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.
Power steering quits working while driving. Only driving in town since this started about a month ago. Took to mechanic was told no power from steringcolum to motor
I was heading out to my car and tried to remote start my car and it did T work and I tried it twice and then got in my car and notice my check engine light and power steering came on after I put the car in gear and began moving and I stopped and when I went to turn it was hard to turn and had to use to hands and I did research and this a know problem and the remotes and this power steering issue should be recalled or it may hurt or kill someone
Gasoline goes fast, I have to fill every 4 days. Sometimes engine light comes on and goes away and sometimes runns smooth and sometimes it feels like wants to turn off.
- Willis, TX, USA
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My 2006 HHR has a defect with the door latches. I have already paid once to have it fixed, then it broke again. Now both my driver's side and passenger side door latches are not working. I feel that if I get them fixed that they will break again. I can't afford to fix them. If I was to get in an accident or an emergency happens I would not be able to get out without opening the windows and reaching for the outside door, in which I have short arms. I already have got stuck in my car already because I went inside without my key and could not roll down the window to get out. I had to call someone to let me out. This is so dangerous.
2006 Chevy HHR is having electrical issues. The eps was replaced and now when I am drive the insrument panel needles move back and forth, power steering and other indicators light up and car cuts off. Had several tune-ups and the problem is happening.
Inside front door handles are broke, one has been broke for a while, if I'm in the car and something happens it becomes a death trap. I checked online and have seen this is a common ongoing problem with HHR's. it doesn't matter what year it is, people are complaining about it and one person traded his in because his wife got stuck in the car. This is something that GM apparently has been aware of but did nothing. I guess they are waiting for someone to die. It doesn't matter if the vehicle is moving or not it's the same problem you can't open the door.
I started my car and put it in gear. The automatic door locks locked all doors. As I was driving the passenger front door un lachted and came open. All the other doors were still closed and locked. I stopped my car put it in park and the passenger front door lock was in the lock postion still and was unable to close the door. I checked the door latch and it was in the open postion. Finally after locking and unlocking the doors with the door lock the door. Closed. Thought we were safe to go then put my car in drive again and the door came open again. Worked with the door again and now it will not open. Good thing we were not on the highway when it happened. Now another saftey issue my car will not go all the way into park unless the nose of the car is at a downward angle and cannot get the key out of the ignition. Worse GM car I have ever owned.
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. From listening to service representative at a former dealer, this is a common problem with HHR and cobalts. Additional personal research has indicated this is a common and known issue with the manufacturer. This defect is unsafe and should be recalled and fixed by the manufacturer on their dime, not mine. In addition, the rotors knock and have had to be replaced. I had one replaced under warranty, they would not replace both front rotors. Now the opposite is knocking and is no longer under warranty. This is also a very common problem with the cars and not something that should have to be replaced on any car with less than 50,000 miles. GM needs to own up to their mistakes and make the necessary recalls.
Driver side inside door handle broke off, wife stuck in car until I opened it from the outside, handle is cheap flimsy plastic, broke at hinge. Dealer wants $500 for entire door panel replacement. Safety issue if this happens again during accident, especially since we have electric windows, what if there is a fire and the battery is damaged. The center console is tall, it's a small car, it would be very difficult for most people to climb over it. You would be trapped inside. Of all things, the door handle should be solid metal, imagine if you went to open an emergency exit in a building and cheap plastic broke off in your hand! this would not be allowed in buildings, why is it tolerated in cars? there are many identical incidences on the internet. Check out : general-motors.pissedconsumer.com/06-Chevy-HHR-front-interior-door-handle-20081228143435/1.html clearly this is a wide spread problem, and GM is not doing anything but trying to rip us of with $500 for another piece of plastic.
When I went to get out of my 2006 HHR, the front interior door handle broke off. Internal parts made out of plastic. If involved in an accident you would not be able to get out of the vehicle, except to crawl across the console. This is a common known problem with this year and Chevy is aware and not taking any responsibility of this faulty problem and dangerous if you were in wreck and could not get out because the handles breaking. Should be a recall
I shifted my car into park but the button on the shifter did not release. Because the button was stuck, I could not turn my car off nor could I remove my key. Furthermore, while driving, the shifter can potentially be moved from drive to any other position without the button on the shifter being pressed. I found a "release" button under a cover on my steering column which allows me to turn my car off and remove my key, but that doesn't change the fact that the shifter can be moved accidentally while driving. The brake does not even have to be pressed to change the position of the shifter.
2006 Chevy HHR. Car will jerk like you realized the clutch too fast, however it is an automatic then stall. This has happened on several occasions with in the last 2 years. On 1/27/10 the check engine light came on. Took car to the shop, after having a complete tune up, ignition module change and a coil change the car will no longer stay started unless you are giving the gas pedal constant contact. The code coming up says it's a misfiring in the cylinder but the shop can not find that. There is oil in the intake but no water in the oil. I'm several hundreds of dollars in parts only already. The car is not drivable. It will not drive in reverse without heavy pressure on the gas while trying to brake with your left foot and look to drive it backwards.
I have a 2006 Chevy HHR lt with just 30K. Drove it off the lot with 3 miles and at 200 miles it had the rotors turned for the first of about 30 times. The steering wheel shudders when breaking or at speeds above 45 mph so much so that at times the car is hard to control. The answer to this very dangerous problem is..turn the rotors. "normal wear and tear" this is not acceptable to me anymore. My car has had issues with the shocks, the struts, the continued rotor problem, the steering wheel that shudders, and as of today, the power steering is going as well as the steering rack. The potential of me killing myself, my children, or the person next to me has become a reality. I have complained since practically driving it off the lot. GM just refuses to pay, or do anything about this. I have been in touch with the CEO of GM as well as the North America president mark reuss I have expressed my concerns with the safety of the HHR. And I have said that the answer is not to "just turn the rotors for the 35th time". there is something very wrong with this car, and it seems as though everyone that drives one has the same power steering, rotor, at the shudder of the steering wheel. I have plunked nearly 2K into a car that GM needs to be responsible for. An urgent recall needs to be issued or I see the potential of a Toyota problem on the horizon for GM and their Chevy HHR. I really believe it is going to take someone or maybe many to be injured or worse yet dead before GM will look into this further. The world headquarters told me yesterday that there are no other complaints like mine and I shouldn't believe what I read. They have closed my case and refuse to listen any longer. I know this is not my driving, I am not hard on the brakes, nor have I caused the rotors needing to be turned so many times on the lathe that they are like putting bicycle brakes on a freight train. Car is a bit too heavy to stop when you have rotors that are dangerously thin.
I own a 2006 Chevy HHR, and within the past two weeks have experienced a problem (which apparently, after looking online, several other owners have experienced). When I put my car in park, and go to turn off the ignition, it won't let me take out my key, and my steering wheel won't lock. This happens everythime that I try to turn off my car now, which is at least about ten times daily. I have to "slam" it into park to get the key out. I am not sure though that when this is done if my car is truly in park. I went to my car repairman, who said that this definitely needs to be looked at because if I continue to "slam" it in park, I could eventually break the shifter- which in my mind could definitely cause an accident/ or property damage. I am taking my car in on Wednesday for this purpose, not sure yet what the cost will be, but I strongly believe that this problem should be looked at by dot.
S10 appropriate handling - letter to the secretary from myrna Z. kroh expressing appreciation to Mr. Chan and magno for their consumer assistance. *****
While driving down the highway, my drivers side window exploded into my vehicle. The window was completely up, there where no other vehicles in front or on the side of me. I heard a loud pop then the window blew out. Causing me to almost run my car off the highway. My drivers side door has had to be adjusted 3 times already. I don't know if one thing has anything to do with the other. While researching this problem I have found many complaints from others stating they have had various problems with the drivers side front window. This defect if it is one is extremely dangerous for anyone. Any help in this situation would be greatfully appreciated.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Howard, KS, USA