FaultScore

2006 Chevrolet HHR stability control problems

17 of the 1,367 complaints about the 2006 Chevrolet HHR are about the stability control — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.

B

17

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 14 82.4%
Traction Control System 3 17.6%

Stability & Traction Control across every Chevrolet HHR year

2006 17 13.4%
2007 10 7.9%
2008 15 11.8%
2009 26 20.5%
2010 34 26.8%
2011 25 19.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 146,000 miles Springfield, OH

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

LEAKING FUEL LINE. MANY MANY HHR HAVE THIS

NHTSA complaint #11139621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 176,000 miles Crestview, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WE WAS GOING DOWN HE ROAD IT JUST SWITCHED OFF I COULDN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND I HAD TO STAND ON THE BREAKES.I COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT SOMEONE OR MY SELF IF NOT WORSE AND I HIT A CURVE HARD.

NHTSA complaint #11062661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Miami, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

2006 CHEVY HHR IS HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE EPS WAS REPLACED AND NOW WHEN I AM DRIVE THE INSRUMENT PANEL NEEDLES MOVE BACK AND FORTH, POWER STEERING AND OTHER INDICATORS LIGHT UP AND CAR CUTS OFF. HAD SEVERAL TUNE-UPS AND THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING.

NHTSA complaint #10884485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 106,000 miles Long Beach, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT FLASHES ON DASH BOARD AND I LOSE ALL THE FUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED 4 SEPARATE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS, THE LAST WHEN I WAS TURNING A CORNER AND NEARLY HIT A CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. I HAVE A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM GENERAL MOTORS STATING THAT I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX AND THEN THEY WOULD DETERMINE IF IT FELL UNDER THERE RECALL. WHEN THE LETTER STATES TO BRING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD THE POWER STEERING LIGHT EVER COMES ON THE DASH PANEL, WHICH IT HAS DONE KNOW 4 TIMES WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I COULD BEEN KILLED IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER OR KILLED SOME ONE. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE GM FAULTY MECHANICS. FIRST IT WAS THE IGNITION HAVING TO GIVE MY VEHICLE UP FOR NEARLY 6 WEEKS TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS AND PAID FOR BY GENERAL MOTORS, NOT THE CONSUMER. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE, ANOTHER DEATH BECAUSE OF THE MISTAKES. EVEN AFTER THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE VIA LETTER, BUT I FIRST PAY OUT OF POCKET AND THEN DETERMINE IF THEY WILL REIMBURSE ME FOR IT. THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN DOWNTOWN LA GOING TO WORK AND ONCE AGAIN WHEN I TURNED LEFT WHILE DRIVING, THE SECOND ON THE 405 IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, JUST AS I WAS ACCELERATING AND CHANGING LANES, THE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH BOARD (POWER STEERING) AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING CAPABILITY. THE THIRD WAS THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15, 2016. TURNING LEFT AGAIN AND THE FOURTH TIME JUST YESTERDAY AGAIN WHEN I TURNED LEFT.

NHTSA complaint #10837279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 211,201 miles West Alexander, PA Crash

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WE WERE ON VACATION AND I WAS TRAVELING ON A ROAD AT THE POSTED SPEED OF 30 MPH. I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND AND IMMEDIATELY MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, THERE WAS A CHIME, IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THE BEND I WAS GOING AROUND AND I HIT A LIGHT POLE DAMAGING MY FRONT BUMPER. AT THAT SAME TIME, MY MHP AND RMP NEEDLES BEGAN BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH AND THE CAR WAS "JERKING". I TURNED THE CAR OFF. IT WAS STILL DRIVABLE, BUT WITHIN A FEW SECONDS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME BACK ON, THE NEEDLES BOUNCED AND CAR JERKED. I CALLED GM TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL GM POWER STEERING RECALLS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF HHR, COBALT AND SATURNS. THEY ALL HAVE VERY SIMILAR POWER STEERING MECHANISMS. HOWEVER, MY YEAR, 2006, WAS NOT ON THAT RECALL. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH 2006 HHR'S COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUES BUT NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THAT YEAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10620893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fordland, MO Crash

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ALL ELECTRONIC SHUT OFF NO BRAKES NO STEERING WOUND UP IN THE DITCH KEY WOULD NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSIPOSITION.

NHTSA complaint #10617803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles Upland, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN NOTIFIED REGARDING THE RECALL OF THE VEHICLE IN APRIL, I CONTACTED THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER IN UPLAND CALIFORNIA AND ORDERED THE NECESSARY PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WOULD IN THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN TWO MONTHS. CALLING THE DEALER IN MAY, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS HAD NOT COME IN YET. YESTERDAY THE CAR WOULD NOT START DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE MOUNTAIN VIEW CHEVROLET IN UPLAND, WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE PARTS BEING ORDERED, AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE TWO MONTHS TO GET THE PARTS. I CALLED CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT RECALL PARTS COULD NOT BE EXPEDITED. IT MEANS I HAVE TO WAIT TWO MORE MONTHS TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10604716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,798 miles Republic, MO

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WAS PULLING OUT OF MY GARAGE WHEN ALL MY ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN NO POWER. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO RICKS AUTOMOTIVE AND THEY REPAIRED MY STARTER $ 427.00. I WOULD LIKE TO GET REIMBURSED FROM GM AND NEED TO KNOW HOW GE TO MY MONEY BACK? I HAD TROUBLE WITH MY IGNITION SWITCH FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND NOT LETTING ME REMOVE THE KEY TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #10575631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Hayward, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE, USUALLY AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. WHEN BEING CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, HITTING THE BRAKE HARD AND STEERING AWAY FROM THE OFFENDING VEHICLE CAUSE THE HHR TO FISHTAIL AND GET VERY SQUIRRELLY. IT JUST STARTS GOING BACK AND FORTH IN A ROCKING MOTION AND ONLY SETTLES DOWN BY TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR COULD EASILY GO INTO A ROLL OVER. I HAVE HAD IT INSPECTED BY LES SCHWAB AND THEY REPLACED THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS, BUT SAW NO REAL PROBLEMS. THIS LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED MANY MONTHS AFTER THAT WORK WAS COMPLETED, SO THAT APPARENTLY WAS NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM. IT WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY GIVE ME A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DECELERATING FROM A MODERATE SPEED. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT OCCUR MOST OF THE TIME... ROTORS APPEAR TO BE FINE.

NHTSA complaint #10573530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Barbourville, KY

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

FOR THE LAST YEAR, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT HAS STAYED ON AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LIGHT. SHIFTING IS DIFFICULT AND I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL EFFECT THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL EVENTUALLY BE DESTROYED. THERE ARE SEVERAL WEBSITES WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE GM HAS NOT RECALLED THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10532217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 115,000 miles Monticello, AR

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE DASH PANEL WARNING LIGHTS ALL STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF. WHEN IT DID THIS THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND WHEN I TRIED TO STOP THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE POWER BRAKES DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD THE OLD STYLE MANUAL BRAKES. IT HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE I NOTICED THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER HHR OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TO COME ON RANDOMLY AND I WOULD HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO RESET THE COMPUTER.

NHTSA complaint #10508493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles LOS Angeles, CA

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

THIS IS AN ONGOING SAFETY PROBLEM THAT CHEVY/GM DOESN'T CARE TO WORRY ABOUT. MY CARS STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN I AM DRIVING. SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE IN ADDITION TO THIS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS IN TO THE DEALER EVERY TWO MONTHS AND HAVE BEEN TOLD A COMBINATION OF WHAT THE DEALERS MECHANICS FEEL THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE HAD STEERING COLUMNS REPLACED, CAM SHAFT SOLENOIDS, BUSHINGS, ROTORS. THE LIST GOES ON. NOTHING HAS FIXED THE ISSUE. TODAY BRINGING BACK TO THE DEALER I AM NOW TOLD THAT I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS BOTH CONTROL ARMS IN THE FRONT ARE SECONDS FROM BREAKING ALONG WITH THE LINKS THAT KEEP THE CAR STABLE.. THE MECHANIC SHARED THAT HAD I HIT A POTHOLE I WOULD HAVE DIED AS THE CAR WOULD HAVE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER AS I WOULD HAVE NO WAY TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. NOW HAVING TWO KIDS, AND THIS BEING AN ONGOING PROBLEM ONE WOULD THINK THAT CHEVY/GM WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THEIR FAULTY PART. I CANT AFFORD A NEW CAR, AND I CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO PAY FOR GM'S MISTAKES. MY CAR IS PAID OFF AND NOW I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. TO "FIX IT" AND I SAY THIS LOOSELY IT WILL COST 1,800 OUT OF MY POCKET.

NHTSA complaint #10480042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 54,000 miles Long Beach, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING VEHICLE CITY STREET MAKING TURN POWER STEERING MESSAGE CAME ON POWER STEERING FAILED .PULLED OVER TO SAFE AREA SHUT OFF VEHICLE RESTARTED POWER STEERING FUNCTIONAL FOR A FEW MILES FAILED AGAIN WITH MESSAGE THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10440189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Tampa, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE POWER STEERING DOESNT WORK ANYMORE, BOTH OF THE FRONT INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, WATER LEAKING IN PASSENGER FRONT COMING FROM THE MOTER AREA SOMEWHERE I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BUT NO RECALLS AND I HAVE READ ON NUMORUS FORUMS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT GM STILL HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10421660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Sherman, TX

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND THE DASHBOARD GAUGES ALL WENT OUT. PULLED THE FUSE AND REINSERTED IT - PROBLEM CORRECTED. T/C INDICATOR ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS UPSHIFTING HARD. AGAIN, I REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THE FUSES AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. POWER STEERING WARNING WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH AND THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED. I REMOVED AND REINSTALLED THE FUSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. I DID NOTICE THAT MOST OF THE FUSES WERE MILDLY OXIDIZED ON ONE LEG OF EACH FUSE.

NHTSA complaint #10353864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,600 miles Brant Rock, MA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

2006 NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE SERVICED 8 TIMES FOR MULTIPLE FAILURES RELATED TO EITHER ELECTRICAL/BRAKING/ABS/ WHEELS/EMISSIONS/ TRACTION CONTROL/COMPUTER/POWER STEERING AND OR COMPUTER ISSUES/ALL REPAIRED/AND RESOLVED AT GM DEALER/VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY WHEN ISSUE OCCURS THE FAILED SYSTEM IN QUESTION OVERRIDES DRIVER LAST INCIDENT FAILURE OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC RESULTING IN REMOVAL FROM SERVICE WHICH TOOK 3 WEEKS TO REPAIR/HAD THE CONDITIONS BEEN DIFFERENT THIS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10294994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Cocoa, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I NEED YOUR HELP, 1ST,COMPUTER BROKE,THEN 2ND GEAR SHIFT, THEN 3RD SUNROOF, THEN 4TH BACK DOOR WON'T OPEN-SON CAN'T GET OUT, THEN 5TH POWER STEERING, TRIED TO REPLACE POWER STEERING WITH A USED ONE THAT WE COULD AFFORD,, NOW CAR IS LOCKED AND WON'T CRANK, DID WHAT MECHANIC SAID TO REPROGRAM AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK, GM REPLACED 1ST COMPUTER, I PAID FOR GEARS , TRIED TO GET GM TO FIX ELECTRIC STEERING, SAID THEY WOULD BUY PARTS BUT NOT LABOR >1000, RIGHT BEFORE WE TRIED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING THE CRANK STARTED HANGING, 06 CHEVROLET HHR-NO CAR, HELP, ITS SO BROKE, HURT MYSELF TRYING TO DRIVE IT, AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET FIXED FOR OVER 2 MONTHS, ITS A BOMB, NOW I HAVE NO CAR TO DRIVE. GM STATES ITS OVER MILEAGE, THOUGHT I BOUGHT ALL WARRANTIES, DEALER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, PALM BAY CHEVROLET, FL, I NEED SOME HELP, MULTIPLE TIMES HAVE ALL BUT CRASHED RELATED TO CAN'T HARDLY STEER IT, TURN IT, I THINK I'VE BROKE MY SHOULDER WITH THIS THING. NOW I CATCH A RIDE WITH 4 YEARS TO PAY LEFT ON THIS CAR, HELP! ITS A HAZARD, I DON'T HAVE GOLIATHS STRENGTH ANY MORE!

NHTSA complaint #10256535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2006 Chevrolet HHR problems

← Full 2006 Chevrolet HHR report