13 of the 288 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet HHR are about the braking system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 49,600 miles.
13
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRACKS ARE COMING WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD..THEY COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES..ITS SAYS ABS ON...IT GRABS AND PULLS TO THE LEFT LIKE THE LEFT SIDE BRAKES ARE CATCHING..DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT..
NHTSA complaint #11076895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO OPEN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR BRAKES AND DRUMS ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10873628 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10790185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASE CHEVY HHR IN GOOD CONDITIONS UNTIL I GOT ON THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS IMMERGING IN TO THE FREEWAY THE ACCELORATOR GOT STUCK ON 6RPM AND WAS SPEEDING 60MPH I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES DIDNT GO DOWN AT ALL. IT WAS ALL LOCKED UP MY KIDS AND I FREAK OUT WITH THE SPEED THAT THE CAR WAS PICKING UP AND HOW THE BREAKS WERENT WORKING I DECIDED TO USE THE EMERGENCY HANDDLE AND SOME SIDE BUSHES TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND NOTHING WORKED! I CHECKED TO SEE IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NOTHING THEN I CHECKED TO SEE IF IT WAS ON DRIVE IT WAS THE I PUSHED HARD ON THE BREAKS BUT NEVER ONCE IT WENT DOWN AT ALL IT WAS SO HARD I FORCE MY FOOT SO MUCH AND THE BREAK HANDDLE EMERGED OFF THE FREEWAY AND IMMEDIATELY HIT SOMETHING MORE SOLID TO STOP THE CAR. IT WAS THEN WE HEADED TO A BUILDING BUT I HIT A PALM TREE. THE CAR EXPLODED BLACK SMOKE AND THE AIREBAGS WENT OFF THE FRONT DOOR DIDNT OPEN AND MY DAUGHTER AND I JUMP OFF THROUGH THE SMALL LITTLE WINDOWS. WE THANK GOD WE ARE ALIVE!! MY TWO KIDS 11 AND 8 COULD HAVE DIED W ME IN THAT VEHICLE IF I DIDNT EXIT THE FREEWAY BEFORE THE CAR KEPT PICKING UP SPEED. WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I WOULD NEVER EVER RIDE A CHEVY HHR OR ANY OTHER CHEVY AS I LIVE. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED IN THE FRONT AND THE WINDOWS ARE CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #10783826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WAS TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON INTERSTATE 70 BETWEEN KANSAS CITY AND ST LOUIS WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAN ON ALONG WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AT THE SAME TIME THE ON DASH MESSAGE CENTER SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED, TRACTION CONTROL OFF, AND ESC OFF. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR LOST SPEED AND BEFORE I COULD GET OFF THE ROAD I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK, AT THE TIME IT WAS RAINING. SINCE THEN IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO WARNING. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE OFF FOR A VERY SHORT TIME IT WILL START AND RUN FINE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT OFF. BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINING ON. THE CODE FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS P2135 WHICH IS A CODE FOR THE THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR, THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS TO HAPPENING. I THINK THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A NUMBER OF MECHANICS AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. I SPOKE WITH GM THIS WEEK AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK ONLINE YOU FILL FIND MANY POSTING COMPLAINING OF THIS PROBLEM COVERING MANY MODEL YEARS OTHER THAN 2011.
NHTSA complaint #10672196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING ON DRY EVEN PAVEMENT THE ESC LIGHT/SYSTEM KICKED IN ON MY 2011 HHR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE AND BRAKES. LUCKILY, NO OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS WERE NEAR ME OR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS UNDRIVEABLE UNTIL THE IGNITION THIS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND ON AGAIN. I HAD IT CHECKED AND NO ERROR CODES WERE STORED ON THE ECM/BCM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM!! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME AND I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME!
NHTSA complaint #10632293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
STEERING SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING FROM 45 MPH AND SLOWER CAUSING THE CAR TO TRY TO CHANGE POSITION IN THE LANE. THERE IS A NOISE OF SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEN BRAKING OR HITTING BUMPS OR ON ROUGH ROADS. BRAKE PEDAL PULSES. ALL THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND NEEDS THE NHTSA ATTENTION.
NHTSA complaint #10631266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. EXCESSIVE FORCE NEEDED TO BE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED FOR THE OTHER FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
NHTSA complaint #10621707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, WHICH RESULTED IN TWO CRASHES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER EACH CRASH. THE FIRST CRASH OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND STRUCK THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE SECOND CRASH OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS CRASHED INTO A TREE. POLICE REPORTS WERE FILED FOR BOTH CRASHES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN SHOULDER. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER BOTH CRASHES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10618972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE BRAKES, ESC, SBC, AND THE LOW TRACTION WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
NHTSA complaint #10587857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MERGING INTO TRAFFIC CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND THE RENTAL JUST CONTINUE TO SLIDE INTO THE CAR CAUSING REAR END ACCIDENT WARNING LIGHTS IN DASH CONTROL TRACTION SERVICE AND ENGINE SERVICE SOON LOW OILS LIGHTS LOUD NOISE FROM BRAKES LOINS NOISE FROM UNDERPARTS
NHTSA complaint #10563196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2013 WITH 54000 MILES ON IT. THERE WAS A SHAKING IN THE FRONT END WHILE BRAKING. I WAS INSURED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS BECAUSE IT HAS NEW BRAKES AND IF IT DOES NOT STOP BRING IT BACK AND THEY WILL FIX IT. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND THEY ROTATED THE ROTORS. IT WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. THE ROTORS STARTED SHAKING AGAIN AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS. SO I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY PUT NEW ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE. IT HAS STARTED AGAIN WITH THE NEW ROTORS. THIS TIME IT STARTED WITH IN A MONTH. MY CAR WHILE BREAKING WILL SOMETIME FEEL LIKE THERE IS ICE UNDER IT ON DRY ROADS. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TODAY TO BIG O TIRES AND HAVE A FRIEND WORK ON IT THAT I TRUST. THE CAR JUST HIT 70000 MILES. I HAVE DONE ONLY ONE OIL CHANGE AND TAKING THE CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR WRAPPED ROTORS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG THAT THEY ARE JUST IGNORING. I STATED THAT I TOOK IT IN TWICE I TOOK IT TO PINEGAR CHEVORLET IN BRANSON, MO WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HERE IS SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON SERVICE DATES AND MILEAGE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE: 02/14/2013 52534 MILES 1ST REPAIR: 04/22/2013 ROTATED ROTORS 56032 MILES 2ND REPAIR: 08/24/2013 61,107 REPLACED ROTORS WENT AND TALKED TO PINEGAR CHEVROLET TOLD THEN THAT THEY ARE VIBRATING AGAIN ON 10/26/2013 65777 MILES. BLAMMED THE WHOLE THING ON MY DRIVING. THE ROTORS ARE THINNER THEN THEY ARE IN THE NEW CARS. THEY DO IT TO BE MORE FUEL EFFICIENT. IT WILL COST ABOUT 100 TO ROTATE THE ROTORS. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKING SYSTEM AND THEY ARE JUST IGNORING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10557515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
LAST JUNE, MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 HHR IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A SAFER, MORE DEPENDABLE VEHICLE FOR OUR TEENAGE DAUGHTERS TO LEARN TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO TAKE OUR DOGS WITH US WHEN WE WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE AS A FAMILY. IN JANUARY, ON ONE OF THE DAYS WE ACTUALLY HAD SNOW ON THE GROUND, I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION, TRIED TO STOP, COULDN'T, AND SLID THROUGH. A CAR IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION MADE A LEFT TURN, NOT REALIZING I COULDN'T STOP, HIT ME ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE HHR, TURNING ME 90 DEGREES FROM THE DIRECTION I WAS GOING AND CAUSING OVER $8,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE FIRST THING MY WIFE ASKED WAS, DID I GET TO SEE WHAT MY AIRBAG LOOKED LIKE? I REALIZED MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. WHY? ALSO, WHY DIDN'T THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES STOP THE CAR, OR AT LEAST SLOW IT DOWN? AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS, THE DEALER DID FINALLY GET A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM TO LOOK INTO IT, PULL THE BLACK BOX AND SEE IF WE HAD A REAL ISSUE. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 18, AND ON MARCH 9TH, I FINALLY GOT A FORM LETTER FROM ESIS/GM BASICALLY CLAIMING THE CAR PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD. THE LETTER ALSO STATED I SHOULD KEEP THE CAR IN AN UN-REPAIRED CONDITION UNTIL THE DISPUTE IS RESOLVED. A DAY BEFORE I GOT THE LETTER, THE DEALER CALLED TO TELL ME THE REPAIRS ON THE CAR WERE ALMOST DONE. THEY KNEW WE WERE DISPUTING IT AND FIXED THE CAR ANYWAY. GM STATED I WOULD HAVE HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKES SEVEN SECONDS FROM THE LIGHT IN ORDER TO STOP IN TIME. AT 30 MPH, WHICH IS THE SPEED I WAS TRAVELING AT, I WOULD TRAVEL 616 FEET IN 7 SECONDS, THAT'S TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS. AT THAT DISTANCE THE LIGHT WAS STILL GREEN. I HAVE WRITTEN LOCAL LAWMAKERS, MY CONGRESSMAN, AND THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THIS MATTER. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES AND AIRBAGS. THE CONTACT BANGED HIS SHOULDER INTO THE CORNER POST OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED IVOQ 04/17/12.
NHTSA complaint #10453475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.