chevrolet hhr Problems

chevrolet hhr 2009 Complaints

SEATS

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. two weeks after the vehicle was purchased, the dealer installed heated seats. afterwards, the passenger side air bags stopped working. the heated seats are draining the battery in the vehicle. each time the vehicle is driven, it fails to start due to the drained battery. the vehicle had to be towed to the dealer in order to be restarted. he took the vehicle to another dealer and they stated that a switch underneath the seats needed to be replaced. the contact was advised to take the vehicle back to the original dealer for them to redo the installation. the failure mileage was 620. oil leak onto the coolant reservoir. the dealer found the brake fluid cap was not sealed properly. the heated seats that were i installed were connected to the battery which was causing the battery to die. updated 03/19/09. *jb

Reported in: LAKE VILLA IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: LAKE VILLA IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

Reported in: LAKE VILLA IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

AIR BAGS

Reported in: LAKE VILLA IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

SEATS

failure: "service air bag" light came on. 1st incident: "service air bag" light came on with passenger sitting in front passenger seat, dealership repaired faulty component. 2nd incident: "service air bag" light came on with passenger sitting in front passenger seat, dealership repaired different faulty component. 3rd incident: use of 12v accessory, no passenger present, as well as passenger present, "service air bag" light intermittently on/off. corrective action: dealership told me not to use 12v accessories as they may cause some rf interference. 4th incident: "service air bag" light came on with passenger sitting in front passenger seat, dealership replaced components, found faulty wiring 5th incident: "service air bag" light came on without a passenger in passenger seat on the way upto the dealership for service. contacted gm about possibility for lemon law remedy, was refused buy-back option with statement that the vehicle is fixed and in proper working order. representative pushed towards keeping vehicle. i personally do not have confidence, at this point, in the safety devices of this 2009 chevy hhr, nor do my passengers. the dealerships service technicians have repaired several components, and yet the problem persists. this last time in for service, the technician could not reproduce the issue, therefore no service was conducted other than testing. this means that the problem has not been resolved since the last occurrence of the "service air bag" message being displayed.

Reported in: MORRIS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Reported in: MORRIS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MORRIS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

WHEELS

i own a 2009 hhr ss. the truck was taken into service department a the dealership because of excessive noise from the front end of the truck. it was determined that three wheel stud bolts were sheared off the front driver side wheel. this could have caused a fatal accident of the truck had been driven at speed of a highway. to date there has been to because found other than a possible factory defect in the wheel stud bolts.

Reported in: JACKSONVILLE FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA73X49S

SEAT BELTS

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that when the front passenger seat belt is unbuckled, it becomes locked. the failure prevents the seat belt from being re-fastened. the manufacturer stated that the seat belt was working as designed and would not make any repairs. the contact feels that this is a major safety issue because the passenger is unable to latch the seat belt and could be injured or worse in the event of a crash. the current mileage was 800 and the failure mileage was unknown.

Reported in: GREENSBORO NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B49S

VISIBILITY

a 2009 chevrolet hhr impacted a telephone pole in the middle of a parking lot. the damage was to the front left fender and headlamp. no part of the pole was visible, due to the width of the a-pillar and door frame and the angle of the a pillar (nearly vertical). only the noise and vibrations during the impact alerted the driver to what was occurring, even though the driver was looking directly toward the pole.

Reported in: COLLEGE PARK GA || Crash: Y || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

new 2009 chevy hhr - total brake failure new car - driven for about 10 days - 850 miles. while driving, brakes started feeling soft while going downhill. later approaching an intersection at about 20 mph, brakes traveled about 2/3 of way before doing anything. applied more pressure and car pulled to right. pressed brake pedal all the way to floor and car kept moving. pulled the emergency brake and stopped with nose of car in the intersection. there were no panel lights indicating a brake failure. check of the brake fluid showed it is full. took car to medved chevy in castle rock, co today for repair. they confirmed the brake failure (easy to do since the pedal goes to the floor). they will diagnose and repair next week. i asked them to escalate a report of this issue in case other owners are not as lucky as me.

Reported in: FRANKTOWN CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while driving 35 mph in rainy conditions; the windshield wiper system single sweep mode engaged automatically. as a result, his visibility was impaired. the wiper blades also did not position correctly when the control selector mode was turned off. the vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the failure. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 15,000 and the current mileage was 20,000.

Reported in: GRETNA LA || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

second total brake failure in new 2009 chevy hhr. see odi #10281421 for prior complaint. in colorado mountain town when brakes began to feel soft. within minutes they would barely stop the car. used the hand emergency brake to stop car. there were no panel lights indicating a brake failure. check of brake fluid showed it was full. took car to medved chevy in castle rock, co. they confirmed the brake failure. after consulting with gm, they replaced both front calipers. however - they were not confident that this will resolve the problem. prior calipers and brake lines did not show any apparent fluids leaks. copy of repair invoice is available upon request. very concerned about this second total brake failure within two months of ownership.

Reported in: FRANKTOWN CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

failure of both headlight low beams in new 2009 chevy hhr. first time driving the car at night, i noticed that i had no low beams. took the car to medved chevy in castle rock, co who confirmed the failure. service reported "low beams inop; found open in turn signal switch, replaced switch". copy of service invoice available upon request.

Reported in: FRANKTOWN CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

this a 2009 chevrolet hhr 2.2 liter engine 4cyl. during rush hour in the morning,in city traffic i was getting in to the freeway flow i had to step on the gas pedal on an off, when i notice the car got sluggish and would not respond to the amount of request on my foot, i was lucky and got of the freeway then i noticed the info on the instrumentation panel was warning! "engine power reduced", turned engine off and the car stared working normally, this same thing happened again a week later and then sooner until the car had no power and finally did not start any more i had e diagnostics read out and described "wrong readings on the throttle body" and "wrong gas pedal position," i replaced the throttle body a $400.00 part did not fix it then the gas pedal $90 dlls part, and that fixed it! i' am an electrician for the city,i worked in the electronics mfg 25 years, so i always want to know the source of problems so i disassembled the gas pedal, and found that the carbon on the potentiometer was warn out, so i noticed that the steel sweepers where assembled backwards and they were scraping the carbon away of the little pc board part no.807819 this is inside the gas pedal assy. part no.gm 20757615 manufactured ii 5 24/08 other info on the pedal (6pv 933 902-02) the enclosure has the hella brand logo.

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B49S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B49S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

this is the third brake failure in this new chevy hhr. brakes started feeling soft. i was doing 65 mph on a 4 lane highway (denver c470) and needed to brake hard. brakes were soft and the car pulled sharply to the right - nearly taking me into the car beside me. there were no dashboard warning lights. had it towed to medved chevy in castle rock, co. they report the brake fluid was full. appears to have air in the brake line. they had already replaced the master cylinder and both front calipers. service manager reported they really had no idea of what was wrong, but they replaced the modulator valve since it was the only remaining component they had not replaced. in none of the 3 failures could they find evidence of any fluid leaks. he said they had worked with gm engineering who could not offer any other solutions. i'm personally very worried about driving the vehicle and would absolutely not let my wife or anyone else drive it.

Reported in: FRANKTOWN CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

car has intermittent headlight failure, interior lights on instruments and radio dim, go completely out and then pop back on. this happens randomly. i drive to work in the dark and the lights have gone completely out and will not turn on when it rains and the law says they should be on. took to the dealer and they replaced part of the wiring. when this did not fix the problem i have taken the car back a total of 4 times and the dealer keeps telling me that they can not duplicate the problem so there is no problem other than me. general motors called about the service i have received and they continue to do nothing about the problem.

Reported in: INVER GROVE HTS MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V39S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

at 18,000 mile my 2009 chevrolet hhr started shaking as the brakes were applied while going down a 5% mountain grade. within a short distance after leveling off the braking returned to normal. this occurred several more times and at 24,000 mile the vehicle was taken to the dealership to have the brakes checked. the diagnosis was that the rotors had over heated and warped. at 44,000 mile the vehicle started shaking again as the brakes were applied while going down a 5% mountain grade. brake pads do wear out. rotors do need to be turned. violent shaking from rotors warping because of overheating is not normal. it is an indication that the braking system may be undersized for this vehicle or that inferior parts are being used. the brakes have not been applied excessively. the vehicle is not overloaded. the vehicle has not been subject to sudden braking. the high mileage on the vehicle is from freeway driving.

Reported in: RINGGOLD GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GCCA85B39S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact was examining the vehicle and noticed that the battery had died. after replacing the battery the contact noticed that the speedometer, odometer, and electronic traction control would no longer function. the dealer has not diagnosed the failure. the failure mileage was 25,000.

Reported in: LINO LAKES MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. the contact was able to drive onto the emergency lane without incident and shut off the engine. he was able to contact onstar who advised the contact to restart the engine. upon doing so, the vehicle began to accelerate without the accelerator or brake pedal being depressed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for further inspection. the failure and current mileages were 4,000.

Reported in: CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23BX9S

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

tl* the contact owns a 2009 gmc hhr-ss. while driving approximate speeds of 65 mph, the contact attempted to adjust her seat and was pinched by the seat belt buckle. the buckle did not injure her; however, there was some minor discomfort. she was concerned that if a child were in the seat, they could have been injured. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were unknown.

Reported in: CEDAR CREEK TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

when gently braking to a stop the right rear wheel has a clicking or clunking sound, not heard when applying the brakes hard. minor pulsing can be felt in the brake pedal. first trip to dealer they found nothing wrong but turned the drum and the problem went away for a time. two months later problem is back. this time dealer reported they tightened up the muffler. muffler is on left side of vehicle, the problem is on the right. the problem is still there. other hhr owners report same problem with the same wheel. chevy dealers tell us "they all do it". it is not correct and needs to be resolved. i purchased the vehicle with 10k miles on it and problem surfaced soon after (not doing it at purchase). now has 19k miles. 2009 hhr lt2.

Reported in: STEVENSVILLE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V99S

INTERIOR LIGHTING

updated tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. he stated that the interior lights stayed on and that there was no manual switch to operate the lights causing them to stay on at all times. the dealer and manufacturer were contacted and advised the contact that it would be too costly to repair the vehicle. the failure and current mileage were 22,000. updated 08/13/10. *lj updated 10/14/10

Reported in: FORT WORTH TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

saturday afternoon, 19 june 2010. parked vehicle, could not turn ignition switch off. ran through all the gears and back to park, still the same, could not turn vehicle off. had to leave vehicle running while i phoned to find a chevrolet dealer that provided sat. service - luckily one in the jacx fl area. told them of problem and was advised to bring vehicle right away so they could repair, which they did. would assume that this is a know problem with the vehicle as they had the part in stock to replace right away. my experience has been that if it is a new/unknown problem they will not have part in stock and have to order before making repairs. this is a very serious situation! had a dealer not been available on a sat. afternoon, i have no idea what i would have done. probably disconnected the battery in hopes of shutting down the engine, without hopefully damaging the computer module. any way you look at it this, it is not a good situation.

Reported in: MOUNT DORA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

EQUIPMENT

Reported in: MOUNT DORA FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i arrived at a friends house and went to turn my car off and guess what the cart would not shut off and the key would not come out, so i called the roadside asst since my car is under warranty and they told me to make it home and give them a call back and they would send a tow truck out time went on and one never showed up, the tow truck driver told road side that the dealer did not have a drop box for service, i kind of find that hard to believe, this has ruined my whole holiday weekend, i cant go anywhere.

Reported in: RIPLEY TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B19S

TIRES

my wife and i bought a new 2009 chevrolet hhr. the vehicle specifications sticker on the driver's door calls for 30 psi tire inflation. however, the tires themselves show a maximum inflation of 44 psi. since many people inflate tires according to what is on the sidewall instead of the door sticker, this could easily lead to overinflation of the tires and the associated hazards. in our case, every time we have had the oil changed, the service personnel have overinflated the tires, usually to around 40 psi, and i have had to decrease the pressure.

Reported in: MCGUFFEY OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA33B79S

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. while driving approximately 20 to 30 mph the vehicle accelerated. he engaged the brakes and turned the ignition off. he restarted the vehicle, drove a couple of miles and the vehicle accelerated again. the failure occurred intermittently. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer several times, yet, they were unable to duplicate the failure. the contact was unable to provide a vin. the approximate failure mileage was 300. the current mileage was 2,000.

Reported in: BERKLEY MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

engine became sluggish, unresponsive to gas pedal, and shut down in heavy traffic causing dangerous situation. instrument warnings: engine power reduced and something about traction... called onstar - towed to dealer and diagnostics said "wrong readings on the throttle body" and "wrong gas pedal position". dealer replaced throttle body.

Reported in: PLANO TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23BX9S

STEERING

power steering went out completely in 2009 hhr.

Reported in: DANBURY TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

electrical.

Reported in: BEDFORD OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

received a notice of pending of class action, proposed settlement and hearing for 2009 hhr. stating that the selling vehicles were manufactured without side curtain airbags.

Reported in: GREENSBORO MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B89S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact attempted to shut the vehicle off but the ignition would not respond. the contact had to disconnect the battery. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where it was being repaired at the time of the complaint. the current and failure mileages were approximately 43,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: HUMBLE TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

hit by a mazda miata at about 30 mph hhr was totaled and air bags did not deploy.

Reported in: CHARLESTON SC || Crash: Y || VIN #:

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

we recently purchased a 09 chevy hhr and within the first 150 miles we got a check engine light, took it to the dealer and was told the fuel was running lean. he reset the computer and told me to put fuel additive in the tank. i did so and the check engine light is still coming on and the engine is beginning to stall and lose power....what are we to do, car still has a factory warranty, but can't get help...

Reported in: MANCHESTER OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

after purchase of a new 2009 ss hhr. during the morning i backed into my garage and noticed a very soft brake pedal. i then started to proceed into the garage and when attempting to stop the vehicles brakes would not comply with my brake pressure and the vehicle proceeded to hit the side of our house. this became a routine situation upon "cold startups" and when reported to the dealer,(classic chevy chevrolet, grapevine, tx) after several poor stops, my service advisor advised "yeah we know about it". but there was no fix at the time when confronted with a possible fix he advised that " i made arrangements to have the car repaired when the fix from gm engineering was issued refused to service the car. gm customer service personnel and the bulletin advised that "they are working on the issue." i never got the rear of the car repaired due to the failure pressure failure.

Reported in: NORTHLAKE TX || Crash: Y || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key remained stuck in the ignition and the contact was unable to shut off the vehicle. the vehicle was left with the engine running overnight. the next morning, the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was advised that the ignition switch and the solenoid in the steering column had failed. the failed components were no longer listed under warranty and the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was unavailable. the failure and current mileage was 40,536.

Reported in: FRANKFORD KY || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

Reported in: FRANKFORD KY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the ignition key would not release from the ignition switch. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they repaired the vehicle. the failure mileage was 47,940.

Reported in: WEST PALM BEACH FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13BX9S

AIR BAGS

service air bag light continuously goes on an off. issue can not be replicated on purpose and there is no common denominator for making the light come one. speed of vehicle has ranged from 0 (in park) to 60 m.p.h. conditions of road has ranged sunny and dry to cold and wet. many on-line forums have also indicated that this is a common error with 2008 - 2009 chevrolet hhr's.

Reported in: BROOKLYN CENTER MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B59S

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the interior driver side door handle was fractured. the contact would have to open the driver side window and release the exterior door handle in order to exit the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that the door handle would need replacing but the vehicle was not repaired. the contact stated that the failure was an ongoing recurrence. the failure mileage was 47,000.

Reported in: EDGEWOOD NM || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V39S

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the air bag and tire pressure warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was not able to diagnose the problem. the manufacturer was contacted who did not offer any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 16,500. updated 05/03/11*lj updated 09/16/11

Reported in: OVERLAND PARK KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V69S

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Reported in: OVERLAND PARK KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the ignition key would not turn to the off position after several attempts. the engine remained on until the ignition switch was disconnected. the vehicle was not repaired for the malfunction. the failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Reported in: DUBLIN VA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl*the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key would not move when she attempted to turn the vehicle off. the contact mentioned that in order to turn the vehicle off she had to disconnected the battery and the fuse that was connected to the fuel pump. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was currently working on a diagnosis. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 40,000.

Reported in: MANCHESTER TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that when parking the vehicle and shifting into park, the keys would become stuck in the ignition and the engine was unable to be turned off. the contact spoke with the dealer who recommended bringing the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. the contact was able to remove the keys from the ignition with the assistance of a tow truck driver and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. the vin was unavailable. the failure and current mileage was 75,000.

Reported in: NAVARRE FL || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

service airbag light comes on intermittently. light began coming on about april 14th, and has lit every time i drive since then - about 5 weeks now. sometimes it goes off, most of the time it doesn't. my concern is that the airbags are disabled if there is a "service airbag", and i don't have the safety of the airbag system most of the time now.

Reported in: EL RENO OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the keys are stuck in the ignition of the car. we have tried to used the release button under the steering column to no avail. the car remains running. we have to unhook the battery and take out a fuse to get the car shut off. we have two small children and this is our only car. the dealership wanted to charge us to fix this, when clearly it is the fault of chevrolet. our keys have been stuck since saturday, may 21, 2011. today is monday, may 23, 2011 and the keys are still in the car.

Reported in: BATON ROUGE LA || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the air bag warning lamp illuminated. the failure was experienced at least five times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who only offered to file a report. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 2,000 and current mileage was 21, 069.

Reported in: HAINES CITY FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

2009 chevrolet hhr. consumer states electric power steering went out while driving *tgw

Reported in: WASHINGTON DC || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

i was driving home from work and the electrical power steering went out, i pulled off the expressway onto the side of the road, turned my car off and back on, then i continued journey home. i hadn't drove a mile before it went out again. i pulled off the expressway two or three more times. it continued to go out, so i decided to drive home since the car dealer was already closed for the day. i phoned them from work the next day only to be told that the part had not been recalled and if i wanted to get it fixed it would be $500 plus taxes or more if they discovered that it was the steering column. $500 which i did not have, my husband purchased the part and installed it over the memorial holiday weekend. we would really like to get our money back. my car is only two years old and the electrical power steering should not be going out. i searched the internet and discovered that the same part is used in the chevy cobalt and it has had the same problem, they should have issued a recall on it for the chevy hhr lt as well, since the same part is being used in it. this is dangerous what if i had been involved in an accident as some of the other people who reported having the same problem on the internet and someone had been killed or injured. i sincerely hope that something can be done to assist me and the other people with the same problem. thank you in advance for your help in this matter.

Reported in: FORD HEIGHTS IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

AIR BAGS

the airbag service light came on in the dashboard for no apparent reason. i haven't gotten into an accident or a fender bender, or not even a slight bump to any part of my vehicle. now the light shows to service the airbag and sometimes it goes out like it is fine, but then comes back on within minutes.

Reported in: CREST HILL IL || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

last friday i traveled to new orleans to perform a repair at a local furniture company. upon my arrival i could not extract the key from the ignition of my vehicle. i called the dealer (ross downing chevy in hammond, la) to find out how to extract the key. i was told to take it to a gm dealer i did so and returned to hammond, la and took my vehicle to the dealer where i purchased it brand new in feb 2010. my vehicle is a chevy hhr lt 2009. my engine temperature was also high (267f) and i could not shut it off. the dealer had their mechanic replace the faulty ignition switch and added coolant to the system. there was no leaks and no explanation why the cooling system had lost coolant. i am concerned about the operator of this vehicle not being able to shut off the engine. i asked the dealer if there where any recall / deficiencies on this vehicle and they said no. why would a vehicle less than 18 months old have a faulty ignition switch?

Reported in: HAMMOND LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23V59S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr lt. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds he noticed that the front end of the vehicle would exhibit a clunking noise and sway from side to side. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer and they advised him that he needed to replace the bearings, hubs, rims, the brake system, and the transmission sensor. the vehicle was repaired for all of the above yet the failure recurred less than 100 miles later. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered a different vehicle. the failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23V59S

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23V59S

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Reported in: CINCINNATI OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23V59S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

key stuck in the on position, couldn't shut off engine. took hhr to repair shop.

Reported in: WALNUT CA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

i have a 2009 chev hhr and on jun. 16, 2011 i pulled into a shopping center and tried to turn off my car and i could "not" turn it off with ignation key,it was locked into the run mode.lucky for me there was a dealer open and i drove the car to them.the only way the dealer could stop car was to disconnect battery,on a hhr the battery was in the back of car and it took them quite some time to do this operation.i made the right decision to go to the dealer,but what if i was a little old lady"the outcome might have been a different one".after the problem was fixed,both myself and the service manger at the dealership looked at the defective ignition cylinder and noticed there was a change made in the new cylinder.that leads me to believe that gm knows there is a problem.gm sent a bulletin(not a recall??)to there dealers stating that "some customers may comment that ignition key is difficult to remove or that the key sticks or binds in the ignition cylinder",that is so wrong the key locks in the run mode and will not turn off car's ignition.after all the problems toyota has had with there gas petal ect and personal injury's,you would think gm would be on top of this "saety problem" and at least send out a "recall not a service bulletin" to protect it's customers from getting hurt or worse.i would like nhtsa to step up to the plate and confront gm about a recall on this "very unsafe condition" thank you. *tt

Reported in: BROOKINGS OR || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

STEERING

the chevy hhr is based on the chevy cobalt. the hhrs are having the exact same power steering assist problem that exists in the cobalt. the cobalt is covered by a recall, but the hhr is not. i believe the hhr should have the same recall because it has the exact same component that is failing. the power steering goes out suddenly and has caused my wife to lose control of the car. chevrolet will not replace the component under the extended warranty that was purchased from them, yet they will replace it on a chevy cobalt.

Reported in: DUNDALK MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact was unable to turn the key in the ignition and start the vehicle. when using the key fob, he was able to use the remote start feature. once the vehicle was started, he was unable to shut it off because the key would not turn in the ignition. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they were unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 15,254 and the current mileage was 26,000. updated 08/31/11 *bf the dealer determined the problem was due to an internal cylinder failure. updated 09/07/11

Reported in: RENTON WA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i arrived home at 2:30am and my car would not turn off. the keys were stuck in the ignition. i had it towed to the dealership that night. the service department called me in the morning to inform me that this is not covered under warranty. i have been on the phone all morning trying to get this issue resolved. still no resolve!!!

Reported in: LA HABRA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B79S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL

i have a 2009 hhr chevrolet and lately i have been experiencing ignitions problems. on yesterday when my car was parked approimately around 7:00 p.m. i tried to shut the car down and remove key from ignition. i could not get the key out and the car would not shut down. all of the business that could help me were closed. i sat in that car from 7:00 p.m. unti 2:15 a.m. the next morning, when all of the gas ran out of the car. some may no thing this is emergency buyt when you are a women by yourself. it's quite urgent. a tow trucker drive came stayed about 3 minutes and said he could not assist me. no loss of life this time; but it can lead to that with crime running rampid. where is the accountabilit? where is the recall? is everything in america just about $ and cents these days? what about the next time? i could not leave that car running on a public street.

Reported in: LANDOVER MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that his vehicle did not have side curtain air bags. the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was standard and did not come with side curtain air bags. the manufacturer had been notified. no repairs were performed. the current and failure mileages were 43,000.

Reported in: PEORIA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23BX9S

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph the power steering would intermittently fail and the wheel would become very difficult to turn. whenever the failure occurred, the contact would restart the vehicle. the vehicle was inspected by a dealer, who informed the contact that the power steering assist system needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Reported in: FILER ID || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

EQUIPMENT

on may 26th of 2011, i bought a 2009 chevy hhr. actual miles was 43k. it now has 45k. i have not even made my first payment on the car when i experienced a problem. on july 7 after i arrived at work, i put the car in park and the key would not turn to shut the engine off. i had to disconnect the battery to shut the engine off so i could finish my work day. got the car home and had to disconnect the battery again. when i contacted a chevy dealership and spoke with the service personnel about my car not shutting off, he said, �let me guess, the key is stuck in the ignition�? i said yes and he quoted the price would be 3 or 4 hundred dollars to fix it. on july 8th, we had to have the car towed to a chevy dealership. even the tow truck driver knew about the problem and said, �that is one of the reasons we have to tow in the hhrs�. on july 7th pm, i got on the internet and discovered that i was not the only one to experience this problem with the key stuck in the ignition. there have been many complaints about this. to my understanding, chevy knows about this problem but has failed to put out a recall. i do not have a lot of money. i am on a tight budget as many people are. i had to borrow the money to get the car fixed. it is a shame the quality of making a car has gone down hill. i think that chevy should fix this problem so that it does not reoccur again. i also think that people should be reimbursed for the money that they have had to spend on getting this problem fixed. so, my question for you is, how many complaints must it take for you to address this problem and issue out a recall? chevy should �man up� and take responsibility for this problem.

Reported in: TULSA OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B09S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: TULSA OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B09S

STEERING

during the ice storm the power steering went out in my vehicle. my husband was driving and that is the only reason we didn't have an accident. this continues to be a problem on my 2009 chevy hhr lt. *kb

Reported in: ADA OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:POWER STEERING FLUID

Reported in: ADA OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

i had a problem with the key getting stuck in the ignition with the vehicle still running. i had to disconnect the battery and have it repaired. it cost $600.00 to repair this and this continues to be a problem on other hhr's. i am now having the same kind of symptoms that my car was having before the ignition was replaced. *kb

Reported in: ADA OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

STEERING:COLUMN

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. while the vehicle was parked the contact attempted to turn the key in the ignition in order to shut the vehicle off but was unable to. the contact was forced to remove a fuse in the engine in order to shut the vehicle off. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technicians stated the steering column needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 40,000.

Reported in: HARLINGEN TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

SUSPENSION:FRONT

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. while the contact was driving approximately between 35-65 mph, there was a grinding noise upon engaging the brakes. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing where they were unable to detect a problem. the failure progressed and sixteen days later, the front axle detached while making a turn. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and no repairs could be performed until the vehicle was inspected by the manufacturer. the manufacturer was made aware of the defect. the approximate failure mileage was 7,598.

Reported in: ACAMPO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

when opening the right rear window, the door opened when the window gets about 3/4 of the way down.

Reported in: DENVER CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA73X39S

STRUCTURE

when opening the right rear window, the door opened when the window gets about 3/4 of the way down.

Reported in: DENVER CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA73X39S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated the ignition key failed to turn the vehicle off and the vehicle was stuck in the on position. the contact removed a fuse in order to shut the vehicle off, and have it towed to the dealer. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer, but the manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 55,000.

Reported in: SALT LAKE CITY MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B49S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

2009 hhr key stuck in the ignition. unable to turn off motor. had to disconnect the battery. *tt

Reported in: MIDLOTHIAN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

this is a complaint against the chevrolet hhr which seems to be prone to not turning off when the key is in the ignition. no matter how hard i tried or what i tried i could not turn the key to shut the car off. my neighbor had to turn the car off by disconnecting something under the hood. the car had to be towed to the dealer. during my research on the internet there seems to be a lot of people having the same problem. some of them even state that the button on the gear shift that you have to push in to change gears sticks.

Reported in: MCKEESPORT PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B49S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key would not remove from the ignition. as a result, the contact was unable to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer to have the failure diagnosed. the contact also stated that a faulty ignition switch was a common failure among this year, make, and model. the failure mileage was 76,000.

Reported in: NORCROSS GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B89S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. while parked, the contact attempted to remove the key from the ignition but the key would not disengage and the contact was unable to shut the vehicle off. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostics but was not repaired. the vin was not available. the approximate failure mileage was 44,250.

Reported in: MCKEESPORT PA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

the door sensors do not work properly. the sensors to not indicate that the door is not fully closed. the door must be open by at least three inches before the sensor will indicate "door ajar." so, if the door is closed lightly but not all the way you could end up driving down the highway and have your door come swinging open with no warning. it was discovered by a chevy service department that the reason for this is because of the sensor placement in the crease of the door. if the sensor was placed in the lock then the problem would be fixed. however, the design of the sensor does not allow for it to be moved. this is not a one time problem this is an ongoing issue.

Reported in: FORT CAMPBELL KY || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the ignition would not shut off. the battery and fuel pump fuse had to be disconnected in order to shut the vehicle down. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic that located the failure at the ignition lock and cylinder. the ignition lock cylinder was replaced. the manufacturer advised the contact that the failure was not recalled and the warranty did not cover the ignition failure. the failure mileage was 71,426 and the current mileage was 71,726.

Reported in: VALLEY SPRINGS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B99S

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

visiting my daughter. started to go home. the head lamps would not come on. after 10 or 15 minutes of turning switches, turning motor off and on, nothing worked. so here am i stuck miles away from home and the head lights wont come on. in furstration i slapped the left driver side head light,it came on. so i walked to the other side and gave it a slap,and it came on. we drove the thirty miles home worrying if they would go out again. got home ok. now we have to hit both headlights to get them on.the warranty is out and do you know you have to remove the whole front bumper assembly to even get to the head lights. why would gm allow such design is be on reason. good luck hhr owners my wife has already experinced the lock ignition syndrome, when the key wont come out. why doesnt the nhtsa help us hhr owners *tt

Reported in: WHITWELL TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: WHITWELL TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact was driving 50 mph when the air bag warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they confirmed there was a loose connection with the air bags. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 57,665 and current mileage was 62,138. the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. updated 11/21/11

Reported in: LAWRENCEBURG IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13819S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the vehicle will not shut off when running, key is stuck in the ignition, there is no way to shut the vehicle off. cannot remove key, vehicle will drive, reverse and park, will not allow vehicle to be shut off. internet searches shows this to be a common problem with both the chevrolet cobalt and hhr, however no recalls have been issued.

Reported in: PROSPECT PARK PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B89S

STEERING

at speed on steep downhill when applying brakes there is a violent shaking of the wheel. the vehicle was serviced and rotors were turned and new brake pads installed also a repair was made to a steering component. less than 5,000 miles later the same issue has returned.

Reported in: WOODLAND HILLS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Reported in: WOODLAND HILLS CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i have a 2009 chevy hhr ,which is having the same problems that caused a recall on the chevy cobalt,the pontiac g6 ,g5 .the chevy malibu. my power steering system fails in the middle of a turn , the led read out says power steering and then it completely goes out , i have to either turn the vehicle off and re start it or remove the fuse that is in the electrical fuse box and put it back in,this only corrects the problem temporarily ,(this is so dangerous ,as i might be in the middle of a curve on wet/icy roads and have the steering go out on me) there are numerous threads on line in reference to this issue with the hhr and gm has not done a recall for it in this model, this vehicle has the same steering components as the ones that have been recalled, one of the hazards possible is a fire. i feel this issue should be addressed in all of gm's vehicles with the same faulty parts not just the ones listed, they know these parts are in these cars and have chosen to ignore all complaints to repair the issue , the parts cost the public between $150.00 and $200.00 not including the hour of labor to fix the issue , why should the consumer be required to foot the bill for something that is clearly gm's fault, i have grand children that are in my car at any given time and i should not have to worry about my car catching on fire or the steering going out while i am in a turn on a wet or icy road !

Reported in: DAYTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B99S

STEERING

Reported in: DAYTON OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B99S

STEERING

2009 chevy hhr lt which is having the same problems that caused a recall on the chevy cobalt,the pontiac g6 ,g5 .the chevy malibu. my power steering system fails in the middle of a turn , the led read out says power steering and then it completely goes out , i have to either turn the vehicle off and re start it or remove the fuse that is in the electrical fuse box and put it back in,this only corrects the problem temporarily ,(this is so dangerous ,as i might be in the middle of a curve on wet/icy roads and have the steering go out on me) there are numerous threads on line in reference to this issue with the hhr and gm has not done a recall for it in this model, this vehicle has the same steering components as the ones that have been recalled, one of the hazards possible is a fire. i feel this issue should be addressed in all of gm's vehicles with the same faulty parts not just the ones listed, they know these parts are in these cars and have chosen to ignore all complaints to repair the issue , the parts cost the public between $150.00 and $200.00 not including the hour of labor to fix the issue , why should the consumer be required to foot the bill for something that is clearly gm's fault, i have grand children that are in my car at any given time and i should not have to worry about my car catching on fire or the steering going out while i am in a turn on a wet or icy road !

Reported in: COLUMBIA MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B99S

STEERING

electronic power steering stops working while driving down the road. the warning chime sounds and the instrument panel read out displays power steering. the power steering will reset and work again if the car is turned off and restarted but will stop working soon after.

Reported in: MARION IA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

after returning home from running errands, i found i could not turn the car off and remove the key from the ignition. even pushing the gear release button, did not release the key or allow me to turn the vehicle off. the battery & the fuel pump relay had to be disconnected in order to turn the vehicle off. luckily i was in my driveway and not on the road with my small children. the ignition cylinder had to be replaced. chevy towed my vehicle to a local dealer "free of charge" however because it happened on a weekend was unable to do anything or find out any information to help me out. it wasn't until monday that a manager was available at the dealership who was willing to help me out with paying for this, due to it being out of the bumper to bumper warranty. thank you to the dealership, however am unimpressed with chevy for not recognizing an unsafe design flaw (not fluke, flaw).

Reported in: HAYSVILLE KS || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact attempted numerous times to turn the ignition off; however the ignition key failed to turn and remained in the on position. the contact disabled the fuse and then disengaged the battery in order to shut the engine off. the key remained stuck in the ignition switch. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where an appointment was scheduled for repair. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 15,000.

Reported in: CONCORDIA KS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

STEERING

going 35 to 45 mph in a straight line on a cold night with the heater on. a message showing "power steering" on the driver information center. with every restart the power steering would work for a time and then shut down again after a short time. dealer diagnosed as a failed electric power steering assist motor. we paid $335.38 to replace this component. this vehicle has the same frame, power train, and other major components as the chevrolet cobalt and pontiac g5 with the body being the main difference in these vehicles. chevrolet cobalt and pontiac g5 recall information: make: chevrolet model: cobalt model year: 2009 manufacturer: general motors corp. mfr's report date: mar 01, 2010 nhtsa campaign id number: 10v073000 nhtsa action number: pe10005 component: steering:electric power assist system *kb

Reported in: SANDY UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B09S

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Reported in: SANDY UT || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B09S

STEERING

i was leaving from a store made 2 turns then the display read power steering -when i got ready to make the third turn i felt the steering wheel lock up and as i tried to turn it i had to use all my strength to make the turn-this could be potential cause an accident and why does it not give you a warning-i read where people are just turning the vehicle off then on to get it to work right but this should be fixed by the manufacture before someone is killed.

Reported in: ZWOLLE LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B39S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ignition problems after starting and cutting off the car several times december 4, 2011, i stopped by the grocery store, reached up to cut the ignition off and the key would only move about 1/4" forward, not causing the car try to crank, as it normally would, and not turning backwards, as if cutting the car off, at all. i tried going the gears, working the key in each gear, cutting the wheels, again working the key as i turned the wheel, all of which to no avail. as it happened on a sunday, there were no dealerships or shops open in the area, i had to let my car sit and run for several hours until i could get a mechanic friend over to look at the car. he was unable to get the ignition to cut off or to get the key to move at all, so he took the housing off and found a wiring harness that could be unplugged to cut the ignition off therefore enabling the car to cut off. we also discovered that this can be used to return the car to running in an emergency, if you plug it back in and turn the key slightly as if starting the car, as this is the only direction the key will turn.

Reported in: PINSON AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B89S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the hhr won't start. came out from work and the key won't turn in the ignition and the steering wheel is locked. everything is locked up.......i can't get the car to start.

Reported in: WENTZVILLE MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

STEERING

while turning i've had the electric steering go out my vehicle. during one occasion i was avoiding someone that had pulled out in front of me. i've taken the vehicle to the dealer and they say everything is normal but yet the vehicles electric steering comes and goes while driving. *kb

Reported in: DOYLESTOWN PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B79S

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Reported in: DOYLESTOWN PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B79S

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

i put the transmission into park and attempted to turn off the car and remove the key to go into a store. i could not turn the ignition switch to off or remove the key. i drove the car home and parked. i could still not turn the ignition switch to off or remove the key. numerous attempts of putting car into reverse, or drive and into park did not solve the problem. the key was trapped in the ignition switch! called onstar and was forwarded to customer service; tow truck was called. tow truck delivered car to dealership with engine still running. problem diagnosed in ignition key cylinder which was replaced.

Reported in: CHAPIN SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: CHAPIN SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Reported in: CHAPIN SC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the wheels while driving and making turns. the dealer advised the contact to replace the struts. the failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 94,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: MANNING SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

dtc code p0475 electric power steering motor failure, canada has a recall on these cars why not the united states? the link to the site with the details listed below is.. >>> http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/7/vrdb-bdrv/search/recalldetail.aspx?lang=eng&&rn=2010447 <<< road safety recalls database transport canada recall # 2010447 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- recall date 2010/12/16 notification type safety tc system steering manufacturer recall number 10413 units affected 86,345 category car recall details certain vehicles equipped with electric power steering may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving. if the power steering assist is lost, a message is displayed on the driver information centre and a chime sounds to inform the driver. typically, at the next ignition cycle, power assist is regained and the driver information centre message will be off. steering control can be maintained, as the vehicle will revert to a manual steering mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, which could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. correction: vehicles will receive a special extended warranty coverage of 10 years/240,000 km from first registration. under this special coverage program, vehicles that experiences this condition will have the electric power steering motor replaced. make model model year(s) affected chevrolet hhr 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 saturn ion 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 .

Reported in: MASON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA33B69S

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

key stuck in ignition after parking. could not turn car off and could not remove key from ignition. more specifically, pulled into driveway, put vehicle in park and could not turn off vehicle or remove key from ignition switch opening. the key was stuck in the ignition and i could not pull it out of the ignition switch. had to drive the car to the dealership where they removed gas pump fuse and car stopped running. dealership today (1-15-2012) confirms there was a failure in the ignition switch and it needs to be replaced. i have a chevy cobalt 2009 which has a recall on the ignition switch for this exact problem. these are basically the same kinds of car and so there should also be a recall on the hhr ignition switch, but apparently there is not one. dealership says there is no recall on the hhr ignition switch, but there is on the cobalt ignition switch.

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key could not be removed from the ignition. on a later date, the key could not be turned in order to start the engine. the vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where the mechanic found that the tumblers failed in the ignition. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was repaired. the failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage is 53,000. updated 02/15/12*lj updated 02/22/12

Reported in: MARSHFIELD HILLS MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

STEERING

my power steering stopped operating. i got it repaired at a price of $800.00 upon researching, i have seen that other hhr owners have had this same fault occur. there has been recalls on other gm models for this same fault, such as the cobalt. i would hope that gm declares a recall for hhr's also. i have kept my receipt if this becomes the case. i would hope that the nhtsa has gotten quite a lot of complaints concerning this case and require gm to follow through. thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) *kb

Reported in: PRESCOTT AZ || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

since then the air bag trouble light goes on and off sometimes off for months (as it is now off) i asked about a possible recall on this and the local chevy dealer said that there was not it > where this is a safety issue i think that a 3 year old vehicle should be considered for a safety recall. i bought the car used and have a car fax report that there was no problem reported.

Reported in: NORTON MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V89S

AIR BAGS

the airbag light keeps coming on and it says "service airbag". is there a recall on the airbags for the 2009 hhr?

Reported in: BAKERSFIELD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

my 2009 hhr has several times shown a esc service light. also, there is a constant roar and alternating roar from the front suspension, not sure what it is.

Reported in: WINSTON-SALEM NC || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B99S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

unable to turn engine off and remove the key. the key is stuck in the running position and will not move. had to remove fuel pump fuse and disconnect battery to turn off engine and lights. this has happened twice, had to have it towed and pay for repair the first time and waiting for tow truck to come get it the second time in less than a year, which i'm sure i'll have to pay for again.

Reported in: SLIDELL LA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V79S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key became stuck in the ignition and the vehicle could not be turned off. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that the fuses would need to be disconnected in order to turn the vehicle off. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and the current mileage was 60,000. updated 04/11/12*lj the consumer stated the ignition switch was replaced. updated 04/23/12. *jb

Reported in: PADUCAH KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13BX9S

AIR BAGS

7/10 - center console lights inop. dealer replaced internally shorted relay. warranty 11/10 - engine would not crank/service airbag & power steering msg on dic. dealer towed in, replaced starter and found loss of comm w/ bcm due to internal short. dealer replaced bcm. warranty 12/10 - engine turns over wont start. dealer towed in, found power train relay open. replaced relay. warranty 4/11 - service airbag light. dealer found open circuit at passenger front airbag. reconnector connector added dielectrical grease. stabilitrack light does not come on (ever). was told system is okay, some models don't have warning lights. (go figure, will not return to that dealer) warranty 2/12 - service airbag light. comes on and goes out 3 - 4 times during first 15 minutes of driving first trip of the day. happens 90% of the time. if i can find a dealer i can trust i will have them check this and the stabilitrack problem. mileage is now 63,000.

Reported in: CEDAR LAKE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V09S

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Reported in: CEDAR LAKE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V09S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: CEDAR LAKE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V09S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that when inserting the key in the ignition, it would not turn. the vehicle was later towed to the dealer where they advised her that the ignition cylinder needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure and current mileages were approximately 79,000.

Reported in: CHEBOYGAN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V19S

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the driver side door handle fractured from the interior of the vehicle and the contact was unable to open the door. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised her that the entire door panel would have to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

Reported in: CHEBOYGAN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the ignition switch failed. the engine could not be turned off and the key would not eject from the ignition. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the ignition tumbler. the dealer informed the contact that there were no recalls for the failure. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 32,000.

Reported in: COLORADO SPRINGS CO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23BX9S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact was unable to turn the key in the ignition. the vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnostic testing. the technician stated the ignition housing and ignition switch had to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 55,000. updated 04/19/12*lj the consumer stated the repairs cost $450. updated 04/25/12

Reported in: KINSMAN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Reported in: KINSMAN OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the key is stuck in the ignition. the release button under the steering wheel does not release the keys. fuses were taken out and the negative battery cable was disconnected to shut off the car. the dealer advised that this is a common problem and the ignition lock cylinder needs to be replaced. the dealer advised that repair would not be covered as the vehicle is well outside of the 36,000 mile warranty. the manufacturer was notified and also advised that the repair would not be covered. the vehicle has not been repaired. *js

Reported in: SACRAMENTO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B89S

AIR BAGS

2009 chevy hhr - key stuck in ignition with engine running. had to pull negative battery cable and ignition fuse to shut car off. called dealer and they told me to bring it in. reconnected battery cable and replaced fuse and car started up so i could drive to dealer. chevy dealer stated ignition lock syl binding, removed and replaced cyl. i had to pay $300+ to have this fixed and since this is a known issue with hhr's, i feel gm should definitely do a recall as this is a serious safety issue. also the service air bag light comes on randomly and can stay on the entire trip or go back out in a few minutes,only to come back on a few minutes later. *js

Reported in: MUNCIE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: MUNCIE IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

i pulled my chevy hhr, 2009 into my driveway, and the car would not turn off. the key was stuck in the ignition while it was still running. i had to pop my clutch (manual transmission) to get my car to stop running. i turned everything that i could off, tried to lock the doors, however the driver's side would not lock. had it towed to the garage the next morning...they replaced the ignition switch, charged me $300.00 plus, and said chevy may not cover it. (mileage 63,000 mls) *kb

Reported in: BATTLE CREEK MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

last night our 2009 hhr would not turn off, and the key was stuck in the ignition. after looking at all the correspondence online related to this problem, we tried everything to shut the car off. we attempted to depress the solenoid switch behind the square covering in the bottom of the steering column, disconnected the battery, and ended up pulling the fuel fuse. we were in a hospital garage, and placed in a compromising position with theft, and not knowing if the car was actually engaged in "park." it was saturday night, and of course, it will be looked at by the chevy dealer monday morning. i truly hope this will be covered by a recall.

Reported in: BRANDON MS || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: BRANDON MS || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i pulled into the gas station to get gas. i could not shut the car off nor remove the key. my 2009 cobalt had the same problem and was fixed due to a vehicle recall. however, my 2009 hhr had no recall on it even though it uses the exact same defective parts as the cobalt did. i am also concerned about the steering on the hhr since it shares the exact same mechanicals as the cobalt. the cobalt had a recall due to steering, however the hhr did not. a search for complaints on=line yielded many results. it appears that the hhr's are having the exact same problems yet the consumers are left with paying for the repairs. my gm dealer confirmed that the hhr uses the exact same faulty parts as the cobalt and he could not explain why the hhr was not covered in the recall either. he stated that they have had to fix just as many hhr's as they have cobalts... the only difference is that cobalt owners do not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses and hhr owners do. this is ridiculous.

Reported in: SAINTE GENEVIEVE MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

STEERING

Reported in: SAINTE GENEVIEVE MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

STEERING

power steering motor goes out while driving and fixes its self once you shut the car and start back up. key gets stuck in ignition can't turn the car off.

Reported in: HOUSTON TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V69S

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

unable to remove the key from the igition. one hour later the car is still running and key is stuck. disconnected the battery. its 7pm will have it toaded to dealership in am

Reported in: PEORIA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

unable to remove the key from the igition. one hour later the car is still running and key is stuck. disconnected the battery. its 7pm will have it toaded to dealership in am

Reported in: PEORIA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

unable to remove the key from the igition. one hour later the car is still running and key is stuck. disconnected the battery. its 7pm will have it toaded to dealership in am

Reported in: PEORIA AZ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i have two issues going on with my hhr. last evening i pull into my driveway and my key would not turn off engine and release. i have read hundreds of complaints with the same issues while i was trying to research how to turn off my car. my car ran in my driveway for 2 hours wasting gas until we figured out how to turn off car. the manual states that you can push a tumbler and turn the key to release it. the manual is not clear on what the tumbler is but the only movable piece inside steering wheel base did not help to release the key. we finally figured out how to pull the fuse to shut down the entire car. the dealership was closing around the time i started calling and their option to come leave the car without other transportation was not a good option for me with kids. once fuse was out the car is sitting in my driveway with the key in it which is causing a whole other level of stress for me. i have to put fuse back in this morning and take to dealership to get my car fixed. from other complaints the fix should be the same. i don't understand if this is such a big issue why there is no recall on this. i also would like to know will we as loyal customers get a refund when they actually do decide to recall this apparent defective car. my other issue is the air bag light pops on for unspecified periods of time and says it needs serviced. it can go off for days and weeks at a time and then decide to pop back on. i have also been reading about this issue in the complaints and wondering why there is no recall on this issue as well.

Reported in: COLUMBUS OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

AIR BAGS

Reported in: COLUMBUS OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V49S

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

after parking in the drive way around 11:30 pm the ignition key would not turn off. i tried to use the release plunger but ended up removing the lower steering column cover and forcing it over the key. then i pulled the wire harness off which shut off the engine. i was able to start the car by putting the wire back on and twisting the key. the dealer said the key was bent and charged me $400 to replace the switch. they obviously used pliers to remove the key. while in their waiting room i read an article in a march issue of motor magazine that said this is a common problem for several cars including hhr's and they are not sure why. i feel this should have been on recall and not be charged to us. the keys may be too soft or it was a manufacturers defect in the first place.

Reported in: GREENWOOD IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13BX9S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: GREENWOOD IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13BX9S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the vehicle would not shut off and the key would not remove from the ignition. the contact disconnected the fuel pump in order to shut off the vehicle. the failure recurred whenever the contact operated the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the contact was informed that the ignition switch failed. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 60,000.

Reported in: EDMOND OK || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B79S

AIR BAGS

service airbag light stays on.

Reported in: LINDSTROM MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V99S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key would not release from the ignition, therefore the engine could not be shut off. the contact had to disconnect the battery wires and the fuel pump fuse to shut the engine off. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that the failure was located at the ignition lock cylinder. the dealer replaced the ignition lock cylinder. the vehicle was repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vin information was not available. the failure and the current mileages were 60,000.

Reported in: RIMROCK AZ || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

2009 chevrolet hhr. consumer states key was stuck in the on position *tgw the consumer stated the only way for his wife to shut the vehicle off, was to take her foot off the gas and let the clutch out while it was still in gear. the consumer had to disconnect the battery in order to prevent it from going dead and possibly damaging the electrical system. the next day, the consumer took the vehicle to the dealership, where he was informed, he was not the only person to bring their vehicle in for a defective ignition key cylinder. *jb

Reported in: SPRING GREEN WI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the electric power steering failed while driving at various speeds and the steering wheel seized. the failure occurred on numerous occasions. the contact stopped the vehicle to correct the failure. the vehicle was in the process of being taken to an authorized dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 51,000.

Reported in: TUCSON AS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V89S

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

i was driving my chevy hhr when it started overheating and smoking and didn't seem safe to drive, so i had it towed to a dealership and was told that engine block cracked at about 147,000 miles due to overheating. i was told that it needed a new engine which would be 4,000. wanting a second opinion, we had it towed to another mechanic who basically said the exact same thing. then wecalled gm because the mechanic told him that there was a tech bulletin out on it and this was a known problem on the hhr's so we were hoping that gm would help us since the car was only 2 years old. gm said that they could probably help us but first we had to pay another 200 to get it towed to another chevy dealership and then pay for the diagnosis. i was hesitant, but he told me that if we did that he should hopefully be able to help us out with the engine. we did all that, and they called us back this morning to say that the issue was exactly what we had told them from the beginning but not only would they not help us out at all, this dealership wants 6,000 for the new engine instead of the $4,000 that the first dealership quoted us. the mechanic said that he can't tell if the engine cracked because the car overheated, or if the car overheated because the engine cracked, but either way he said he can't tell if it's a manufacturers default or not so they're deciding to go with not so they don't have to help us.

Reported in: PORT CHESTER NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

when i put my chevrolet hhr into park and proceeded to turn the car off, the ignition switch was stuck in the on position and i was unable to turn the ignition to the off position while the car was still running. i had to disconnect the battery cable and remove a fuse to get the vehicle to turn off completely, and am having to take it to the dealership tomorrow for a repair.

Reported in: HENDERSONVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

Reported in: HENDERSONVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

my car would not turn off. the key is stuck in the ignition in the on position and will not turn to the off position. was told, without even getting past the above description " it's an hhr isn't it" by person on the phone from chevrolet dealership. we were told by the chevrolet dealership to pull fuse in engine and drive it over tomorrow since the garage is closed it being sunday. called dealership back to notify would bring car over now due to issues with transportation for monday.... ended up having to have it towed because it was unsafe to drive since when turned on it keeps sputtering as though miss firing and sounds as if it is going to stall.... *js

Reported in: HAYWARD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the power steering failed while reversing from a parking space. the contact stated that there was no warning prior to the failure. the contact spoke with the dealer and was informed that they could not locate a failure code because the system reset when the vehicle was shut off. the failure and current mileages were 58,280.

Reported in: MENOMINEE MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B89S

STEERING

twice today, the power steering stopped working while driving this vehicle. while pulling out of a parking place, the power steering stopped working for the first time. upon stopping, putting the vehicle in park and re-starting the vehicle it worked again for a short period. (less then 2 miles) luckily, we were only traveling 40 mph on a straight, level, side road when it happened the second time. i have visions of very bad things if/when this happens again at highway speeds on a winding roadway. upon further research, before making this report, i read of many others who own this same vehicle who have had this same problem, and that there is possibility that there was a manufacturer recall in canada, but not in the us. i also understand that the same parts are used in the chevy cobalt, does have a recall.

Reported in: KANSAS CITY MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that when any electrical devices such as a cellular phone, charger, i-pad or computer were placed in the front passenger seat, the air bag off warning light would illuminate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed him that there could be no electrical devices placed in the front passenger seat, as it would interfere with the air bag sensor. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 20,000.

Reported in: ALBERTVILLE MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B99S

STEERING

while driving power steering light will come on and loss of power steering occurs, also shaking, have replaced rotors and brakes twice within one year, why is chevrolet not fixing the problems on the hhr when other models with same components have been recalled. i will never buy another chevrolet if they fail to resolve these issues.

Reported in: SARDINIA OH || Crash: N || VIN #:

VISIBILITY/WIPER

while driving in rain wiper's stopped working after playing with switch and stopping pulling over in a safe place when traffic would let me i turned car key switch off and back on twice and they started working again after dealing with this more then one time drove car to a dealer after two days they tell me the main fuse box has a short in it and will need to be replaced i have a bumper to bumper extended coverage after talking with the dealer they are telling me this is not covered in warranty they also called the dealer were i bought it and they looked it up and said the same fuse box not covered so it will cost me over $600.00 to fix car i fill this is a safety relative item and should be covered ? if a short in this fuse box stopped wipers could it start a fire as well.

Reported in: BASTROP TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B49S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: BASTROP TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B49S

STEERING

the powersteering goes out while driving. speed doesn't seem to matter. once the car is stopped and turned off the powersteering comes back on, however it may go out again at 500ft to a few miles. *js

Reported in: FIVE POINTS AL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GMCA13839S

AIR BAGS

without incident, the service airbag alert illuminated and has continued to stay on the majority of the time for the last 5 days. momentarily, the alert light will turn off but re-illuminate again without incident. this is similar to the other posts and complaints i have read. *tt

Reported in: PLAINFIELD IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B99S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key would not remove from the ignition and the vehicle would not shut off. the contact had to pull fuses and disconnect the battery in order to shut the vehicle off. the vehicle had not been inspected to determine the cause of failure. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileages were 51,000.

Reported in: SACKETES HARBOR NY || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

loss of steering assist occurs at any time while driving and once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the driver information center (dic) and a chime sounds. this is the same problem & part involved in the below recall of cobalts & in a canadian recall of hhrs. it is almost impossible to park when it is not working. resetting by turning ignition off, then starting engine again will last about 30 seconds. i have almost crashed as it fails while turning entering/exiting parking spaces or garage. nhtsa action number: nhtsa recall campaign number: pe10005 10v073000 make: chevrolet model: cobalt manufacturer : general motors llc model year : 2009 component(s) : steering:electric power assist system date investigation opened : january 27, 2010 date investigation closed : july 19, 2010.

Reported in: KANSAS CITY MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Reported in: KANSAS CITY MO || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the turn signal lights were inoperable and would not illuminate when engaged. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as normal. the contact also stated that the air bag warning light illuminated and he was told by the dealer that the air bags would not function in the event of a crash until they were repaired. the vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred one year later. the vehicle was not further repaired. the failure mileage was 25,000 and the current mileage was 48,000. updated 8/6/12 *cn the consumer stated the air bag issue was resolved. however, the turn signals did not cancel in a timely manner after completing a turn. updated 08/14/12

Reported in: NORTH SYRACUSE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B19S

AIR BAGS

Reported in: NORTH SYRACUSE NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B19S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key was stuck in the ignition, which prevented him from shutting the vehicle off. the contact stated that in order to shut off the vehicle, he had to pull a fuse and disconnect the battery. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 67,000.

Reported in: BRIDGEWATER NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23V09S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

like others, there were some warning beeps and the message appeared on the dash "power steering". then the power steering went out. once i cut the car off and back on, i had power steering back. this seems very similar to the reason for the recall on the cobalt and s5. happened again on 7/26 and 7/27.

Reported in: GLEN ALLEN VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

Reported in: GLEN ALLEN VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

power steering assist has dropped out numerous times. the dash chimes and a power steering message appears on the digital display. shutting the engine off and restarting it resets the power steering assist only to have it drop out again within a mile or so. the warranty expired a few months ago. this situation could be very dangerous should the power steering assist drop out while negotiating a sharp turn etc.

Reported in: ROCHESTER NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

STEERING

the power steering system went out on my car while driving. the power steering system works after it has had time to cool down for 5 to 15 miles. the system goes out everyday and every-time it is driven.

Reported in: PLYMOUTH MN || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

while driving at approx 15 aug 2012 13:30 hrs edt @ 20 mph on15 aug 2012 the 'power steering' light came on and the steering became very hard. i was lucky as i was only a block from home. i could see this would cause a major problem if i were driving at highway speeds. i did see that a recall was issued for the chevy cobalt and others that use the same power steering unit but not the hhr...time to get the recall going before someone gets killed...also a recall was issued in canada for the hhr.

Reported in: WYNCOTE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V39S

STEERING

while driving the power steering failed. if i turn the car off and restart it, the power steering will work fine. while driving the power steering continues to fail each trip i take each day and it can happen at any time. i will often turn my car off at a red light so i can restart it and have functional power steering for at least a little while. the car is very difficult to turn without power steering, and sometimes catches me off guard.

Reported in: YARDLEY PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B59S

STEERING

on the approximate date indicated above at the approximate speed indicated above, the power steering failed. it came on again when the car was restarted but failed shortly thereafter. it continues to fail after a few miles, seemingly shorter times for each incident.

Reported in: CAPE ELIZABETH ME || Crash: N || VIN #:

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while attempting to park, the vehicle stalled. in addition, the doors failed to unlock and the contact became trapped in the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure who referred her to the dealer. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage was 39,000.

Reported in: ARANSAS PASS TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

ENGINE

Reported in: ARANSAS PASS TX || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

the power steering warning displayed in the dash panel shortly after vehicle was started while i was pulling out of a parking spot. steering was very difficult. i turned the ignition switch off, restarted the vehicle, and the power steering warning cleared and steering worked normally for a few miles before it failed again. the problem makes it very difficult to steer the vehicle at slow speeds and in sharp curves or turns.

Reported in: VIPER KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53VX9S

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the driver's side door could not be opened from the inside. in addition, the remaining doors could not be or unlocked by using the automatic key remote. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 70,108. updated 09/26/12*lj updated 9/26/12 *cn the consumer stated the remote no longer works. updated 09/27/12 the consumer stated gm agreed to pay for the majority of the repairs if he agreed to a reasonable amount. updated 10/03/12

Reported in: ALLIANCE OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23BX9S

STEERING

while leaving work my electric power steering cut out. i restarted the vehicle and the power steering would reset itself but would go out within a minute or two of driving down the road. i spent about 3hrs attempting to narrow down when this would occur, however it was always at random speeds, turn radius', in cruise control or not, while accelerating or when braking. continued shutting vehicle down to reset the system so as to continue to troubleshoot. always failed shortly after restarting and hitting the road. as this can be very dangerous, there certainly needs to be a recall for the power steering to be repaired.

Reported in: ATLANTA MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

the car won't shift down to reverse neutral or drive.

Reported in: SUMTER SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

the eps (electronic power steering) goes out in my 2009 chevrolet hhr every single day, usually after about 5 minutes of driving. it hasn't caused me to have a major accident yet, but it caused me to scrape against a guard rail. the eps motor needs a recall immediately, as this is a well known issue with many hhr owners!!!

Reported in: HUNTINGTON WV || Crash: Y || VIN #: 3GNCA23B89S

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Reported in: HUNTINGTON WV || Crash: Y || VIN #: 3GNCA23B89S

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

the headlights on the 2009 chevrolet hhr burn out prematurely. i have replaced both the drivers and passenger headlamp bulbs multiple times since purchasing the vehicle new. i have to replace the bulbs approx. every 10000 15000 miles. my fear is that both bulbs will burn out at the same time causing an accident due to no lights. these light bulbs appear to have a much greater failure rate than most vehicles i have owned.

Reported in: SOUTH LYON MI || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

key stuck in the iginition car still running. key release doesn't work. car was left running all night.

Reported in: FORT STEWART GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B79S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

key stuck in the iginition car still running. key release doesn't work. car was left running all night.

Reported in: FORT STEWART GA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B79S

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

2009 chevrolet hhr. consumer writes in regards to door handle on the passenger side coming off *tgw the consumer stated the door handle came off in her hand, when she pulled the handle to open the door. the cost to replace the handle, was $ 334.85. *jb

Reported in: LOUISVILLE KY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

AIR BAGS

i was driving on 30 mph zone at 30 mph, when the service air bags came on my dashboard.

Reported in: HUNTINGTON PARK CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B49S

AIR BAGS

air bag light turned on in the vehicle, but after a while it would turn off and then come back on again. the dealer repaired the problem and the light went away. less than one year later when the car had 50000 mi the problem re-occurred. there appears to be a wiring issue with the airbags in this vehicle as there are many similar complaints from other owners.

Reported in: RESTON NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

STEERING

we own a chevrolet hhr which loses power steering almost immediately after turning the car on. we have had many many problems with this car since the beginning. mainly steering column problems and power steering issues. we almost got into an accident while taking a right at low speed because of how hard the ''power'' (not) steering was. this has to be fixed now!!! it's been a well known problem since the beginning of the hhr line up. how come this issue has been partially recognized and taken care of on some vehicles with the exact part numbers?? cobalt, g5?, anyone?. please research this problem.

Reported in: COACHELLA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: COACHELLA CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

STEERING

i received a power steering failure message on the dash at the same time that i lost power steering while going home from dropping off my child at daycare. i drove home without the power steering, when i shut off the car and restarted it i had power steering again. this power steering failure has happened multiple times on the highway, residential neighborhoods and in parking lots; in total about 10-15 incidents in the last month.

Reported in: CORDOVA TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: CORDOVA TN || Crash: N || VIN #:

WHEELS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while driving, she heard a loud rubbing sound near the front of the vehicle. the contact mentioned that while inflating the tires she ended up putting 60 pounds of pressure due to the tire pressure monitoring system malfunctioning. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnose that the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 70,000. the vin was unavailable.

Reported in: JULIETTE GA || Crash: N || VIN #:

AIR BAGS

the service airbag keeps coming on. the dealer said that i need a new airbag and they want me to pay for it. i feel that this is a manufacture default.

Reported in: BAKERSFIELD CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

buyers beware: on saturday evening we put the hhr into park and went to turn off the key and the key got stuck in the ignition. tried several times to reput the car into gear and turn they key but it was permanently stuck in the on position. had to wind up pulling a fuse out of the engine to cut off the car. just took it to the dealership and they are refusing to acknowledge a problem and are forcing us to pay hundreds of dollars to get the car fixed. they are also blaming us for pulling the fuse and it causing an indicator light to come on.

Reported in: OLAR SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: OLAR SC || Crash: N || VIN #:

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while traveling 55 mph she attempted to make a turn when the steering wheel seized making the vehicle very difficult to control. the contact also stated that the service traction control and airbag lights illuminate intermittently. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure and current mileage was unavailable. the vin was not available.

Reported in: ST. ROBERT MO || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that he had several problems with the vehicle. the failures included the brakes, power steering assist and a foul odor being emitted through the ventilation system. in addition, the driver�s side door handle cable fractured and the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. the contact stated that he took the vehicle to the dealer for the failure of the power steering assist where they advised that the steering rack needed to be replaced. the steering rack was repaired but the failure recurred. the vehicle was then taken to the dealer because the check engine light was illuminated and they advised that the cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired but the vehicle began to drive roughly afterward. the vehicle was also taken to the dealer for the brake failure, door handle and the exhaust and the technicians stated that they could not duplicate the brake problem or the foul odor that was coming through the exhaust. in addition, the cable in the door handle needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was notified but provided no assistance. the failure mileage was 32,000.

Reported in: NEW PALTZ NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

ENGINE

Reported in: NEW PALTZ NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

STEERING

Reported in: NEW PALTZ NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B09S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key became lodged in the ignition switch, preventing the engine from being turned off. the vehicle was towed to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact that the problem was caused by an electrical failure. the manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer to have the repairs performed. the failure mileage was 43,000.

Reported in: BIG FALLS MN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA33B29S

STEERING

was going around a curve when my power steering light came on. my wheel was very hard to turn. wasn't so bad when i was driving at higher speeds, but it was almost impossible to turn into my driveway. as soon as i turned off my car and turned it back on it worked fine. i took it in and the dealer said their was an internal problem with the power steering and had to replace the motor.

Reported in: OCEAN SPRINGS MS || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

AIR BAGS

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that he applied the brakes and as the vehicle stopped, the roof-mounted air bag deployed inadvertently. the vehicle was not involved in any type of crash. as a result, the contact sustained injuries to her head and neck and was transported to the hospital for treatment. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who notified the manufacturer, and advised that a representative would be sent to inspect the failure. the failure mileage was 88,000. updated 2/13/13 *cn the consumer stated gm offered to buy the vehicle back, but by the time she pays off the loan, there would not be enough money to buy another vehicle. updated 02/14/13

Reported in: CARBOBDALE PA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B19S

ENGINE

i pulled in my driveway and put the car in park and could not turn off the key. i tried to everything, steering wheel, key, shifter, brakes, etc and i could not turn the car off or get the key out. i had to pull a fuse to get the car to shut down. this problem is similar, if not exactly, the same of other complaints on this type car. i will probably have to have it towed and repaired by a dealer at great expense. not good for gm.

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

POWER TRAIN

Reported in: FAYETTEVILLE TN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B69S

AIR BAGS

the service air bag light comes on and goes off intermittently . dealer ran diagnostic checks and stated "passenger side dash airbag connector needs to be replaced" . this vehicle has never had an accident , has never had any work done under the dash or to the air bag restraint system .

Reported in: JUPITER FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B79S

STEERING

my wife drives a 2009 chevrolet hhr and the power steering will go out sporadically while she is driving. this may occur 1 time or it has happened up to 4 times in 10 mile distance. it has happened at hi speed of 60 mph or when she is in a parking lot doing 5 mph. each time if she turns the ignition off and restarts the car the power steering is fine.the problem is a faulty electric power steering motor. this puts my wife's and my kids safety at risk. i have found that the chevrolet hhr's in canada have been recalled to this faulty motor. chevrolet cobalt's with the same motor have also been recalled. why haven't the chevrolet hhr's been recalled. it is a huge safety risk. i have had to park this car due to it's safety risks.i called dealership and they want $775.00 to replace this motor. sounds outrageous to fix a faulty motor that gm is well aware of its problems.

Reported in: ALVIN TX || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13BX9S

STEERING

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the power steering would intermittently fail without warning and the steering wheel would become difficult to maneuver. the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist system needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 100,000.

Reported in: BLOCKWOOD OH || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B49S

STEERING

the power steering in my 2009 hhr goes out w/o warning, at various speeds. when it started i contacted my local dealer and chevy and was led to believe that this was an unusual occurrence. since then, i have seen hundreds of complaints, similar to mine, dating back to 2006. the power steering motors in these cars are faulty and dangerous and chevy knows it. they have already recalled the same ones in ions, cobalts, and malibus and have only failed to recall all of them because they have not yet been made to do so. hopefully, they will take responsibility for wrecklessly endangering so many trusting consumers and address this issue before someone gets killed, if it hasn't already happened.

Reported in: SILVER CITY NM || Crash: N || VIN #:

SERVICE BRAKES

front disc brakes pulsate and cause vibration in steering wheel.

Reported in: CLIFTON PARK NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA53V59S

STRUCTURE:BODY

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the front driver's side door handle fractured when she attempted to open the door. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

Reported in: LOS ANGELES CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA23B99S

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

i went to open driver side door to get out of my parked car. door handle would not release the door to open. i have to role done my window (power window) and open door from outside to be able to get out of my car trough the driver side door. dealer said that whole new door panel is required at a cost of $450.00 because the handle and trigger is part of the panel. the dealer went on to say that 100s of these panels have had to be replaced because of and engineered defect and gm does not want to cover the problem. this is a safety concern because if i had to get out my car in case of an emergency, the drivers door can not be opened unless the window is rolled down and opened from outside. i would be trapped in the driver seat if unable to get window opened.. gm should be held responsible for their engineered defect. .

Reported in: SAINT CLOUD FL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B89S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that the key would not turn the vehicle off. the contact removed the battery and the vehicle still did not turn off. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. the failure mileage and current mileages was 66,000.

Reported in: BRASHER FALLS NY || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B39S

AIR BAGS

i was in a car accident on 3/6/13. before the accident i passed out due to a later found heart condition. i failed to negotiate a left turn due to passing out. i sheared off a street sign, went through a chain link fence, was airborne over a hill and dropped approximately 25 feet. my car was a total loss as determined by my insurance company. my driver side airbag did not deploy. i spoke with gm to file a claim and an investigator went to investigate my car and determined that the airbag should have not deployed. i asked for a copy of the report for my personal records. gm is telling me that they will not release it due to it being gm property. i would like to know how to proceed from here. if more detail and specific dates are needed please feel to request it. i have all of the names and dates as needed.

Reported in: MCDONALD PA || Crash: Y || VIN #:

STEERING

i have a 2009 hhr the power steering goes out while in motion if you stop the vehicle and turn off it will have power steering again for a while the same thing happens.

Reported in: BROWNSBURG IN || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B59S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

in late 2010, i decided to buy my wife a car; first i bought a chevy cobalt first week of having it i was having too many problems, so i told it back to the dealer (lucky my cousin knew the owner of the dealer), i was able to trade it in for a hhr. while driving on the highway at a speed of 50 or so mile i went to turn the corner and the steering wheel was very hard to turn, i proceeded to get the car in a parking lot to see what was going on and to see if i needed so power steering, could not find a place to put the power steering fluid. so i turned off the car and after around 5 minutes i was able to drive for another mile and it did the same thing. it was very difficult to turn the corner; it was like having manual steering. i was in new jersey and i had to drive back to maryland without power steering. when i took it to one of my shops it get my car fix at all the time he informed my the hhr's has electrical power steering pump that can only be fix by the dealer. went on the internet to see if i was the only one with this problem and come to find out that there are numerous people with the same problems with the chevy cobalt and hhr, however there are only recalls for cobalts, not the hhr these two vehicles are made by the same company. can you please respond, because im still trying to get the money together to get it fix; i know its going to cost me a arm and legs to get it fixed, because i have to go to the dealer, too bad because the makers of these cars have all the money and they keep pimping out the consumers. real sad. oh feel free to call me and to share my letter with the vehicle manufacturer. my hhr is sitting in my driveway until i get the money to fix it, hopefully soon. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Reported in: ROCKVILLE MD || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B29S

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i turned the key and started my car and then i couldn't turn it off. i could take the key out but it wouldn't shut off > i see that there are many problems online like this but i don't see a recall. this is going to cost me almost $ 500.00.

Reported in: MILLBURY MA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B19S

STEERING

electrical power steering assist motor failed and is now in operable. it happened right in the middle of driving down the freeway. the car can barely be turned, and is extremely dangerous to drive.

Reported in: SAUSALITO CA || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B69S

AIR BAGS

i was sitting with the car idle at home and the air bag light came on. i looked it up and it said that the air bag is more than likely defected due to an electrical issue. my concern is that the air bag could go off while i am driving or not go off in an accident.

Reported in: RICHMOND VA || Crash: N || VIN #:

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY

tl* the contact owns a 2009 chevrolet hhr. the contact stated that after a long drive, the vehicle started to have a very strange smell and the contact felt sick. the contact took the vehicle to a private mechanic where it was found that the battery and battery tube was leaking and the fluid had breached the interior of the vehicle. the vehicle had not been repaired. the failure and current mileages were 38,000.

Reported in: LODA IL || Crash: N || VIN #: 3GNCA13B49S

AIR BAGS

this is my 2nd hhr first was great this is horrible. first problem was my locking mechanism on drivers side would not work. after the third time in the dealership they changed out the lock mechanism. then i started having problems with my window not rolling down and my dash light going out for a period of 2-3 seconds. they fixed the window but could never find out what was going on with the dash. then my airbag service light started coming on i had to take in twice for this incident. my steering problem started when i took my son in to do his driving test and all of a sudden it became very difficult to turn. we parked the car gave it a few minutes and started driving again, did the test and on the way home it happened again. we have just had to many problems with this vehicle.