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 35 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated as the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection where they stated that the motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 104,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the power steering warning lamp illuminated as the steering wheel seized, making it difficult for the contact to control the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 63,000. Updated 12/04/13
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.
I was exiting a commercial driveway upon trying to make a right turn, the steering was very difficult and it took a minute to straighten up. My dashboard indicated there was a problem with the power steering. I immediately pulled over to assess the vehicle and came to find out that this vehicle does not have a power steering pump, its electrical. At the time of this occurrence I was 100 miles away from home. Upon researching this problem, I came across this website with complaints from other drivers with this same problem. I just purchase my car 3 weeks ago. Hopefully, you will take in consideration the number of complaints and request a recall. Does someone have to have an accident or be killed before this problem is rectified?
Wife was driving the car, the power steering warning light came on and she lost power steering. She got home, called the dealer and asked about recalls and was informed the 2006 cobalt (mechanically and equipment wise the same car with a different skin) was recalled but not the HHR. I took the car to Firestone and the steering worked fine. They checked out the steering and could find nothing wrong but indicated the HHR has been recalled for this in Canada but not in the us and that the repair is quite expensive. Is the government protecting their investment in GM by not issuing a recall? please explain this situation or recall the twin of the cobalt.
- Columbia, SC, USA
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While driving to work in the snow the steering wheel jerked out of my hands. This same problem has been recalled for other Chevy models but not the HHR. Does someone need to die in an accident first. I got a recall letter for the storage bin in the dash not staying closed and that is a minor inconvenience, for my wife who has always had power steering in a vehicle to have it suddenly go out scares you when you are at highway speeds. If you turn off the car and restart it within a minute or two its out again. Consumers pay for safety and it doesn't seem like all of the this regulations are helping when it really matters.
Driving to work and turned a corner, discover almost too late that I had no power steering. No light flashed on the dash to warn me and I almost hit another vehicle. There has been no solution to fix this problem as it keeps recurring.
As I was driving my electronic power steering shut down. I pulled over turned engine off and when started again it again steering worked. Went to a store, and drove car about half mile and steering went out again. Pulled to side of road turned engine off, restarted and worked for about eight of a mile. Pulled to side of road and repeated as before. This is now more frequent. As of today 9/4 after the engine begins to warm up the steering turns off. All fluids in car are full. This is a safety issue because the car is very difficult to steer when the steering goes out. I saw that the cobalt had a recall for this and the HHR is mechanically and electronically the same as the HHR. The HHR should be included in the same recall. Thank you.
Had power steering issue did some research turns out to be over heat.. check coolant levels. My coolant temp. Over 200 added coolant now around 190 steering works fine.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the electric power steering light illuminated as the steering became very difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was restarted a few minutes later and operated as designed for another mile before the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the electric power system motor would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 97,000. Updated 10/17/13 the vehicle was repaired at the owner's expense on August 20, 2013. Updated 10/24/13
I do not have a problem with the steering until I drive a few miles. After I drive my 2006 Chevy HHR a few miles the power steering light comes on & my electric power steering completely stops..the car is very hard to steer and almost impossible to park..when I need to park I have to turn my car off & then start it back up. I have done research on this problem and have found that my HHR is not the only one having problems with the power steering and there were also other Chevy makes & models.with the same problem and there was a recall on them..will you please have a recall on the electric power steering on the 2006 Chevy HHR so we can be safe on the road...[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
My power steering went out and its very hard to drive! I have to turn the car off and on to get it going! when it first happen I was going around a curve, and it totally scared me!
Power steering motor shorted out, when we took it to Chevy dealer we were told that GM would not sell the motor separately as the steering column went out shortly after the power steering motor, and were also told there had been a recall on some HHR's. the price to repair is $1500. I am 71 years old, my disabled husband is 72 years old and we only have social security as income. Tried to get some compensation from GM and after almost 3 weeks they told me they would not help me because I bought the car used from a dealer other than a Chevy dealer, that it was out of warranty and over mileage. If the steering goes out there most likely be an accident of some kind. We have no other transportation, I do feel this is a definite safety issue. Any help you can provide to have GM honor the recall would be appreciated.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 mph the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The power steering warning light illuminated. The failure occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that her vehicle failed to start. The contact attempted to jump start the vehicle but to no avail. The contact was able to restart the vehicle hours later however, the steering wheel had become extremely difficult to maneuver. The contact stated she did not take the vehicle to a dealer because she did not trust the parts that were being used to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 119,000.
I was backing out of my driveway when the vehicle lost power steering, causing me to nearly hit my mailbox. The information screen on the speedometer said power steering and my service engine light came on.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while reversing from a residential driveway, the power steering assist failed and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was neither repaired nor inspected for the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that the power steering assist failed and caused resistance in the steering wheel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Chevrolet HHR. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the steering wheel became very difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 85,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marion, OH, USA