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.
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.
When starting from a stopped position in a signal controlled left turn lane, the clutch was depressed as usual. This time it made a popping noise and the pedal went to the floor, rendering the car inoperable. The driver was left stranded in the middle of a roadway. Fortunately, this happened in a light traffic area, but could have easily occurred on the freeway or when attempting to pass another vehicle. The mechanic found the clutch master cylinder had broken out of the firewall and repaired it as best he could without pulling the engine. He stated that he discovered some reports of Chevrolet having similar issues in this and other products; however, the dealer where we purchased the vehicle had no knowledge.
My 2006 HHR has had to have the front and rear end struts replaced and now, the power steering motor and drive shaft. The vehicle only has 80K miles on it. I don't drive it that much so it shouldn't be having all of these issues. Why hasn't GM issued a recall on this vehicle for all the problems it has? I've read countless similar stories on the internet. This vehicle needs to be recalled to address these issues.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the ignition failed and the key could not be release from the ignition switch. The contact had to move gear shifter lever several times in order to shut the engine off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The failure was located at the gear shifter and the dealer replaced the gear shifter system. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 38,402...updated 08-07-13
Vehicle will stall and we will crash or be hit by some one. When the vehicle stalls you loose all power that is power steering, brakes, the ability to maintain control of my vehicle.it began with my key getting stuck in the ignition, would have to try to place in park multiple times to release the key. Found the panel in the steering column and the release button to remove key. Now the gear shift button is stuck in the pressed position, making the car vulnerable to coming out of gear. This is extremely unsafe and costly to fix. Additional personal research has indicated this is a common & known issue with the manufacturer.
- Charlotte, NC, USA
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Pulled into garage, placed shifter in park, ignition key would not rotate to last detent position and key could not be removed, leaving some electrical items on. Shifter button was depressed and would not unlock but shift could be put in any gear. I searched internet for problem and learned how to remove cover under ignition switch and manipulate a button inside the column to allow key to be released. Car can be started again but to shut off and remove key, same process required. A big problem I have found on internet from other owners is that instead of paying the outrageous cost to fix, many drivers are doing the above, which is a dangerous situation because the shift lever can easily, accidentally be shifted into another gear while in motion ! this problem is caused be a metal pin, mounted in an inferior plastic piece, which breaks or otherwise allows the metal pin to fall out of position. This is reported in all year models, at all mileages. My car is a 2006 with 11000 miles- 7 years old, and obviously hardly used, let alone abused, and of course, out of warranty ! GM has upgraded the replacement part with a shroud of metal reinforcing the plastic, and has repaired and replaced under warranty on models from 2009 to date. This is obviously a design defect, and also a safety issue. GM needs to recall all models with this defect ! they are not offering any solution for a repair that many owners have paid up to $600 of their own money, and I for one am going to fight this in all ways possible. Gov.'t, media, BBB, social media, etc ! review the internet by searching " Chevy HHR ignition key stuck". this also affects Chevy cobalt and Pontiac G5.
The power steering light comes on frequently. I have no power steering and have to do it manually which makes is very difficult to steer. This has been happening more and more. Sometimes I can only back out of the driveway when this happens. As there are numerous complaints on this issue, I am wondering way Chevy doesn't do a recall.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the ignition key could not be turned to engage the engine and the vehicle also could not be shifted from park. The vehicle had not been diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 116,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the gear shifter became stuck and he was unable to power off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician advised that the shifter panel needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 95,000. The VIN was not available.
I drove my vehicle to New Jersey for vacation but came back to Virginia within two days. Upon my arrival in Virginia, I repacked my bags and headed to charlotte, nc. All the driving that I was doing was highway driving. To New Jersey I drove I-81 North and I-78 East. To charlotte, nc I drove 220 South and I-85 South. After I got off on I-85 South to go back to the hotel on the way up the hill towards the hotel the car stopped moving forward. It would rev up when pushing on the accelerator but would not move forward. The car however would shift gears and go in reverse. I parked the car in a parking lot and had called my insurance company to have the car towed to the local Chevrolet dealership.the dealership determined that the transmission failed but could not give me a determination as to why it failed. Had the transmission failed as I was speeding down I-85 South there would have been a serious accident. Additionally, this morning (August 22nd, 2012) the car would not start. The lights inside the car would come on such as the gauge lights, radio, etc but the engine would not turn over. I had the car towed to the midpoint Chevrolet dealership and it was determined that the starter was bad and thus had to be replaced. Also, the morning of November 24th upon returning to my car from a night out the car would not start again. This time no lights would come on. The only indication that there was at least some power was the indicator light on my car charger. I contacted my insurance company and received a jump start from a local tow service and the vehicle has been running smoothly ever since. This has occurred twice in the last few months but there is no indication as to what may be draining the battery's power. I have had the battery checked twice and on these two occasions and is deemed to still be good.
Power steering message on dash; security light comes on; RPM, speed, and gas gauges jump, transmission jerks, clicking in center console under shifter. After turning engine off for period of time runs like normal, restart an drive for period of time and power steering goes out while driving.
After traveling back and forth from one county to another (approx 130 miles roundtrip) as I exited the fwy the car was driving normal except for I was on empty at this point. I came to a complete stop when light turned green I began to accelerate. Upon acceleration at approx. 10-15mph the car made a hard jerking motion as though it was having a hard time shifting gears however my 06 HHR is an automatic. At this point I also noticed that the check engine light had now illuminated on the instrument panel. I took the car straight home and did not attempt to drive again for 3-4 days. Then one day I drove it approx 15 miles all was good. I went shopping upon leaving the car still appeared to be normal. Then while on the fwy approx 70mph I noticed the check engine light on again as well as the T/C light (traction control) the car continued to drive "normal" but once I came to a stop on the offramp and began to accelerate the jerking motion happened again. I've noticed that on a few occasions this happens once the gas is on empty. I also noticed on one occasion that once I had put a little over half a tank of gas in as well as a bottle of fuel injector cleaner that the indicator lights shut off as well as the jerking had disappears. We have had the transmission flushed and still the problem persists. Aside from that when you try to remote start the engine once the check engine light has come on the remote start no longer works. You hear the electrical all come on but that's it. Then all of a sudden the other night I attempt to exit my car and the driver door handle snapped right off. My husband contacted the local dealership requesting price for the part and was told $300+. I just found the piece for $63 online...unbelievable! but the handle broke so easily. I didn't pull hard. If I had the door would've at least popped open a lil. But it didn't budge.
Some portion of the shifter mechanism failed. It allows the vehicle to shift gears at will, with or without a key and with or without the engine running. It also allows the vehicle to be put into gear without depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle can 'bump' from 'park' into any gear and from any gear to any other gear, including "reverse". while driving, one bump caused it to shift into 'neutral'. another caused a downshift. One can leave turn off the ignition & leave the car without putting it securely into 'park'. I am not positive, but I believe I could also make the steering column lock while the ignition was on. I tried this while attempting to remove the key. I did nto want to try again, fearing I would make the situation worse. Additionally, the key is now retained in the ignition and can not be removed. The car can be more easily stolen. (on mine, I found out how to force the key out of the ignition. But the gear shifter can still bump around.) the mentioned crash was from exiting the car either without it being securely in 'park' or from having it fallout of 'park'. it rolled into a parked vehicle. I entered "0 mph" because I wasn't there to see the car roll. It was on a small enough incline that no damage was done other than scratches.
For about a month my key kept getting stuck in the ignition but I could always get it out myself. I would shift from "park" to "drive" and then back to "park" to remove it. Finally one day I could not remove it. I brought it to the dealership and had to have a part in the shifter replaced to fix the problem. Apparently the "car" could no longer recognize it was in park and safe to remove the keys. The cost was $250 and now the key still sticks. It seems like this is a real problem and Chevy should take responsibility for it.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that she shifted into park and the key would not remove from the ignition. The contact also stated that the button located on the gear shift was jammed inside of the shifter itself. Due to the jamming of that button, the gear shift moved freely between gears even though the brake pedal was not depressed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The failure mileage was 82,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing where the technician advised that the gear shifter would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 64,186.
Display showed power steering error and transmission box was clicking. Car started bucking as if transmission was going out. Took to dealer who could not replicate error after three days. Picked up car and now cd player shows err O. this is frustrating as heck! dealer did say that there was a bulletin that 2006 HHR's did have this type of problem. Dealer rep. Owns 2007 HHR and hoped he did not have the same issue. Spent over $700 total and problem still there" Chevrolet / GM where is your loyalty to your loyal customers" issue a recall and fix these issues before there are deaths because of them and you are forced to do what is right by the gov.'t.
My gear shifter is malfunctioning. It is stuck in park. I do not have reliable transportation and would like this repair to be on the recall list with Chevy being that there are a multitude of complaints about the gear shifter.
I put my car in park and when I went to take the key out of the ignition it would not come out. I realized that the key would not come out because the gear shifter piece was pushed all the way in, it was broke. This meant that my car was left on and the battery was drained because I could not turn my car off. Now my car will not start at all the battery is charged but the car will not turnover. I have looked online and have found that there are many complaints concerning the same problem with this vehicle. I am told by the dealership that I have to pay $710 to have this problem fixed. Can you please look into this because this seems to be a big problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- San Antonio , TX, USA