THE HHR AND THE RESPONSE WAS I CANNOT LOOK AND UNAPPROVED GM SITES(WHATEVER THAT MEANS). THANK YOU FOR YOU CONCERN AND HOPE YOU CAN HELP SOMEONE FROM HAVING A SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT 57,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,686. *TR

CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF. KEY WOULD NOT TURN. EVENTUALLY PULLED FUSE AND GOT CAR TO STOP. TOOK TO DEALER NEXT RECALLS CAME OUT LATER AND I TOOK IT IN THREE TIMES TO GET RECALL THINGS FIXED. I STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEMS AS OTHER OWNERS WITH MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE DIC GIVING FALSE INFORMATION SUCH AS NO AIR PRESSURE IN ONE OF THE TIRES, THE ABS AND TRACTION NEED REPAIR ETC. STEERING WHEEL ALMOST ALWAYS SHAKES WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED AND SOMETIMES SEEMS LIKE IT IS DRIVING UNDER ITS OWN CONTROL. I HAVE LOVED THE CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT WITH LESS THAN 9,000 MILES ON IT IN DECEMBER 2010, BUT I DRIVE MY HANDICAPPED HUSBAND AND ELDERLY MOTHER TO MANY DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS AND CANNOT HANDLE THE ANXIETY OF BEING AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. THERE IS ALREADY THE FEELING OF HELPLESSNESS IN CAR ACCIDENTS WITHOUT ONE DRIVING A CAR THAT CAN'T BE CONTROLLED AT ALL TIMES. AND THESE THINGS HAPPEN OUT OF THE BLUE WITHOUT WARNING. IT ISN'T LIKE YOU HAVE EVEN A FEELING THAT SOMETHING MAY BE GOING OUT OR THAT A PROBLEM IS BEGINNING. IT'S JUST BOOM, HERE'S THE SITUATION, HANDLE IT! I, AT ALL TIMES, MUST KEEP MY MIND ON THE FACT THAT MY BRAKES, STEERING, TRANSMISSION AND/OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY FAIL AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. THIS DOES NOT MAKE FOR A CALM DRIVING EXPERIENCE. NERVOUSNESS AND HIGH ANXIETY IS NOT A CONDITION THAT ANYONE SHOULD BE IN WHEN HANDLING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY WEAPON IN AND AROUND OTHER PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND VEHICLES. ALL THESE OTHER OWNERS CAN'T BE WRONG, MAYBE GMC SHOULD JUST RECALL THE WHOLE CAR AND LET US GET ONE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, SO WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON OUR OWN AND OTHER PEOPLE'S DRIVING TO PREVENT THEM..

IGNITION SWITCH CAN NOT BE TURNED TO OFF POSITION. CYCLED THRU GEARS (AUTOMATIC TRANS) SEVERAL TIMES THINKING PARK SENSOR SWITCH PIN MAY BE THE PROBLEM - NO EFFECT. AWARE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS IGNITION - CALLED HOTLINE - 1ST ATTEMPT, BUSY, 2ND ATTEMPT RECEIVED RECORDING. CALLED DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE, SERVICE DEPT CLOSED AT 1PM SAT. LOCATED FUSE PANEL, REMOVED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FUSE, THIS STOPPED ENG. ELEC POWER STILL ON DUE TO KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION, REMOVED BATTERY CONNECTION. FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING CALLED DEALERSHIP & REPORTED PROBLEM, SERVICE DEPT VERIFIED RECALL & INFORMED ME REPLACEMENT IGNITION CYLINDER IS TAKING IN EXCESS OF 4 WEEKS DELIVERY. *TR

ON 6-23-2013 DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAY A RIGHT HAND TURN MY POWER STEERING ON MY 09 CHEVY HHR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED AND WAITING TO MERGE ON THE HIGHWAY, I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO CHECK BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ON IN THE DASH LIGHTS, FINDING NOTHING WRONG UNDER HOOD I RESTARTED THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS OR WARNING LIGHTS ON AND DRIVE HOME. THE NEXT DAY WHILE RETURNING FROM WORK ON THE INTERSTATE THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT RETURNED ON THE DASH WITH A LOSS OF STEERING ONLY BY FORCING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT TO MAKE A TURN OR LANE CHANGE, AFTER I ARRIVED HOME I GOT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE WHERE MY FILL TANK WAS FOR MY POWER STEERING AND LEARNED THAT MY HHR HAS ELECTRONIC ASSIST STEERING BUT I ALSO LEARNED THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN REPORTED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH POWER STEERING UNITS ON THE HHR, SOME WITH NEAR DEATH ACCIDENTS, "WOW". I KNOW MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER COULD NOT HANDLE THIS CAR WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING SO THIS VEHICLE IS BEING PARKED UNTIL I CAN GET A FULL TEST ON THE UNIT. *TR

HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS NUMEROUS TIMES! THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

CALLED THE CHEVY DEALER, TOLD ME THAT IT WAS FRIDAY AND TO CALL FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING. AS I CONTINUED ON FREEWAY I REALIZED THAT THE RIDE WAS ROUGHER, SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. TO STEER WAS HARDER, TRIP ODOMETER BOTH WERE NOT WORKING, CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE,SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING,TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING EASILY,PULLED INTO CHEVY DEALER, FOUND THE SERVICE MANAGER. ASKED HIM TO CHECK THE CAR, HOURS ON SIGN STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD AVAILABLE UNTIL 5:30. IT WAS CURRENTLY 4:50 PM. HE ASSURED ME THAT IS WAS SAFE TO DRIVE CARE: PULLED OUT OF DEALERSHIP, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TURNED AROUND, WENT BACK. HE WAS JUST LEAVING TO GO HOME IT WAS 5:10 AT THIS TIME. WHEN HE SAW ME HE GOT OUT OF HIS CAR, CAME OVER, I TOLD HIM THE INCREASED CHANGES AND WHY I TURNED AROUND:I HAD MY 80 YEAR OLD AUNT WITH ME I LIVE 14 MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN IT WAS FRIDAY AFTERNOON I DID NOT WANT TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE BY DRIVING THIS CAR SAY AN ACCIDENT OR DOING MORE DAMAGE TO THE REPAIRS NEEDED. HE PUT IT ON THE ANALYSIS SCOPE HE SAID HE HAD MIXED MESSAGES. ONE WAS IT SAID POWER STEERING BUT WITH THE WRONG CODE. AFTER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT SHOWED UP. HE AGAIN ASSURED ME THAT WE WOULD BE FINE! I PULLED OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP, DROVE 2 MILES, THEN WAS COASTING! HAD NO TRANSMISSION. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED CONTINUED DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FLASHERS ON. IT WOULD NOT SHIFT HIGHER THAN SECOND GEAR.WE LIMPED TO A FRIENDS HOUSE PARKED THE CAR, THEY GAVE US A RIDE HOME. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD CONTINUED DOWN THAT ROAD. PLEASE HELP. *TR

LETTER FWD FM FMCSA CONCERN THE SAFETY OF HIS 2009 CHEVROLET HHR SS, BRAKES ARE EXTREMELY HARD CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING VEHICLE AT TIMES, INQUIRING WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL (ENCLOSURES NOT IMAGED FWD TO NVS-200) THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE RECENTLY PULLED AWAY FROM A CURB BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT STOPPED AT A CROSSWALK, HE CAME WITHIN AN INCH OF REAR-ENDING THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE BRAKE WAS EXTREMELY HARD, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AGAIN, BUT IT INVOLVED A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS CROSSING THE STREET IN THE CROSSWALK. THE CONSUMER STATED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY CHEVROLET, BUT NOT A RECALL. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE COST TO INSTALL AN AUXILIARY VACUUM BOOSTER PUMP WAS $1200.00.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND BOTH LEGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,300. UPDATED 12/30/14*CN UPDATED 9/25/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V047000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

MOST RECENTLY ALMOST EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR, I WILL DRIVE FOR MAYBE 5 MINUTES AND MY STEERING WHEEL BECOMES LOCKED. I WILL PULL OFF TO THE SIDE SHUT OFF & TURN BACK ON THE CAR LEAVE IT SIT ON FOR ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO PULL OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WILL BECOME ENGAGED AGAIN LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE DAYS HAVE BECOME HOTTER. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND MADE APPOINTMENTS TO GET IT DIAGNOSED BY EVERY TIME I WILL GO IN FOR THE APPOINTMENT AT THAT MOMENT THEY WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY OR NOTHING IS WRONG. THERE ARE NO DISPLAY WARNINGS ON YOUR DASH BOARD, YOU WILL HAVE TO BRING IT BACK TO US WHEN IT IS ON. THIS ISSUE IS BECOMING VERY ALARMING TO ME SINCE IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I CAN'T KEEP TAKING OFF EVERY TIME I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF WHEN I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NO WORK GETS DONE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP GRADE AT APROX. 50MPH THE STEERING POWER ASSIST FAILED AND POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE ON THE DASH LIGHT UP. I DROVE HOME SLOWLY APROX 8 MILES WITH NO STEERING. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR LATER, THE STEERING WAS FINE AGAIN. SINCE THAT DAY THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED DAILY AND HAPPENS WITHIN SECONDS OF TURNING ON THE CAR. *TR

I BOUGHT MY HHR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012. THE FIRST ISSUE I HAD WITH IT HAS LEFT ME VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE ISSUES. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE I HAD BOTH OF MY SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. MOST FRUSTRATING IS TO RESEARCH THIS MATTER JUST TO FIND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS RECALLED THE EXACT SAME PART IN THEIR COBALT BUT HAS FAILED TO CARRY IT THROUGH THEIR PRODUCT LINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,325. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,350.