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 the battery died without warning. The battery was replaced, but the vehicle could not be started. The engine shut down warning light was also illuminated. The contact spoke with the manufacturer in regards to the failure and the manufacturer advised that the engine would need to be reset. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 55,000.
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.
Key doesn't come out of ignition, blinkers do not turn off on own. Have to manually turn off blinkers. Key get stuck in ignition, luckily went online to see about the problem and found hundreds of people with same issue. A quick video showed me that the defect happens to a lot of people and you have to go under the steering column and pop off a cover and manually push a little button to pop the key out of the ignition, the car will continue to run, if you don't do this!
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the key would become stuck in the ignition and the vehicle could not be turned off. The contact has to continuously move the shifter through the gears and turn the vehicle on and off several times before the key could be released from the ignition. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection or repairs. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 34,000 and the current mileage was 35,000.
Key stuck in ignition, key will not turn to off position to allow removal of key. Have to use "column lock release" on steering column to trip plunger to allow removal of key. Have service appointment at jim sigel Chevrolet. Grants pass, Oregon. For Sept. 19. 2011 ( next Monday ) for complete replacement of the shifter (automatic trans. ) posts on the internet indicate 6 out of 10 HHR's have this failure. This vehicle is beyond the calendar warranty of 36 months. But it sure is under the mileage warranty of 36000.
- O'brien, OR, USA
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I am scared, for my family's safety fear that this vehicle will stall and we will crash or be hit by some one...when a vehicle stalls you loose all power...that is power steering, brakes.....the ability to maintain control of your vehicle I am attaching a link that GM should review.....danger this vehicle is an accident waiting to happen !!!!!!!!!!!!! copy this link to your web browser http-//abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/abc11_investigates&id=6811236 if you would prefer I can send a typed transcript (word for word) of this news broadcast? I will not allow my wife and kids life to be put in danger, by letting them ride in this vehicle this vehicle is unsafe and should be recalled the link I am attaching shows a news broadcast in raleigh nc. On channel 11 news !!!!! involving number 12 issue on my long list below with the Chevy HHR stalling while driving..... I purchased a 2006 Chevy HHR lt, in 2007. Since I have purchased this vehicle the following issues have occurred. Mileage on car 33,346 1) the key locked up in ignition..9/06/07 2) shifter froze up and would not come out of park.. 9/06/07 3) headliner trim ? energy absorption capability 4) front end and whole car started to shake when applying brake..9/06/07 dealer turned rotors( but did not fix issue) 5) replaced driver side running board..9/06/07. 6) got in vehicle one morning tried to take kids to school, vehicle would not go over 15 mph, had towed back to lawson Chevrolet. Working on getting date/mileage..this issue occurred twice before.
2006 Chevy HHR :: problem :: power steering message on dash and hard to steer, ABS light on, transmission making car buck while driving, and speedometer is bouncing. This is the second time it has happened, last time dealer found only "communication codes" and did not fix anything so nothing was covered by the extended warranty. That was 9 months ago at 50140 miles.
Driving normal on highway hit a small bump 2006 Chevy HHR stalled, second time this happened first time no bump occurred but car stalled, in both cases was able to restart car by putting it in neutral and turning the key.
Had to jump battery and lost power steering after the jump. Car was 2.5 years old. I replaced fuse under the hood and in the center console. Nothing helps.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while attempting to exit the vehicle, from the drivers side, the interior door handle fractured. The contact was unable to access the exterior door handle and fifteen minutes later, he was assisted in exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the failure where he was advised that the entire door would need replacing in order to correct the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and the door handle remained fractured. In addition, the keys would sporadically become stuck in the ignition and the contact would have to engage the emergency release button in order to disengage the keys. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where he was advised that the ignition lock cylinder and remote would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 21,000 and the current mileage was 27,920. Updated 05/25/11 updated 1/5/12
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.
2006 Chevrolet HHR. Consumer states several problems with vehicle the consumer stated his sons vehicle had a severe shimmy in the steering wheel and became progressively worse when the brake was applied. The pads and rotors were replaced twice and the third time the rotors were machined, but the problem continued. There was also a strange noise coming from the front suspension, but the dealer was unable to pinpoint the problem. At 42,000 miles the air condition made a loud screeching noise for 2 minutes, then stopped working. At 68,000 miles, a metal skid plate had fallen from underneath the vehicle. Soon after, the exhaust was very loud. The vehicle was taken to the repair shop and the consumer was informed the catalytic converter had cracked. The vehicle lost power and a cylinder had to be replaced, the check engine light would come on and then go off, the temperature gauge did not work, so the air condition only worked if the check engine light was off. The door locks did not work, the radio worked intermittently, the sun visor would fall down at random times. There were times when the vehicle would not start. The consumer stated even with an alignment, new struts, shocks and good tires, the vehicle continually pulled to the right.
Turned on the ignition and the dashboard gauges all went out. Pulled the fuse and reinserted it - problem corrected. T/C indicator on instrument panel came on and the transmission was upshifting hard. Again, I removed and reinstalled the fuses and the problem went away. Power steering warning was displayed on the dash and the power steering was disabled. I removed and reinstalled the fuse associated with the power steering and the problem went away. I did notice that most of the fuses were mildly oxidized on one leg of each fuse.
2006 HHR with automatic transmission. Repair light lit with codes indicating internal transmission problems and bad connections in electrical system. Several trips to mechanic localized problem to connector plug on transmission. Harness wire is too short and drivetrain flex causes strain on plug resulting in failure of connector pins in plug.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. While driving approximately 45 mph the vehicle stalled several times and would not restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated that the failure was electrical, but was not able to locate the exact area were the electrical failure originated. The manufacturer will be contacted. The failure and current mileages were 50,000.
Key is unable to be removed from the ignition when car is in park. During the last two months I have had to use the release switch under the steering wheel every time I turn the vehicle off. I have taken the vehicle into the dealership, but because I am now out of warranty they would not offer any repair solutions without a costly inspection.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Peralta, NM, USA