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 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.
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.
After abiding by the recall to change the ignition switch, the car starts freaking out randomly. The dash lights start going on and off. Loose power steering, power brakes and the car just stops. You can be going 70 miles an hour down the highway and the car just gives out. The dealership refuses to fix it unless I am willing to pay all the fees. I had a second dealership replace some fuses but after 2 days it started doing it again. After the first episodes, I called and opened a ticket with Chevrolet, but because the dealership I used didn't want to mess with the car any more they were not very helpful. Now I am driving a death trap because I can't afford a new car and I won't let my children drive or be in the car.
- Ballwin, MO, USA
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I have a 2006 Chevy HHR the first year I bought it I had a small animal run in front of the car, the car skid a long way and I ended up having to change the tire because it made a flat spot on the driver side tire. I have have been in accidents twice in the last 4 years due to having to stop abruptly on the highway and the brakes skidding instead of stopping, both times my car pulled to the left across several lane leaving me facing oncoming traffic and being hit.
I was driving on the freeway going 65 miles per hour and the car started shaking violently. I realized that the brakes were seizing up making it hard to drive and shake almost out of control. I found out that I need a 2008 master cylinder to fix it.
On my way to work I slowed down to change lanes to make a right hand turn to a parking lot. All of a sudden there was a major jolt and my foot was knocked off the gas pedal. The last thing I remember was looking down at my right foot and seeing it under the brake pedal and thinking I need to move my foot. I remember the emergency room for a moment when I asked them not to cut my clothes. My next memory is for a moment in icu and then I woke up in a hospital room a week later. According to the police report, the car crossed the two westbound lanes and hit a sign and fence, jumped the curb, and then hit shrubbery and several headstones at a memorial sales business. Police estimated my speed at 50 mph" I think the airbag deployed while I was driving. Possibly the ignition shut down causing the jolt and deployment. The car was totaled and I was disabled in this accident. I am unable to return to work. According to GM I am not eligible for a settlement because my airbag deployed. What difference does that make if the ignition caused the accident"
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph over railroad tracks, a noise emitted outside of the vehicle. The failure also recurred when encountering a bump or pothole. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on three separate occasions where the stabilizer link, sway bar and bushings, and front struts were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000. Updated 8/19/14 updated 08/23/2017
When depressing brakes it chatters so bad I thought the front end was going to fall off, it continued until I pulled the fuses for the ABS, after replacing the rotors and brake pads.
Engine shut off first time resulting in minor contact with garage door while pulling into driveway. Shut down 2 more times at low speeds and a 4th time at 50mph in a cement barrier construction zone on a bridge, no road shoulder, due to speed at shut down was able to coast through construction to roadside. Ignition control module was replaced after incident, however shutdowns continued after. Drove car with single key only since ignition control module was replaced, however my vehicle stills shuts down! it has been included in the recall but it still is not safe and I don't believe will be safe after recall repair! I don't want to wait until I kill someone to have the gov, GM, or anyone care, that the cars that are actually shutting down need to be taken off the road and replaced! please someone help the car owners like me! help us feel safe again and not as though we are playing russian roulette every time we drive our cars! I am begging someone at this Agency to please make them replace our known defective and unsafe cars! my car continues to shutdown after removal of all things on the key! help! I have 2 small kids and have to keep them safe!
While driving freeway speed applied brakes and started to get a violent vibration in the steer wheel where I almost lost control. Took the vehicle to the dealer and had the brakes check.the pads were replaced and the rotors turned. The dealer stated they are getting a lot of HHR's coming in with the same problem and there should be a recall on the braking problem. I have about 20,000 mile since and the vibrations are starting to return even at lower speeds of 40 mph. I feel there should be a recall on the braking system or looked in to before a fatal accident happens.
This has happened a few times with this vehicle, usually at speeds in excess of 50 mph. When being cut off by another vehicle, hitting the brake hard and steering away from the offending vehicle cause the HHR to fishtail and get very squirrelly. It just starts going back and forth in a rocking motion and only settles down by taking my foot off the brake. It feels like the car could easily go into a roll over. I have had it inspected by les schwab and they replaced the struts and shocks, but saw no real problems. This latest incident occurred many months after that work was completed, so that apparently was not part of the problem. It will also occasionally give me a shimmy in the steering wheel when decelerating from a moderate speed. However, that does not occur most of the time... rotors appear to be fine.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Double Springs , AL, USA