FaultScore

Chevrolet HHR suspension problems

97 of the 4,753 complaints filed about the Chevrolet HHR are about the suspension — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

97

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

8

Crashes

0

Fires

Suspension complaints by model year

2006 HHR 34 35.1%

Median failure at 45,400 miles

2007 HHR 27 27.8%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2008 HHR 15 15.5%

Median failure at 48,550 miles

2009 HHR 8 8.2%

Median failure at 73,822 miles

2010 HHR 7 7.2%

Median failure at 155,000 miles

2011 HHR 6 6.2%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

What owners said

2006 Chevrolet HHR Ore City, TX

SUSPENSION

The door few open because the door latch broke off

NHTSA complaint #11678011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chevrolet HHR Arlington, TX

SUSPENSION

Loss of power while driving 35mph and service traction light along with airbags light keeps showing at random times

NHTSA complaint #11545986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chevrolet HHR Fresno, CA

SUSPENSION

I have replaced the lower control arms four times within the last 3 years that part is defective there are supposed to last 10 years. It affects your steering when breaking. This part needs to be recalled immediately. The last time I replaced the lower control arms was April 16th 2021.

NHTSA complaint #11480381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chevrolet HHR Canton, MI

SUSPENSION

When driving my 2009 HHR the steering wheel shakes & vibrate at different intervals. Usually while slowing down to a stop & sometimes after during high speeds. Recently the noise it made was frightening. I had to use my emergency flashers & drive 50 mi per hr. on the freeway to arrive home safely. I took my car to Mark Chevrolet & reported it on 08/02/2021. The car's mileage was 133344. The car is not an everyday vehicle that is driven often. I received the car on 08/17/2021 after the steering column & shaft were replaced along with resurfacing front brake rotors & rear brake job. On August 18, 2021 while driving on the freeway I went to blow my horn at a hazardous situation & discovered none of the steering wheels controls were working, horn & etc. I immediately returned my car to Mark Chevrolet & reported their negligence & how they had risk my life to release the car without these functions working. They supposedly corrected the problem. On 07/05/2022 I had to return my car to Mark Chevrolet because I was experiencing the identical problem with my steering wheel vibrating & make noise. My cars mileage was only 137641 less than a year later with just 4,297 miles driven. They claimed to have tightened something up in the column & returned my car on 07/12/2022. As I was driving on 07/16/2022 again the steering wheel started vibrating & making strange loud noises. I felt so unsafe & tried to make it home safely driving at a reduced speed. I plan to return the car this week back to Mark Chevrolet and am asking for support to rectify this situation. I understand there was a recall on Chevrolet HHR 2009 Steering Electric Power Assist System. I don't know if this issue is related to that. I never received communication from General Motors stating that my vehicle was affected but apparently there is a problem. Please Help!

NHTSA complaint #11474383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chevrolet HHR Mouthcard, KY

SUSPENSION

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.

2011 Chevrolet HHR Oxon Hill, MD

SUSPENSION

Heading home , going over the bridge @ 20mph from the nationals field going south bound heading towards south capital exit. Traveling On the right side of the road , I approached and drove over the metal sewer drainage that’s not properly in the ground leveled which caused damage to my vehicles suspension. Immediately after the impact , I started hearing a strange noise as well as when I moved the steering wheel. I took my vehicle to Sears auto center on 7/01/21to be evaluated and explained the incident. I couldn’t avoid the drainage due to another vehicle was on the left side of the road . I had to pay $1,111.92 out of my pocket and would like my money back. This drainage isn’t in the ground properly which caused the problem to my vehicle. Is unavoidable especially if there’s an vehicle directly across from you.

NHTSA complaint #11423244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chevrolet HHR at 160,000 miles Freeport, IL

SUSPENSION

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.

2009 Chevrolet HHR at 100,000 miles Mooresville, NC

SUSPENSION

HAVE OWNED 1- 2008 & 1-2009 HHR SS WITH 2.0L TURBO CHARGER AND MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANS,AND RIGHT AT 100,000 MILES THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A HORRENDOUS NOISE LIKE THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS GOING FALL OUT FROM UNDER IT WHEN HITTING SMALL BUMPS . ALSO IF YOU MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH IT WILL MAKE A VERY SIMILAR NOISE. THE 2008 GOT TOTALED FROM A LADY PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME HAD CHANGED THE SWAY BAR END LINKS PRIOR TO ACCIDENT MADE NO CHANGE. MEETING THE SAME MILEAGE ON THE 2009 AND ALREADY MAKING THE SAME EXACT NOISE . ALMOST AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE FREEWAY FOR FEARING OF LOOSING THE STEERING AND KILLING ANYONE. I HAVE READ UP ON THIS CONCERN AND HAVE SEEN ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH SAME NOISE AND HAVE SPENT 1,000S OF DOLLARS AND NOISE STILL THERE. YOU WOULD THINK SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS INVOLVED BUT EVEN THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE FIX. REALLY FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AT ONCE, CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL DONE YET.

NHTSA complaint #11268797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chevrolet HHR at 186,050 miles Wilburton, OK

SUSPENSION

TAKATA RECALL MY HORN DON'T WORK THE SERVICE AIRBAGS STAYS ON. THE STRUTS BACK HATCH DON'T OPEN CRUISE CONTROL DON'T WORK CHECKED ALL MY FUSES AND THEY ARE ALL GOOD

NHTSA complaint #11124172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chevrolet HHR NEW Port Richey, FL

SUSPENSION

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HUB BEARINGS ON MY FRONT WHEELS, TWICE IN TWO YEARS. VERY LOUD NOISES AND CAR SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN TRYING TO STOP. FRONT BRAKES, HUB BEARINGS, PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED TWO YEARS AGO. NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE HUB BEARINGS AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #11022202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chevrolet HHR at 249,000 miles Atlanta, GA

SUSPENSION

MY CAR HAD GOT HIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR WHEN I CRUNK MY CAR BACK UP MY HORN WAS OUT IT NEVER WORKED AGAIN AND ITS MAKING A LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN I DRIVE THE VEHICLE

NHTSA complaint #10917244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet HHR at 166,054 miles King, NC

SUSPENSION

CAR STARTED SMELLING GAS INSIDE WHEN DRIVING AND HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW TO GET SOME FRESH AIR. A CLICKING NOISE, TOO MUCH NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING OR DRIVING..L TOOK THE CAR FOR OIL CHANGE AND THE DEALER TECH DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR STATING THAT IT'S SAFETY ISSUES. THEY SAID THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAS BEEN WEAR OUT AND THAT THE "SWAY BAR"IS SHORTER WEARING MY TIRES. IN JUST THIS YEAR L HAVE CHANGE THE 4 TIRES TWICE. DISCOUNT TIRES SAID THEY HAVE NOT SEEN SUCH A THING BEFORE THE WEARING OCCURES IN THE INSIDE PART OF THE TIRES... THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION IS COLLAPSING. GM NEED TO ISSUES A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES.... THE DEALER GAVE ME A REPAIR QUOTE OF ALMOST $3000 ...GM NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL THESE ISSUES AND OFFER A CREDIT OR REPURCHASED THE CAR BACK... L HAVE CHILDREN THAT L TRANSPORTER BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL AND TO HOSPITAL...AND NEED A SAFER CAR...

NHTSA complaint #10907181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chevrolet HHR at 61,000 miles Saint Clair Shores, MI

SUSPENSION

ROUGH RIDE, HITS BUMPS HARD, MAKES NOISE

NHTSA complaint #10894777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chevrolet HHR Pekin, IL

SUSPENSION

I PURCHASED THE CAR 5/13/14. SINCE THAT DATE THE CAR HAS BEEN "REPAIRED" 16 TIMES, BEGINNING ON 5/27/14 FOR ONGOING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND STEERING WHEEL/ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SUSPENSION ISSUES INCLUDED THE SWAY BAR, STABALIZER BAR AND BUSHINGS, DEFECTIVE STABLINK AND FROZED STRUT BEARING. REPLACED FRONT STRUTS. STEERING WHEEL ISSUES INCLUDED, REPLACING OF STEERING WHEEL COMPLETE DUE TO BAD WIRING, WIRING, WIRING HARNESS, SIR COIL REPLACED, SIR COIL CAUSING INTERFERANCE, REPLACED ENTIRE COLUMN, IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. THE CAR IS UNSAFE ON ANY ROAD IN MOTION. ENTIRE 14 PAGES OF SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10877063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Chevrolet HHR at 160,000 miles Oklahoma City, OK

SUSPENSION

CHANGED VVT SENSOR & SERVICE ESC & SERVICE TRACTION WARNINGS APPEARED ON DISPLAY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON ALSO

NHTSA complaint #10873760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet HHR at 106,000 miles Long Beach, CA

SUSPENSION

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.

2010 Chevrolet HHR at 85,000 miles EL Mirage, AZ

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION AT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUBBER BUSHING WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA complaint #10818677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Chevrolet HHR at 37,500 miles SAN Marcos, CA

SUSPENSION

A "CLUNKING" NOISE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY OR DIP IN STREET AT 3 OR 4 MILES PER HOUR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE "LOWER CONTROL ARMS REAR BUSHING WAS TORN (RUBBER) AND THEREFORE ALLOWING THE ARM TO MOVE TO WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND COULD VERY WELL CAUSE THE STEERING TO MALFUNCTION AT A MOST INAPPROPRIATE TIME RESULTING IN A COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT END SUSPENSION. I WOULD LIKE GM TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT IN ENGINEERING, AND IF THEY CANNOT TO REPURCHASE MY VEHICLE SO I CAN PURCHASE A SAFE AND MORE RELIABLE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10735644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Chevrolet HHR at 79,505 miles Mancelona, MI

SUSPENSION

I HAVE BEEN HEARING SOME CLUNKING SOUNDS BUT NOT SURE WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM. THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. BRAKE PEDAL FEELS VERY SOFT.

NHTSA complaint #10694020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chevrolet HHR at 73,822 miles Watertown, WI Crash

SUSPENSION

LESS THEN 24 HOURS OFF THE LOT I WAS DRIVING HOME OFF HWY26 EXITING TO MY TOWN OF WATERTOWN,WI. I WAS SLOWING DOWN ON THE RAMP AND MY SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD BY THE DRIVER VISOR CAUSING MY TO FLINCH AND RELEASE THE BREAK FOR A SLIT SECOND. I TRIED TO REAPPLY THE BREAK AND HAD NO BREAKS I WAS STILL AT 40MPH. IT WAS SNOWING THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO TURN SO I HIT A MEADEN SNAPPING MY A ARM. I ALSO SNIPPED MY ABS CABLE, BLEW OUT DRIVER BALL JOINTS, BENT THE TIE ROD, DISLOCATED MY AXEL BENT MY RIM AND RUINED MY NEW TIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I BROKE MY KNUCK AND BLEW OUT MY BALL JOINTS. IT LOCKED UP MY DRIVER SEAT BELT AND EVEN WITH NO ONE WEARING THE PASSENGER ONE IT LOCKED THAT UP TOO. AFTER IT HAPPENED GOING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND A FEW MORE CASES LIKE MINE ONE CAUSED A WOMAN TO SPEND A MONTH AND A HALF IN HOSPITAL FROM HITTING A POLE.

NHTSA complaint #10676172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet HHR problems