This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The inside driver's door handle broke off (plastic or other nonmetal material attached to a metal hinge)at the metal hinge. (cheap materials that fatigue easily) with no excess force or abnormal pressure being applied. I was unable to exit the vehicle without engaging the electrical system to roll down the window and operate the outside handle. In an accident, this would be a serious safety hazard if the driver needed to get out of the car quickly.
I have a 2006 Chevy HHR, I love it but, it has issues 1st I bought it used 15,000 miles. Since then I have had 1. the rear logo replaced 4 times, then, 2.the key get stuck when I turn off the car so I used the plunger and 3. the gear shift moves when the car is off or on. Now, 4. the key won't turn to start the car I have to jiggle it till it works. 5. my power steering goes out randomly, while driving it so I can't turn the 6.-,7.-, and 8.3 recalls, then, 9. the wheels shakes at 60 mph, I have 10. And 11. Replaced both front door handles with in 2 weeks 12. I hear a loud crackling or static sound from my speakers and the radio is off. Oh and 13. My check engine light won't go off plus 14. Every time I have to change the battery I have to get my remote reprogrammed for the auto start... it came with the car. What is going on? there are 14 issues some safety and some cosmetic but, clearly an issue I am only making my voice heard because I just started researching my car. I am a single mother I can't afford to fix the major ignition or gear shift, transmission and electrical car shaking these have been reported in a lot of Hhrs. Please help.
There are multiple issues with this vehicle and I have been ignored by both the dealer we bought it from and G.M. I have made several attempts to get these issues resolved to no avail. G.M. is doing the waiting game so I eventually get tired of complaining and stop. However the long term is I have influenced my children, nieces and nephews(all of whom are the future of consumers to purchase new vehicles) to stay away from all G.M. products after I know my family was taken advantage of by midway chev. In phx, AZ and by G.M.(who produced this vehicle in mx. When I asked where it was made I was told U.S.),never again will I ever buy a new car after all this. Door handle breaks, brakes are bad, G.M. used the cheapest stuff to manufacture these cars and the cheapest labor in another country (taking from the american ways of supporting our own). I have several attempts to get a hold of the main number to G.M. and cannot get a direct number. I bought this car new in 2006. Please help bring back my faith in american car manufacturer who was bailed out and bailed on us.
The driver side door interior handle broke at approx 36,400 miles. Luckily the handle was replaced under warranty. The whole driver's side door panel had to be replaced. At approximately another 36,000 miles the door handle broke again. We looked online, and there is a company that makes just the door handle to replace. We ordered a replacement handle. They said that they sell about 50-60 handles a week. There are several videos on youtube on how to replace the handle, and many companies online selling just the handle of the HHR. We have never had a interior door handle break within 3 years of owning a car, and to break a second time in another 3 years, and it appears to be a consistent problem with the design of the vehicle according to website groups, forums etc. This is a major safety concern. If the driver interior door handle fails and the driver needs to get out of the car in an emergency quickly, it's not possible. Over the years of owning several different cars for many years, I have never had an interior door handle break.
Water intrusion when raining leaks on electrical components like blower motor, wiring, insulation, and floor of passenger side..once the water corrodes the electrical components they stop working... GM Corp has this problem for over 20 years on several models and makes.. very bad design..they will not recall.. this can be serious safety issue.. if the electrical defrost motor will not work.. then you cannot see out the windshield.. crash can ensue.. they need to change the water evacuation system from below the windshield...see www.youtube.com/watch?V=fnykjlhusxi this is about others who have had this problem with many GM models...
- Woodstock, NY, USA
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We bought this car in 2011. In the first year of having our HHR, the inside door handles on the driver and passenger sides are broken. The driver side broke first and about 4 months later the passenger side broke. The rear hatch door latch went out about 6 months after buying this car. The lot where we bought it says al of the fixes are our problem. But, they add up to, to much money for us to fix. I have been researching these problems. There are way to many HHR's with the same problem not to have recalls on. Why has there not been any as of yet? these problems are safety issues. They should be recalling the parts and replacing them.
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.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that after a severe rain, there was an accumulation of two inches of water on the front passenger floor board area. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where they informed the contact that the water leaked in through the heater ducts. The technician recommended that the carpet be replaced due to the possibility of mold growing. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. Updated 06/17/11 the consumer was informed the seal came off aorund the heater switch which allowed water to get in the heater and caused the motor to only have one speed. The consumer was also informed the carpet would never dry and eventually, it would grow mold. Updated 06/21/11
Few issues that several people also have discussed on the web: **transmission hard shifting. Still an issue, garages and dealer have not been able to resolve * not coming out of ignition. Recent issue not fixed yet. May be transmission interlock issue based on internet discussions **leak and water gets in car. Gets my heat blower wet and blows out a part and I only have off and high fan settings. Ongoing issue as well.
While opening the left front door from the inside the plastic chrome door handle broke off in my hand making it impossible to open the door from the inside. This will impair the ability of the occupants to exit the vehicle in the event of an emergency.
I currently own a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. On 1-13-11, I had the interior door handle break off in my hand making it impossible to open the door from the inside of the car. This is a huge safety hazard while driving the car. Upon further research on car forums online, I am not the only person that has had this problem.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that water leaked into the front passenger side floor through the air intake. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer but it was not inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that there were no related recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
While opening the left front door from the inside the plastic chrome door handle broke off in my hand making it impossible to open the door from the inside. This will impair the ability of the occupants to exit the vehicle in the event of an emergency.
I own a 2006 Chevrolet HHR, today when I parked my car the drivers inside door handle broke and I couldn't open my door. I have found many complaints online about this problem and have searched for replacement parts. None to be found. The only solution is to replace the entire door panel at a hefty price. My concern to this matter is the fact if you get in an accident or there is a fire and the door handle breaks you can't get out of the car. Therefore I feel strongly this is a defect on the part of GM since the handle is made out of plastic and can't take the stress of continuous opening. Apparently they have not responded to many complaints about this and I find it necessary to report this matter. This could be a major problem if someone is trapped in the car and can't get out.
My HHR driver's interior handle broke off a few weeks ago. I feel that GM needs to recall 2006 HHR cars and replace the door handle. I do not have $400 to give the dealership. A month ago I just paid for key ignition switch to be fixed for $400.
My interior door handle on my 2006 Chevy HHR broke off in my hand when I tried to open the door. I looked up online to see if anyone else has had the same issue and sure enough..pages and pages of the same story. I called to get a replacement handle and was told it would cost me $300 for the entire door kit. I don't want an entire door, but evidently GM designed the handle to be an integrated part of the door trim. Then I called GM customer service, they told me they have never had a single complaint about this happening ever before. I find this to be a total lie since I just read of a woman who called GM to complain and they told her the exact same thing "we've never had a single complaint". I cannot open my car door from the inside. This is a safety concern for me. If I were in a wreck or if the battery died I would not be able to get out of my car, as I have to roll down my window, reach out and open the door from the outside. I'm very upset by this entire situation. I love my car, but whoever decided a plastic door handle was a good idea and then to integrate it so you had to buy an entire door package to replace it...needs a swift kick in the behind. This should be a recall. Many people are having the same issues and it is very unsafe.
I have a 2006 Chevy HHR and both driver and passenger door handles have broken off. Chevy will not do anything about this. The door handles are hooked to the door panel. I am afraid that if I get into an accident I will not be able to retrieve my children from the back seat. Chevy wants to much for door panels.
I have a Chevy HHR and the rear bumper support is rusting at only 52+ miles. Water is laying on the steel support and there is nothing that stops this water from collecting and rusting the support away. My car hasn't even been through it's first tuneup yet and I haven't owned the vehicle 1 year yet. I have brought the complaint to gmac customer care center and my local Chevy dealership. The dealer wanted me to pay $112 for them just to inspect the rusting rear bumper support. The defect was found by philip a representative from hayes collision center in sacramento, ca 916-482-7819 a contracted collision center for the same dealer that wants to charge me the money to inspect the problem. Mike daugherty Chevrolet in sacramento, ca 916-482-1600. Hayes collision center was contacted by a representative from gmac customer care center raphael ext 41461 @ 1866-790-5700 and my gmac customer care and gmac inquired if the rusting support was it due to the mileage or the year of the vehicle. Philip at hayes collision center told gmac that the rusting rear bumper support is a manufacturing defect and should be addressed and corrected. Hayes was wondering why the part wasn't made out of high grade aluminum instead of steel because water is getting up under the bumper cover and laying on the steel bumper support which is damaging a major safety item. Stopping a rear collision impact from harming the passengers. The rust is like cancer and will not stop until the support is completely rusted through. Weather or just a simple car wash can cause water to get on this steel part and cause further rusting. There hasn't been any resolution to this major issue from either mike daugherty Chevrolet or gmac customer care center.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Abilene, TX, USA