245 of the
4,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet HHR
are about the braking system —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
Noticed that the cruise control would disengage randomly when activated. I checked the function of the brake lights at night and found that the brake lights would turn themselves on randomly with zero brake input, disengaging the cruise control. In this state, depressing the brake pedal more than around 30-40% would turn the brake lights off, even with the brake pedal fully pressed. Furthermore, with the brake pedal pressed to a moderate level, the cruise control is able to be engaged, even with obvious brake pressure being applied. This defeats the cruise control disengagement feature and the cruise control system will fight against the braking system to maintain speed instead of turning itself off as it seems to rely solely on the brake lights for the automatic disengagement. This issue is quite dangerous as this seems to happen quite often with the brake lights, but I cannot find any sort of consistent scenario that causes these issues to occur.
NHTSA complaint #11530229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Steering gets very stiff and sometimes locks up when turning left or right in a curve at highway speeds. Had dealer check it and they said they replaced steering motor. Did not correct problem. Made an appointment to check again but was told I would incur charges. I have had it to several mechanic shops and we cannot find anything loose or failing. In a parked position it locks up completely until you start rolling. Afraid steering is going to lock up in a curve and cause harm to driver and passengers. It is available for inspection. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance. Has no warning lights or messages pertaining to problem. The problem first appeared approximately 6 months ago.
NHTSA complaint #11464292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
when I went to push on the brake, the brake pedal went to the floor... I had No Brakes? This could have been a terrible accident had I been going faster.
NHTSA complaint #11434156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the low unknown fluid warning light was illuminated. The contact checked the fluid levels and the fluid levels were at full. After a couple of days the contact restarted the vehicle and the warning light was off. The contact was concerned that there might be an issue with brake fluid not flowing through the brake lines as designed which could cause the brakes to not work properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #11423614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE BUTTON CANNOT TURN IT OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THERE IS A SERVICE PROMPT ON THE INFORMATION SCROLL LCD SCREEN. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LIGHTS UP BUT THE CRUISE DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SET BUTTON IS PRESSED AT ANY SPEED, IE, 30MPH, 50MPH, 55MPH ETC. THE RESEARCH I READ RECOMMENDS TO CONTACT YOU TO HELP GET THIS VEHICLE INCLUDED IN AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUES IN OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT AS OTHER GM VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR REPAIR. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS RECALLED IN OTHER GM VEHICLES I REQUEST THIS VEHICLE BE COVERED UNDER THE SAME RECALL AND ABLE TO BE REPAIRED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
NHTSA complaint #11355488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN TO BE ON AS PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED AND ESC, TRACTION CONTROL DO NOT WORK ALSO THIS IS A HAZARD TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE HAD ROAD RAGE AGAINST ME BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED THROUGH GM AS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES THIS IS NOT THE ONLY 2009 CHEVY HHR THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM
NHTSA complaint #11354570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET HHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING. ADDITIONALLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE REAR HATCH DOOR WOULD ERRONEOUSLY OPENED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN SECURELY CLOSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA complaint #11349208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
II PURCHASED A BEUTIFUL 2009 HHR FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP, IN MAY OF 2020, AN IN JULY F 2020, IT WOULD BARELY SPEED UP, THE GEARS, WOULDN'T SHIFT ON ME AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT I HAD NOT ONLY BEEN OPERATING A "DEFECTED" VEHICE BUT THE CAR DEALER FAIED TO MENTION HE WAS SELLING ME A "RECALLED" CAR, (A NEIGHBOR INFORMED ME) I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO MY SON'S HOUSE,BECAUSE I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND THE CAR KEPT ROLLING BACKWARDSI AND IT ONLY GOES IN REVERSE NOW. LONGER GO
NHTSA complaint #11341644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON GOING ISSUE OF BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON WITHOUT TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL. FIRST NOTICED SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T ACTIVATE. FOUND PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN I COULD SEE THE GLOW FROM MY BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE TOP INSIDE EDGE OF MY REAR HATCH. REPLACING BRAKE SWITCH ABOVE PEDAL DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. SOUNDS KIND OF FUNNY, BUT I GOT BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OFF WHILE SETTING IN DRIVEWAY AND POUNDING MY CENTER CONSOLE OUT OF FRUSTRATION. INTERNET SEARCH FOUND OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FRUSTRATED OWNERS THAT TOOK VEHICLES TO DEALERSHIPS THAT DIDN'T FIX THEIR PROBLEM. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE CIRCUIT BOARD RELATED WITH CIRCUIT BOARDS LOCATED ON PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CENTER CONSOLE. A SHARP RAP WITH THE PALM OF MY HAND IN THAT AREA WILL ALWAYS GET THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO GO OFF WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON. DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN, BUT SEEMS CRAZY TO HAVE TO KEEP CHECKING TO SEE IF MY CRUISE WILL SET SO I KNOW IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THIS PROBLEM, THOUGH AS I STATED EARLIER, INTERNET SEARCH WILL FIND OTHER GM OWNERS WITH SIMILAR ISSUE OF BRAKE LIGHTS ON WITHOUT TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL. HAVE HAD ISSUE SETTING STILL OR MOVING. HAVE HAD CRUISE KICK OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL.
NHTSA complaint #11290572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD MY HHR 2009 FOR A YEAR NOW AND I'VE CHANGED THE BRAKES TWICE WITHIN TWO WEEKS..THE FIRST SET WAS STILL NEW BUT IT KEPT MAKING GRINDING NOISES AND ROARING NOISES WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON BRAKES... MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES LIKE CRAZY I REALLY DO LOVE MY CAR AND I WANNA GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #11269354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT ON ALDI DR. AND ROUTE 48.WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN RUNNING THRU THE LIGHT STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 48 AFTER USING EMERGENCY BRAKE TO GET STOPPED.IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I DIDNT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.I DO HAVE A PA. CERTIFIED INSPECTION MECHANICS LICENSE.I GOT OUT OF CAR AND SEEN BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WITH 4 WAYS ON I BACKED CAR OFF OF ROUTE 48 INTO HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT AND CHECKED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.I SEEN THE CALIBER BRAKE HOSE HANGING DOWN TOWARDS THE GROUND WITH FLUID RUNNING OUT.I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE ME HOME.WHEN GETTING AUTO HOME I JACKED RIGHT FRONT OF CAR UP AND PLACED JACK STAND UNDER CAR.THEN REMOVED R-FRONT WHEEL AND SEEN THE THAT THE METAL CLAMP HOLDING THE BRAKE HOSE TO THE CAR RUSTED AWAY ,IT WAS PAPER THIN RESULTING IN THE HOSE BLOWING OFF.WITH ABS AND A SINGLE MASTER CYLINDER IT WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE! I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THE WERE SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED .I HAVE CHANGED BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSES.THE BOTH HOSES WHERE UNDER $40.00 DOLLARS.THIS IS THE WORST BRAKE FAILURE THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFETIME! I AM IN MY 60S.I FILL THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO NO ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT VERY BAD .I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND COULDNT STOP CAR.THE CHEVY COBALT AND HHR ARE ON THE SAME CHASSIS.I HAVE KEPT THE FAULTY BRAKE HOSE IF NEEDED IN THE FUTURE.I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THESE VEHICLES CAN BE NOTIFIED SOMEHOW. IT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TO STOP THESE VEHICLES WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT . THANK YOU (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11153273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 CHEVROLET HHR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 37 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ABRUPTLY DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE IN TIME. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT TOE AND CHEST, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *TT
NHTSA complaint #11103731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
FIRST MY AIRBAG SYSTEM STARTED COMING ON SAYING SERVICE AIRBAGS AND THE SENSORS ARE ALL NEW, SECOND THE SERVICE ESC COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD FROM 1ST GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANNY) BRAKING SYSTEM WAS WORKING FINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR NO BRAKES AND THE FLUID IS FULL AND THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING JUST FINE AFTER MAKING GM AWARE OF THIS THEIR RESPONSE TO IT ALL IS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT THIS WAS AN ISSUE FROM DATE OF MFG AND GM REFUSES TO FIX OR CORRECT THE ONGOING ISSUES ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS IF NHTSA CANT HELP WITH THIS ISSUE THEN I HAVE NO WHERE LEFT TO TURN EXCEPT EITHER TO A MORGUE OR A SCRAP YARD
NHTSA complaint #11060657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.