111 of the
4,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet HHR
are about the other systems —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
Remedy for campaign 14V047000 was executed defectively, creating an unsafe mechanical failure that destroyed the powertrain. Failure occurred while or shortly before vehicle stalled in heavy traffic. Vehicle would not restart, but ignition switch stuck in start position while attempting restart, causing starter motor to crank continuously until the switch was turned to the off position. It is believed that starter motor was running while engine was running since last successful start about 3 minutes prior to stall, interfering with normal operation of the engine and eventually causing engine to jump timing and sustain catastrophic internal damage. Subsequent GM dealer service visit found that a burr on the new key provided with campaign 14V047000 repair caused ignition switch to bind in start position. Service staff buffed out burr on key which resolved switch binding, but vehicle refused to start. Borehole inspection of engine found damaged valves and pistons, leading to diagnosis of jumped timing. No other work other that diagnosis has been attempted at this point. Estimate to replace engine is $8600
NHTSA complaint #11757032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While replacing 3 motor mounts, engine oil pan,transmission oil pan, also CV axles, wheel bearings needed replaced. When i got my car back the power steering wasn't working. My mechanic said there was a recall for my year, make and model for the power steering assist. I haven't gotten this fixed yet due to lack of funds . I am filling this out to see if is recalled.
NHTSA complaint #11663581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rear door locking system failure. Door opened suddenly and without warning while driving endangering occupants. The door locking mechanism will not allow the door to remain secure and closed when shut. Online search revealed many similar incidents occurring for other drivers.
NHTSA complaint #11562846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The gear shift gets stuck when it gets cold outside and does not won't to go in reverse or diver. It takes a little bit when the car has to set and warm up before it will work.
NHTSA complaint #11558880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
aBOUT 3 WEEEKS ago I went to exit my 2010 Chevrolet HHR ls and the drivers door handle broke off in my hand. This caused me to climb over to the passenger side to exit. After wards I realized that I could use the power windows to roll the window down to open door from outside. If in the case of a crash the power windows would not work thus trapping me and all of my occupants in the vehicle. I checked on the hhr owners web site and many owners complain it is a constant problem . Some carry extra in vehicle to combat the problem.
NHTSA complaint #11463126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have owned 2 Chey HHR. On both vehicles, the inside driver door handles have broken within a year of ownership. Cheap plastic door handles did not last as they should. It is not replacing just the door handle, but you have to take apart the whole door and replace the complete mechanism. I very expensive fix. I had to roll down driver window in order to reachoutside and open door from outside the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11455393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On February 10, 2022 I was riding in the front passenger seat of this vehicle with the front passenger window partially down. I had my fingers of my right hand partially out of the window holding the top of the door frame. The driver hit the remote switch for auto close of the power window. As I felt intense pain in my right hand I quickly withdrew my hand and noted spurting blood, mutilated pinky finger and intense pain. The driver's view of my hand may have been obstructed by my body. My fingertip was still stuck between the top of the window and door frame. I went directly to the nearest Emergency Room and was diagnosed with a traumatic amputation of the right hand (dominant) fifth finger with complete loss of the nail. Three hand x-rays show open, partially displaced fracture of the distal phalange. Due to severe mutilation of the fingertip it could not be reattached to the remaining portion of my finger. This vehicle must not have been in compliance with the FMVSS No. 118 that required anti-pinch windows in vehicles from 2008 forward. Owner's manual has no statement that it has this safety feature.
NHTSA complaint #11451762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In 2016 the rear passenger door latch failed. Thinking it was a natural wear & tear type thing, we ordered parts online and re[paired it ourselves for about $100 With in 6 months something inside the door failed, we opened it up and thought we repaired it again, but something is wrong and it just wont open. Has not opened in over 5 years, but I can live with it. after all it is the rear passenger door. In 2018 the front passenger door latch failed and again we ordered parts online and repaired it ourselves for about $100. In 2019 the spring inside the front passenger door broke, but since the door still opened & locked, we let it ride. I can live with the interior door handle feeling loose as long as it still opens the door. In June, 2021 the front drivers interior door handle broke off in my hand while opening the car door. I took it to the dealership for repair at a cost of $237....should have just ordered the part and replaced it myself....or switched out the one from the rear passenger door (lol) since we dont use that door anymore. Wednesday, 11/17/21, the driver front door latch failed. It would not have been much of an issue, but we were not home and I had to drive home with the window down and holding the door closed. This caused my husband, who already has anxiety issues, MUCH anguish. I now also had to deal with his having a panic attack while driving, with the window down and holding the door so it would not open while moving. We did stop at the local mechanic and their initial parts search says $245 for parts, plus labor, so roughly $400 this time. I am starting to wonder if the door latches on Chevy cars are just defective and needed to be recalled way before 2016? I know there was a recall on Ford door latches. I have heard instances where the hatch latches have failed on 2011 HHRs, so I know it is just a matter of time before my hatch latch as well as the drivers rear door latch fails.
NHTSA complaint #11441246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My key gets stuck in my ignition and will not pull out happens when I'm in park and it's been a persistent ongoing problem I how to do the key release the button every time to have my keys released the back hatch of my HR is locked and it will not open it from the outside Norwood open from the inside this is also been ongoing issue I had my brake line and abs and line and inspect them in your place and my abs traction and tire pressure light remain on even after being serviced I took it to a dealership dealership and the dealership refuse to do the recall on it and want to charge me to have the whole modules replaced but it's my knowledge has a recall going on with the traction and abs I bought the car used about 4 months ago. Before my back Hats about of my HHR locked up for good where I used to lock the door the back latched did not lock you and you will still be able to open the bat match even if the doors are locked so either I'm facing it being locked completely and I can't get into it or on a good day is unlocked for me but will not remain lock when I lock the doors
NHTSA complaint #11439547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2009 Chevy HHR began leaking fuel. In April 2020 I had the fuel line repaired. I was told that this is a very common problem with the HHRs because of where the fuel line is located. I just paid $1049 to have the fuel line replaced. I understand that the NHTSA is investigating this issue. I would like to add my complaint to your list of frustrated HHR customers.
NHTSA complaint #11438101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWO ISSUES: KEY WON'T REMOVE FROM IGNITION, SEARCHED GOOGLE AND GOT KEYS OUT. SECOND ; POWER LOCKS ,CAR WON'T UNLOCK, NOT EVEN WITH KEYS. SO FAR, THIS HAS COST ME $150.00
NHTSA complaint #11413244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STARTED SMELLING SMOKE AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH THE BEING STUCK ON IGNITION. COULDN'T OPEN THE DOORS AND SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT AND FIRE START COMING OUT OF LOWER MIDDLE CONSOLE. LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AND EXIT VEHICLE. FIRE THEN ERUPTED AND QUICKLY TRAVELED STRAIGHT DOWN THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. WITHIN MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY BURNED TO NOTHING. SUFFERED SEVERAL BURNS AND SMOKE INHALATION AND THE CAR AND EVERY THING IN IT WAS DESTROYED
NHTSA complaint #11406550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STORED CAR IN GARAGE FROM OCTOBER 2020 TO MARCH 1 2021. WHEN PARKED THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OF 3-5 DRIPS PER SECOND AT LH REAR WHEEL. WHEN STARTED AND MOVED OUT OF GARAGE ON MARCH 1 THERE WAS A STEADY STREAM OF FUEL. THE ENCLOSED PICTURE SHOWS PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER CAR AFTER KEYING-OFF AFTER THE 40 FOOT MOVE. PRIOR TO GARAGING THE CAR I CONTACTED CHEVROLET ABOUT THE "VERY COMMON" LEAK AND WAS TOLD TO CALL MY LOCAL DEALER, ALL TO NO AVAIL. I'VE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR IF THE JULY 2020 NHTSA INVESTIGATION WILL TURN INTO A RECALL. WHEN WILL A RULING BE AVAILABLE? I'M AT THE POINT WHERE I WILL BE DOING A SHADE-TREE-MECHANIC REPAIR IN LIEU OF WAITING ON NHTSA. GM (CHEVROLET) HAVE BEEN BUILDING CARS FOR 100 YEARS. THE COMPANY KNOWS MANY VEHICLES ARE DRIVEN IN RUST BELT STATES. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR FITTING CHEAP UN-COATED MILD STEEL FUEL AND PURGE LINES TO VEHICLES THAT OPERATE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. NOTE THAT THIS VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE CODE IS FOR A PURGE SYSTEM LEAK. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE PURGE LINE RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE FUEL LINE IS JUST AS CORRODED AS THE FUEL LINE. THIS IS LIKELY WHERE THE PURGE SYSTEM LEAK RESIDED. SO THIS VEHICLE FAILS TO KEEP LIQUID FUEL IN IT'S FUEL LINE AND FAILS TO KEEP EVAPORATIVE FUEL IN THE PURGE SYSTEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN THE RECALL WILL BE ENACTED SO I CAN STOP NEEDLESSLY POLLUTING THE EARTH WITH HYDROCARBONS. I'D RATHER HAVE CHEVROLET FOOT THE BILL FOR THE REPAIR RATHER THAN ME. THANK YOU!
NHTSA complaint #11398577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SOMEONE HAS HACKED MY VEHICLE. AT NIGHT I CAN HEAR MY CAR DOORS BEING UNLOCKED AND LOCKED WITH A REMOTE AND ITEMS HAVE BEEN STOLEN FROM MY CAR. MY CAR WAS PARKED OVER NIGHT
NHTSA complaint #11320249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING IT UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE MY 18 YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT STEER OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE CAUSING HIM TO WRECK AND DENTED THE CAR UP AND BUSTED THE OIL PAN LOCKING THE MOTOR UP JUST BY LUCK HE WAS NOT INJURED WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME AND IT HAS SAT HERE CAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW MOTOR I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS WHOLE ORDEAL I'VE BEEN OUT A LOT OF MONEY AND HAVE NO VEHICLE NOW PLUS MY SON WAS VERY TRAUMATIZED OVER THE WHOLE MATTER I TRULY LOVED THIS CAR NOW IT'S JUST WASTING AWAY AND I'M OUT A LOT OF MONEYNOT TO MENTION HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS ROLLING UP AND DOWN AND THE STEREO JUST QUIT WORKING AND THE BATTERIES I PUT IN IT KEPT GOING DEAD I'M TRULY UPSET OVER THIS
NHTSA complaint #11300097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WERE DRIVING IT AND HE'S JUST STOP BULLYING AND I WILL PRESS ALL WAY DOWN THE GAS ALWAYS DOWN TO THE FLOW IN THE POOL AGAIN WITHOUT THE FIRST TIME I DID IT AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED
NHTSA complaint #11268433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER STEERING QUITS WORKING WHILE DRIVING. ONLY DRIVING IN TOWN SINCE THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. TOOK TO MECHANIC WAS TOLD NO POWER FROM STERINGCOLUM TO MOTOR
NHTSA complaint #11265651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS HEADING OUT TO MY CAR AND TRIED TO REMOTE START MY CAR AND IT DID T WORK AND I TRIED IT TWICE AND THEN GOT IN MY CAR AND NOTICE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND POWER STEERING CAME ON AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND BEGAN MOVING AND I STOPPED AND WHEN I WENT TO TURN IT WAS HARD TO TURN AND HAD TO USE TO HANDS AND I DID RESEARCH AND THIS A KNOW PROBLEM AND THE REMOTES AND THIS POWER STEERING ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED OR IT MAY HURT OR KILL SOMEONE
NHTSA complaint #11228664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE KEY FOB NO LONGER WORKED, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVERS DOORS NOT LOCKING PROPERLY. SEVERAL TIMES I LOCKED IT AND WENT ON ONLY TO COME BACK AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET INTO CAR WITH THE KEY. IT TOOK AWHILE FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT THAT I HAVE TO WATCH THE LATCH WHEN I LOCK IT AND IF IT DOES NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY, I HAVE TO UNLOCK AND LOCK AGAIN AND PULL THE LATCH UP AND THEN LOCK THE DRIVER DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. ALWAYS PARKED AND OUT OF VEHICLE. THERE IS NOT JUST ONE DATE THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE HAD TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET IN.
NHTSA complaint #11203763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.